Moving to Omaha

[squee!]

Hi everyone.

I currently live in Puerto Rico and am moving back to omaha Nebraska and was wondering what the diving was like. Does anyone do any underwater hunting? Spearfishing or anything else? (not sure what lives in the aters there or what the local laws are). Anyone do any conservation research? I'm just interested to know what goes on in the midwest diving consortium. Thanks.

 

[NOVIZWHIZ]

Don't know about Omaha, but you spear a freshwater game fish in most states, there's as hefty fine and occasional handcuffs involved. Why the heck are you moving from PR? Buddy of mine is all bummed because his Navy wife is being stationed at OKINAWA..........aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggghhhhhhhhhhh!

 

[squee!]

Don't know about Omaha, but you spear a freshwater game fish in most states, there's as hefty fine and occasional handcuffs involved. Why the heck are you moving from PR? Buddy of mine is all bummed because his Navy wife is being stationed at OKINAWA..........aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggghhhhhhhhhhh!

I am moving because i am going to be going to school in Omaha.

I found the laws on spearfishing in nebraska and it looks totally legit to me. here they are: http://legis.state.sd.us/rules/rules/4107.htm#41:07:06

 

[Land Locked]

Hi everyone.

I currently live in Puerto Rico and am moving back to omaha Nebraska and was wondering what the diving was like. Does anyone do any underwater hunting? Spearfishing or anything else? (not sure what lives in the aters there or what the local laws are). Anyone do any conservation research? I'm just interested to know what goes on in the midwest diving consortium. Thanks.

Sorry to hear about your move. Have you ever cold water dived quarrys or lakes?
Better think about increasing the mil's on your suit and the weight on your belt.
By the way, beware of the local fish population, you think sponges are scarry,
http://www.scubaboard.com/t71871-.html

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I am moving because i am going to be going to school in Omaha.

University of Nebraska at Omaha? I knew one of the football players there once. He explained to me that it was an excellent school with an outstanding academic program. He stated that in honor of the long standing tradition of academic excellence they wore the "N" on their helmets as it stands for "Nowledge".

 

[Wkndbum]

Us Nebraskans do most of our spear fishing in SD or Arkansas. Not much for local diiving. Some quaries & sandpits within a 2 to 3 hr drive but best vis is still less than 20".

Give me a shout when you get up here.

Terry

 

[DA Aquamaster]

There are some decent sites for spearing Walleye in South Dakota but the season does not normally open until July 1. Dononvan's Hobby and Scuba Center in Sioux Falls used to do Walleye Safari's to Lake Oahe and may still do them, although the water is down about 40 ft. now. That would save you some driving and would get you an initial guided tour of some of the more productive locations.

Bill has been a little controversial though as some fisherman have acused him of putting dive flags on points whether there are divers in the water on those points or not. Personally, I don't see the big deal if he is doing that as in SD boats can run over your dive flag legally anyway as long as they are operating on an electric trolling motor only. (It took a real non-diving idiot to devise a law where an electric trolling motor divers can't hear well in the water is legal - so be very careful when ascending particularly if the viz is poor.) In my experience, if I am on a point very long, my dive flag attracts fisherman as they are then pretty confident that there are fish there. They complain that divers scare the fish off, but there actions contradict their words.

The local ettiquette is to not brag about what you shot. Fishing boats and guides take at least a hundred times more fish than spearfisherman and are able to get fish in just about any conditions while divers cannot, but one article in the newspaper or one moronic diver at a fish cleaning station can generate lots of ill will and bad press. Given the spearfishermen are also out voted by at least 100 to 1 and given that fishing is big business in the state, our sport cannot afford ill will or bad press or spearfishing will get legislated out of existance in the state.

 

[Wkndbum]

I entered this tournament last year & plan to again this year, good time!

2005 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE SCUBA SPEARFISHING

TOURNAMENT​

SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2005

At Fort Randall Dam Pickstown,SD
One Day Shoot

Registration: Saturday 9:00 - 9:45 AM
North Point Picnic Shelter # 1 by boat ramp
( Briefing - Roll Call 9:45 AM )
Tournament Hours: Saturday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM​

Contest Categories:
Biggest Game Fish -- Biggest Rough Fish
Weigh Only One Fish Per Category
Awards In Each Category

Picnic Saturday Evening At Shelter
Entry Fee: $15.00 ( Includes Contest Entry & Picnic )



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Sponsored by:


Donovan's Hobby & Scuba Center
3813 S. Western Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
605 338-6945 — 800 279-6945
Heartland Scuba Center, Inc.
101 E. 24th Street
Kearney, NE 68847
308 237-7943 — 800 344-DIVE


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Heartland S cuba Center East, Inc.
2315 N. Cot ner Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 68507
402 466-7677 — 800 379-0719


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2005 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE SPEARFISHING CONTEST
2005 Marks the 11th year for the SOUTH DAKOTA STATE SPEARFISHING CONTEST and it just keeps getting bigger and better. The 2004 contest saw an all time attendance record of 44!! ( Click Here For 2004 Contest Results )

For 2004 we moved the event headquarters to the North Point Recreation Area, Lake Francis Case and based out of picnic shelter #1 adjacent to the North Point boat ramp. Now the registration, roll call, weigh in and picnic dinner are all on the lake, close to the boat ramp, campgrounds and lots of activities for the non diving family members. (This is state park and will require a park sticker on your vehicle)

For those of you that have not made it to the contest yet we have tried to keep the format simple and so that even a beginning diver could win. There are two divisions: rough fish and game fish. Rough fish are fish where here is not a catch limit and game fish are those that have a limit. The only fish that you cannot shoot or enter are paddlefish and palid sturgeon. You enter just one fish per category. Fish can be taken by snorkeling or using SCUBA. (Taking fish in South Dakota requires a fishing license and limits are the same as for hook and line. Divers must have a dive flag and be within 75' of it.)

Diving conditions on Lake Francis Case in August are great! Normal surface temperature is 82° and the water coming out of the hydro plant at 130' deep is 76°. (This last year with a cooler summer the surface temperature only got to 77° and the bottom 74°). Water clarity will vary but normal visibility is 6'-20'. (This last year 13'-25'). What are you waiting for?

Spearfishing is limited to the lake above Fort Randall Dam and shooting hours are 1OAM to 4PM. The structure or bottom consists of glacial rock boulders, sand, gravel, submerged forests and some good old sediment. The fish tend to congregate on the points and drop offs in 13'-70' of water. You do not have to dive deep to shoot fish!

Getting to ,the contest is easy with good access from several directions. The main town is Pickstown SD, where highways 46 and 281, intersect. The entrance to North Point Recreation Area is just a mile north of Pickstown on highway 281.

There are many options for lodging in the area and you will want to get your reservations made early! August is prime vacation time and hotels fill up fast. Hotels in Pickstown are: Dakota Inn 605-487-7404, Fort Randall Inn 800-340-7801, and Fort Randall Casino Hotel 695-487-7871, 800-362-6333. There are also hotels in Lake Andes and Wagner. For campers the state has two beautiful campgrounds: North Point Recreation Area ( on the lake above the dam) , and Randall Creek ( below the dam) Reservations can be made at: www.sta.te.sd.us/gfp/sdparks/reserve.htm or by calling (800) 710-CAMP (2267).



3813 S. Western Ave. - Sioux Falls, SD 57105 (605) 338-6945 (800) 279-6945
Copyright 2004 Donovan's Hobby & Scuba Center All Rights Reserved— Updated 01/25/05

 

[squee!]

Sorry to hear about your move. Have you ever cold water dived quarrys or lakes?
Better think about increasing the mil's on your suit and the weight on your belt.
By the way, beware of the local fish population, you think sponges are scarry,
http://www.scubaboard.com/t71871-.html

Yikes. Fish attacks! and here I was worried about reef sharks!
I have never dove freshwater. I don't plan on diving when its cold, I'm kind of a pussy like that. How warm does the water get during the summertime?

 

[squee!]

University of Nebraska at Omaha? I knew one of the football players there once. He explained to me that it was an excellent school with an outstanding academic program. He stated that in honor of the long standing tradition of academic excellence they wore the "N" on their helmets as it stands for "Nowledge".

Heh, that's pretty funny
Nope, not UNO. Nebraska Med center. Did my college in MN where it's colder. Brrrr.
My college team was 2nd to last in football, so I probably can't relate to the football insanity that takes place in NE. We were just happy when our team got points on the board.