In deed they are Zero. I think there's other parts sewage and industrial waste added in there, waterbaby.
What's this I hear about surfable waves in the lakes? I've looked up pics and sure enough there's guys riding baby rollers at what appear to be great lakes spots. Seems like a novelty to me, but if anyone knows different let me know -I've got fam in Michigan, and it'd be a nice excuse to bring a board when I visit.
Hi, up here in T.O. Been surfing the lakes (Ontario/Erie/Huron) for years. It's true, there are waves and it does get surprisingly fun. The true "good" days that you would compare to good offshore ocean days are rare but do happen. Most days have some component of wind involved that you have to deal with but often times there's tucked away bays just out of the fray or clean-ups. Some days are just for the sake of paddling and catching a few. On good days on Lake Erie there can be up to 20 + guys out and most on short boards..I know right.. Whaaaat? Fish to LB's are usually the call. Will be a pretty warm winter, so look at the maps, check the fetch potential and usually anything from the same direction for 6 hrs or more in the 25kt and above range will produce.
Thanks for the heads up Canuck. I'll be looking into it. I've said it before and I'll say it again -I have no problem logging it on small days. Never understood the guys who only paddle out if its chest+ and glassy. On the EC we just don't get enough of those days to be picky. I'll take a day of wind-blown fun slop anytime over a day where I just don't go out at all because I find myself in Michigan and I didn't even think to look for waves. Is there an issue with icing over in the winter? And what do you think temp wise -I've got a fantastic 5-4-3 suit (never been cold in that suit -ever), 7mil boots and 5 mil gloves. Will that setup get me through a session say -this winter? (I understand water temps probably vary widely from lake-to-lake and from north to south -but generally?).
Erie will freeze over solid. It's relatively shallow. The wind will be a B!TCH to develop sizeable swell. I have body surfed Ontario during summer storms 30+ years ago... Actually Lake Erie is pretty clean now.. I went To college on the shores of Lake Ontario, (Oswego State) and Lake Erie (Fredonia state). Erie used to catch fire around Buffalo in the late 60s early 70s!
My relatives are in the mid-eastern part of MI near Midland/ Saginaw, so I'll be looking at lake Huron. Apparently there's a surfable beach near Bay City which isn't far away (although getting decent fetch all the way into Saginaw Bay looks like a long shot unless wind direction is perfect and sustained). Also looks like there's some potentially solid point setups near Au Gres and Tawas and up along the other side of the bay at Port Austin. And yea screwby -I've heard of the magical burning lake!
No problem with your suit set-up, you might want a 7mil mitt for the real cold days layer up with a vest or 1mm jersey. Erie will freeze solid, but it's still running around 8C so, way late for a normal year. Shore ice can be a problem, but it has to be cold and typically onshore winds to get shore ice to really form from freezing spray. On the other hand, very cold offshore or calm winds will get the sheet ice to form. We've surfed as cold as it gets (full ice rasta head thing) and 2 hours or a little more is totally doable. 3 big systems over the next 2 weeks and will probably be mid Jan at the earliest to get any bad ice going. The deeper the lake the longer it takes.
