Lake Ouachita?

[Bob]

I learned to dive in Lake Ouachita many years ago. I've also taken many a big flathead out of there. Lots of good memories for me at Lake Ouachita. almtree: Bob

 

[dragonfly122556]

Hey, I'm from Louisiana too. Giggles are good. Just got back from Cozumel. Only made one dive. Going to Doctor for Ear. Blew ear drum out 7 years ago. But love diving and photography. Over 100 dives but ear is getting worst. This past Monday, doved 85ft. saw 3 turtles, stingray, etc. but problem is the worst coming up and after I get on boat, severe ear pressure and nausea. I love to dive but maybe have to be sphere fishing and shore diving instead.
Giggles are good after the pain stops.

 

[dragonfly122556]

Lake Quachita is beautiful. Husband too, wants to get into sphere fishing. Just 3 hours away for us.

 

[Mudbug_CSD]

Had a good time - landed several decent sized blue catfish and "killer" brim Tourney winner catfish weighed in at 40.06 lbs - beating second place by .01 lbs. I think I'd want mine re-weighed...

We did manage to find a bunch of giggles too - they're around 10-12' deep, hidden under the rocks.

Vis was good, btw (for lake o, at least) - 15-20' around the dam, as long as you weren't directly where someone else had mucked it up recently. Water temp was about 75 (i'll check for sure when I get my computer off the boat this evening), with thermoclines around 10' and 20'. Great weekend for diving - had a blast. Going back next weekend with a mixed class of jelly beans and folks getting their AOW certs.

 

[Mudbug_CSD]

Lake O update -
Water temp at surface - 83ºF
visibility at dam - 10' - 15'
major thermoclines at ~ 30' (73ºF), 60' (62ºF) & 100' (49ºF)

(sorry about the double-post...)

 

[richerso]

I am impressed that you dived to 100+' to determine the temperature was 49F. I am not sure I would have done that; at least not without a dry suit.

 

[RumBum]

Going back next weekend with a mixed class of jelly beans and folks getting their AOW certs.

Jelly beans? Is that a term for OW students?

 

[Mudbug_CSD]

I am impressed that you dived to 100+' to determine the temperature was 49F. I am not sure I would have done that; at least not without a dry suit.

I was on a mission... There's memorials set out in the lake for various of our previous instructors/friends and I had to go do a little maintenance on one around 110'. It was a bit chilly... but we weren't there for long. Plus I was layered with a full 3 mil farmer john top and bottom, covered by a single-piece 5 mil suit and a 5 mil hood with cold water gloves and boots. Still, I was shivering past 80'.

my previous deepest dive in Lake O was 105', but I beat my own personal best yesterday by 9'. For those curious, it's really cold, and really freakin' dark down there.

and yes, RumBum - jelly bean is an endearing term for beginning open water divers. Here's a growing list of terms like this.

 

[blueeyz78]

I have not heard of Lake Ouachita yet. Would anyone be willing to share some information: Location, dive plan, conditions etc...
My husband and I are trying to discover places to dive in and around Texas.

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Ouachita is in Arkansas. It's a little bit of a haul from the Dallas area. Other slightly closer spots are Murray and Broken Bow in Oklahoma and Travis in Austin.

TwoBit