Wolf River

[dfreeman]

The Sunday (December 10) Wolf River excursion started out slow but ended well.

Went to Shiocton but the river was solid all the way across.  Had called ahead of time, but I guess the gang at the bar do not distinguish between the river being open and the bar being open.  Not the first time this mistake has been made.  Oh, well, lets go for plan B.

Went to the dam at Shawano and found open water at the old railroad bridge.  Good enough for us so we suit up and go.  After some less successful entries near the dam, walking on the ice, we went in under the rail bridge.  Swam around under the bridge and found the graveyard of old bikes (at least 5 down there).  Plenty of current and a gravel bottom.  Finally went north of the bridge on the east side and found a nice hole, about 16 feet deep, that was crawling with sturgeon.  Big ones, little ones strange looking ones.  There was one with some serious scrapes on its side.  Another had a tag.  A few had scars from propellers.  There was even a burbot stuffed in there.  Spent a lot of time in the hole, it was great.  A very good place to take pictures since this is an eddy and there is no current and you are not running into sticks and trees and old junk like in Shiocton.  Bringing the camera next time.

Took a while to find our way out of the hole and then back to the take out.  Great dive.  Visibility was around 8 to 10 feet.  Lights required at depth.  Even 35 deg F temperature.  First stage regulator was encased in ice down the hoses.  But still worked fine.

Great diving, but colder in the water than ice diving.  Hope to do this one again.

Doug