Coal strip pits

[Dark Wolf]

In the past, I have been in a "virgin" stop pit from coal mining. We have an opportunity to dive some nice looking pits.

Anyone on here have experience diving this kind of environment? I have been in exactly 1, to date. These pits are family owned, and have been for about 4 decades. They used it for fishing. So there will be the normal entanglement hazards for the lakes in this area. Visibility is the same or better than local lakes, temp is slightly cooler (2-3 degrees on the surface). Soft bottom at 20-25 foot at the entrance point.

Experience and thoughts are appreciated.

Lobo

 

[al248005]

They litter the landscape here in eastern Ohio and I have dove many of them. Your review on the temps and clairty is pretty much spot on. Hardly any fish other than a few bass or a catfish live in them. Most you find the huge boulders they didn't want or couldn't move. The one thing they all have in common is the sulphur smell. The mud has that rotten egg smell and once it's on you, it's very hard to get off. I've been in one before we couldn't dive because the sulphur smell in the water was so strong it was burning your eyes. All in all if you have an easy was to get in them they aren't bad to dive.

 

[broncobowsher]

Old neighbor has owned one for nearly 30 years. Has multiple lakes. One is clear, the other green. The green one is very warm on top and very cold on bottom. Looks like they hit a spring and shoved dirt in to isolate it. The green one is pretty much unexplorable. No vis, just mud and sunk branches. Both are only 30'. Really nothing to speak of in it. Few fish, few branches, lots of mud.

Years before I knew of some in Illinois that had some old equipment that was never brought out. That was before I dove. Friend of a family, insurance later banned diving there.

 

[Dark Wolf]

Thanks for the replies!

These pits have been stocked with fish numerous times over the years. Still waiting for weather, and everyone's schedules, to cooperate so that I can get in there.

As soon as I do, I will post. Although it sounds like we all know the answer already.

Lobo

 

[ScubaSquatch]

I grew up in Southeast Kansas which has 100's of strip pits. I'm planning to check a few out this summer. I have an old high school buddy who owns a decent sized one and there's tons of them that are managed by the state and considered public lands but I don't know if they would frown on diving in them.

 

[Dark Wolf]

I am in SW Missouri, so not far away. Yes, there are tons of them around. I am not sure about the legality of the public strips, either.

Let me know what you find out!!

Lobo

 

[Bob DBF]

It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.



Bob

 

[Minion_Diver]

Lobo 73 if you can't find anyone to dive them with I'm just down in central Arkansas and would love the opportunity to come dive them.

 

[Dark Wolf]

Lobo 73 if you can't find anyone to dive them with I'm just down in central Arkansas and would love the opportunity to come dive them.

Hello WVU!

I will run it past the property owner and my dive buddy, but I don't see it being a problem.

Maybe we can meet up at Table Rock, Beaver, or another lake and see how we mesh?

Lobo

 

[Minion_Diver]

Hello WVU!

I will run it past the property owner and my dive buddy, but I don't see it being a problem.

Maybe we can meet up at Table Rock, Beaver, or another lake and see how we mesh?

Lobo

Lobo

That works for me.