Niagara

[swimjim 144]

Okay, this forum looks a little sleepy so I thought I would post something to wake it up. Had my son and first mate in training take me out to the SS Niagara yesterday. I thought the viz might be good and Lake Michigan was flat so what the heck. We dropped the hook and down the line I went camera in hand. The viz was a dissapointing ten feet or so. Lots of fish though. Schools of alwife covered the wreck. There were sharp nose suckers hanging about the engine and plenty of burbots hanging around. I could not find the mooring and the line to the boilers. I'm sure I must have swam right over it. I had trouble finding the wreck after going off to find the mooring. Oh well, it was good to get wet at least.

Jim

[Dean810]

One thing I will say about the wrecks up your way, always see more fish. I never see burbot or suckers down here, just plenty of gobbies.

[juls64]

Nice pictures. Thanks for the wake-up!

[swimjim 144]

One thing I will say about the wrecks up your way, always see more fish. I never see burbot or suckers down here, just plenty of gobbies.

The Gobies are taking over everywhere. We have them here too, but not real heavy yet. I've been shore diving up in Door county and the literally cover the lake bed. They are fun to watch at least. I've taken divers up to the Fleetwing in Garretts Bay near Gills Rock. There is a hull section strait out from the boat ramp in 17 fow. We swim out there and lay on the bottom and lay as motionless as possible. After a few minutes the fish resume thier goings on as if you weren't there. Some sit and watch you. The Gobies seem as curious about us as we are them. You'll see individuals staking out thier territories and defending it. Fun to watch. After awhile even the bass and bluegills move back in and tend to the business of finding food. I've watched them assalting crayfish. It can be a fairly even struggle depending on the relative size of the crayfish and bass. Great fun.

Jim

[juls64]

Well down this way, I have seen very few fish. The most I saw was when I did a night dive out of Burnham Harbor. That was the only time I could have actually used a fish ID card for Lake Michigan. Other than that, Its pretty much gobies.

[Dean810]

One good trick to do with gobies, take your dive knife, scrap off some zebra mussels, and watch the gobies attack! One invasive species attacking another!

[swimjim 144]

Got back on the Niagara last night with diver Fred. Better Viz this time, about forty feet. I dove the Schooner Northerner last friday with some friends and viz there was over seventy. I didn't take the camera along for that one though. Its great to see things are clearing up. Still had fish on the Niagara. There were a fair number of Perch early in the dive. Smaller schools of alwive and of course, several burbot.

Jim

[Dean810]

I need to find a way to get up there and do some diving! I want to see the Niagara again, and I'm lusting after the Northener!