This picture ca. 1978 shows two islands off the State beach at the southeast end of the lake. We'd challenge each other's navigational skills by taking a bearing to a point somewhere on the island just visible on the left side of the picture. The navigator had to maintain the agreed upon depth and heading during the 150 to 200 yard dive. Many times we followed the bottom contour through the trees and once found the contents of a capsized boat (the Garcia bait casting reel I found is in perfect condition still). We were able to navigate to within 20 feet of our target. Divers could also spear large-mouth bass and catfish and we dined on many of each. (I became so spoiled by the quality of fishing in Louisiana that I don't fish in Iowa). I'd spear 2 or 3 - 10 lb catfish, put them in my dog's wading pool for half a day or so while I rinsed my gear, guzzled a beer or two then fillet the fish.

Another frequent dive was in the outlet channel for the turbines. The power company would shut the gates during off-peak hours. We'd jump in as soon as the current subsided. The amount of fish in the channel was incredible...including huge gar that would school around you. Our main objective was collecting petrified wood. One of my diving buddies bought a rock saw and vibrating polisher and tiled his hearth with slabs of opalized wood...beautiful. When diving this channel one had better call the power company for the approx. times of operation lest you find yourself in a veritable flash flood. I said approximate...I found myself several hundred feet downstream when peak usage necessitated firing up the turbines early.