Has anyone ever took a snorkel set and snorkeled. If so how deep could you see? See any fish? Was thinking of doing this instead of taking a fishfinder.

I have not but my brother has. He likes to find tackle people lose on the rocks and submerged trees near the camp sites. Some finds are nice some are junk. I don't recall him mentioning seeing fish. Have fun.

obviously depends on water clarity... but we tend to see fish quite often... some larger than others.

Visibility won't be that great, even in only 10 ft of water.

I used to be an avid snorkeler. BW or Q would be a hoot depending on water clarity as already mentioned. In our last trip we were contemplating a swim off our camp site. That is until we spotted a very large snapping turtle letting us know this was HIS shoreline.

Let us know how that goes. :-)

Jacques Cousteau apparently did some diving along the border route years ago. His team was looking for relics of the voyageurs below some of the rapids--I think Wheelbarrow Falls was one. That's all I know about it--might have read that in Bill Rom's book. Obviously some lakes are much clearer than others--especially when you get into the interior of Quetico.

Springer 2, there is a book out by the Mn. Hist. Society about scuba diving all along the voyageur route. It's called "Voices From the Rapids", "An Underwater Search for Fur Trade Artifacts 1960 - 1973", copyright 1975. No Jacques Cousteau, though.

Just thinking about it makes me feel cold.

I have gone snorkeling in Alice Lake before. THe water is tanic stained and visibility is poor. I did not see any fish on that ocassion but I am sure you could (most likely northern near weed beds or smallmouth bass). I did see a lot of some strange green plant like formations that look a lot like coral to me (fresh water coral?) but I honestly do not know what they were.

As long as the water temp is ok I am sure you would have a good time.

Argo Lake in the Q would be the perfect lake for such an activity.

I've thought about it, but the 10 pounds of additional gear (wetsuit top, etc.) sort of puts me off. That, and I won't dive without a partner.

A good clear lake in late july would be nice. Just need a mask. Problem is that most good visibility lakes are trout lakes that dont warm up too much in the summer. Sandpit lake off the Mudrow entry point would be a nice one.

We love to snorkel and go to the BW in late August to Sept when the water is warm enough for good swimming. However, we haven't found the visibility was good enough to warrant taking a mask and snorkel. Fins would be too much weight for us. Still think about taking one sometime, though.

I have often thought about doing that below the pictographs, thinking there may be another reason for them other than just being on water travel routes.

Maybe something lurks below?

(Cue Jaws Music)

No, but think of all of the lures you could retrieve!

Everytime I go I take a little treat to mix things up some, last year it was crayfish traps.

A couple of years before that I carried a shorty wetsuit and snorkeling gear.
You will learn about the thermacline real fast. The water where I used it, Fish Stake narrows, was cold in June even with the wetsuit, I still snorkeled for several hours.

I saw a lot of trash on the bottom, a depressing amount of trash.

Few fish as they ran like hell from me.

Be sure to carry a knife with you so if you get tangled up in fishing line you have a backup plan.

Was it worth it, yea once. I did it a couple of times the last time I tried to circumnavigate a lake. I gave up and came home after swimming 4 hrs. That was more fun. (it is easier than without the wetsuit because it gives you a little buoyancy).

The crayfish traps are a mixed reward too.

I have a compact set of fins that aren't such a hassle to pack-
compact fins=

These fins + mask, snorkel and a snorkeling vest...take up some space in the pack, but not all that bad.

We usually take simple swim goggles. They don't weigh anything and let you see down pretty well.

I have used them to try to find lost fishing lures. BUT it really scared me. I imagined getting my hand snagged on the lure and not being to free the lure from the underwater snag. I did not get the lure and haven't tried it again.

It would be interesting to just swim along the top of the water and look down to see what you could see.

i threw in a pair of small goggles last summer but the water in bald eagle was not clear enough. gonna try again this year in horse.

Kevlar,
Many years ago (late 60's-early 70's) an Ely Chiropractor, Dr. Alvin Hall and his son Eldon went scuba diving in Basswood River below several sets of rapids.
They recovered many artifacts, old traps, axes, flintlock rifles in varied conditions, knives, etc, etc.
They were in the Ely Community Center for many years in glass display cases built into the walls.
I was supposed to go with them but had other plans.
Still kicking myself for not going.
The Ely Historical Society may have them now.

quote Koda: "I've thought about it, but the 10 pounds of additional gear (wetsuit top, etc.) sort of puts me off. That, and I won't dive without a partner."

Snorkeling or diving?

The secchi disk (water clarity) should be above 10 feet in order for snorkeling to be of much interest. Lakes like Clearwater would work great as they have a 18-20 foot secchi disk reading(hence the name). Search the dnr webpage for some of the clearer lakes because it sounds like fun.

quote mc2mens: "

quote Koda: "I've thought about it, but the 10 pounds of additional gear (wetsuit top, etc.) sort of puts me off. That, and I won't dive without a partner."

Snorkeling or diving? "

Both. In a populated area I'd be more willing to snorkel (which usually involves short, shallow dives), but not in the BW. The likelihood of a problem may be low, but the consequences could be great. It's just another way I'm more conservative when I'm out by myself.

Valid concern. I'd offset it somewhat by bringing an inflatable snorkeling vest.

I take a pair of swim goggles with. Most of the time I just find rocks and logs.

quote HowardSprague: "Valid concern. I'd offset it somewhat by bringing an inflatable snorkeling vest."

Too much stuff. The gorilla suit is more important.

Always take a set of goggles. Mostly dive around falls and rapids, and see tons of bass. At upper basswood falls we've found tackle boxes, landing nets, machetes, camp stoves, rods, all from spills im sure. also have found a very large logging chain. It's also fun to tie a jig onto a stick and put it right in front of the fish, really cool when they actually bite.

interesting reads, will think about bringing my snorkel stuff this fall and I will get to practice for that in 10 days while in Mexico, good bye winter!!

mi--anything worth taking home??--and Jay--what sort of depression junk? old stuff--new--?

quote hapstap: "interesting reads, will think about bringing my snorkel stuff this fall and I will get to practice for that in 10 days while in Mexico, good bye winter!!"

Have fun hap! I rented a house on Soliman Bay (near Tulum) about 5 years ago and snorkeled every day/all day for a week. Absolutely loved it. I've also snorkeled on Maui and found the snorkeling off the Mayan Riviera better.

wetcanoedog,
It's illegal to remove artifacts from the BWCA that you find, on land or in the water.
I don't know when this law went into effect, but it was many years ago.

to koda... funny, ive never considered snorkeling a dangerous endeavor, because, it isnt. i have a feeling youre more likely to die driving to the BW.

I agree that snorkeling is generally about as safe as swimming. But, a lot of people would recommend never swimming alone either. Of course, a lot of people think it is dangerous to go camping in the wilderness regardless of whether it is solo or in a group. So, it's all a question of choice.

In the BW, I think the main risk during snorkeling would be the risk of getting trapped by any underwater trees if you try to go under them to look at something and they shift. Came across that risk when searching for a GPS that jumped overboard last year and we decided that some spots weren't worth searching. However, it is an easy risk to avoid.

Asthmatics and those with allergies run the risk of sudden coughing, especially when mouth-breathing. This can be pretty risky if you're picking up fine dust through a snorkel, or if you're 10 feet under water. The risk is smaller on the surface, but it's still a risk.

I have snorkeled many times in the BW and love to do it when the water is warm enough. We have found a lot of fishing tackle, usually with the hooks rusted off. I lost a fillet knife one year and 18 month later I found it after less than a minute in the water, with my mask.

The only danger I have encountered is a sunburned back.

Jay

I have never done it but I certainly will one of these days, finding lots of lures would offset any inconvenience from the extra weight.

.... don't do it... it will save more stuff for me to find.

quote The Great Outdoors: "wetcanoedog,
It's illegal to remove artifacts from the BWCA that you find, on land or in the water.
I don't know when this law went into effect, but it was many years ago."

TGO's remark got me to thinking: What is an "Artifact". I think we can all agree a hand carved fishing lure made from moose bone from voyaguer days would be an artifact. But would a 2 month old cabella's jig also be an artifact? They are both fishing lures, one is just older. An arrowhead versus a shotgun shell - both are hunting projectiles. 100 year old spoon versus a lost lexan spork?

When does "junk" become an "artifact".

ND--i was about to ask the same question..

Here are some thoughts on artifacts versus junk:
If you think it would be cool to see it in a display about the BW then its an artifact.
If its value is greater than when it was first made then its an artifact.

Quadga would be a good lake, very clear.

NDCanoe,
Don't think you can remove anything from the waters anymore.
I know someone who dumped their canoe over and lost a lot of gear, tried to get permission to bring scuba gear in, and were denied.
Don't know if there are any exceptions, just aware of this one case, but do know that you cannot remove anything you find on land (snuff jars, old traps, lamps, hinges, stoves, etc.)

How does scuba gear violate the usual permit? It would be rather heavy to portage but no motors are involved unless they wanted to refill the tanks out in the wilderness. Do you know what reason they were given? I'm just curious.

I emailed the Forest Service (or was it MDNR?) several years ago asking about the legality of Scuba in the BW and the reply I got said it was fine - you just had to have a diver flag displayed. Always guessed the reason people don't do it is it would be a lot of stuff to portage.

andym,
The Forest Service regulates usage policy in the BWCA, the DNR fish and wildlife regs.
The FS didn't want anyone using scuba gear because they feared the removal of artifacts.
That's the reason he was given (he was a deputy sheriff at the time)
I'll check with him and get some clarification next time he's in Ely.
The person he contacted may have been misinformed, had a personal agenda, and said no even though scuba gear may not have been banned.
This occurs at times.

Howard and TGO,

Thanks for the responses. I guess people could do scuba in the sections of the BW that allow motors or on entry lakes and so a rule would make sense if they see the need for it.

A better question might be:
"Has anyone ever been snorkeled in the BWCA?"

You're crackin me up GC.

Good point Granite Cliffs LOL

I didn't snorkel in the BW yet, but I've snorkeled in White Iron Lake which has dark, tannin-stained water. Even there I could see reasonably well, found several fishing lures and a great smallie fishing spot I never would have thought twice about if looking at a map or passing by in the boat. That experience was enough to tell me I'd like to try it in other lakes, especially the clear water ones.

Good article on diving in the BWCA from BWJ.

Diving in the BWCA

SV,
Thanks for both the article and link, I enjoyed.
Boppa

When I take my boys in the BW in August we allways bring Masks and Snorkles. We have alot of fun finding fishing lures on the bottom of the lake stuck on rocks and trees. We allways find fun stuff, probbably the most ironic thing we found was a frisbee golf disc that was thrown into the lake two years prior(that was the last year nonfloating discs where allowed). We wrapped it up and gave it back to our buddy, priceless moment. Watching fish is also fun, finding lures and stuff is more fun for the kids.

Snorkeling in the BW has to be better than snorkeling in Wisconsin.

Note: I've posted this before but, the thought keeps coming back.

one of the funniest ever OB.