Tag: Lake Michigan

Wisconsin coach jumps into Lake Michigan after Badgers win over Northwestern

Wisconsin was sure to enjoy the win over Northwestern

Wisconsin continued its midseason resurgence with a 23-3 win over Northwestern on Saturday.

The Badgers improved to 5-2 with the win and 3-1 in Big Ten play. It is the team’s third straight victory, all by a sizable margin (52-6 over Purdue, 42-7 over Rutgers and 23-3 over Northwestern). Importantly, it brings the team to the doorstep of bowl eligibility with a crucial stretch upcoming.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin Badgers critical win over Northwestern

Wisconsin’s Oct. 26 primetime matchup against No. 3 Penn State is sure to dominate the conversation all week. But before Badgers turned the page from their road victory over the Wildcats, they were sure to enjoy the environment.

That environment: Northwestern’s temporary lakefront stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan.

How they enjoyed that environment: the team rushed to the shores of the lake as strength and conditioning coach Brady Collins took a celebratory swim.

Wisconsin’s social media team was sure to capture the moment.

https://twitter.com/BadgerFootball/status/1847723153419600258

That is the excitement of a team that has won three straight conference games by a combined margin of 117 to 16, completely turning its season around in the process.

For more postgame reaction and analysis, check out our takeaways from Wisconsin’s win over Northwestern and the standouts, both good and bad,  from the matchup.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

What is the weather forecast for Wisconsin vs. Northwestern on Saturday?

What is the weather forecast for Wisconsin vs. Northwestern on Saturday?

Wisconsin’s biennial trip to Evanston, Illinois to face the Northwestern Wildcats is often impacted by the weather report.

The old Ryan Field’s place near the shores of Lake Michigan makes that the reality. Any wind or weather coming off the lake doesn’t have much interruption before reaching the stadium.

Related: 10 keys to a Wisconsin Badgers victory over the Northwestern Wildcats

This impact was assumed to only rise when Northwestern’s temporary lakefront stadium was announced — a location for some of the team’s 2024 and 2025 home games before the new Ryan Field opens in 2026. That stadium, pictured below, directly abuts Lake Michigan. Only a moveable scoreboard stands in the way of any wind or lake-effect weather reaching the field of play.

Aug 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A general view of the temporary Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium where the Northwestern Wildcats will play the Miami (Oh) Redhawks in a football game. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday’s matchup against Wisconsin will be Northwestern’s final game in the building of the 2024 season. It will move to play its remaining home games at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.

The weather in the Midwest hasn’t quite turned toward the winter. Northwestern’s games in the temporary stadium thus far against Miami (OH), Duke, Eastern Illinois and Indiana have not been severely impacted by any inclement weather.

Saturday against Wisconsin looks to be no different. The weather forecast for Evanston, Illinois reads 70 degrees and sunny, with winds out of the southwest between five and 10 miles per hour.

In other words, the forecast predicts a perfect afternoon for football

Wisconsin and Northwestern will kick off at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on the Big Ten Network and streaming on Fox Sports. The weather should not hinder a Wisconsin offensive attack that enters playing its best football of the Luke Fickell and Phil Longo era to date.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

A first look at the standalone field where Wisconsin will play Northwestern on Oct. 19

Seriously, there is going to be major college football played on this field…

Wisconsin will travel to play the Northwestern Wildcats in Week 8 of the college football season.

The Badgers and Wildcats have faced off in every season since 2013. Wisconsin has made five trips to Evanston, Illinois, in that time.

Related: Big Ten football offensive coordinator rankings for 2024 season

A road trip to play Northwestern used to mean a game at Ryan Field — a field known for abnormally long grass in a high school-like stadium atmosphere. That is no longer the case. Northwestern recently demolished Ryan Field and is in the process of building a new state-of-the-art facility.

The construction will not be completed until the 2026 season. In the meantime, the Wildcats are building a temporary solution.

Wisconsin will play in that temporary stadium when it travels to Northwestern on Oct. 19, 2024. Early reports pointed to Lambeau Field as a possible location. Those reports did not come to fruition. That led to the much-anticipated release of the actual location of the Badgers’ game against the Wildcats this season.

Turns out it is a remote turf field on the shore of Lake Michigan. That’s about it.

To be clear, this is just the location of the field. Northwestern is expected to put together a minor build-out that includes an area for the media and limited seating for season-ticket holders.

But the temporary stadium should take Northwestern’s atmosphere, or lack thereof, to the next level.

The Badgers will make the trip in mid-October looking to avenge a 24-10 loss to the Wildcats in 2023. Wisconsin is expect to improve upon a shaky 7-6 record from a season ago, while Northwestern will likely take a step backward after a surprising 8-5 2023 campaign.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

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Lake Michigan serves up record burbot for Indiana angler

Anthony Burke caught a 14-pound, 3.6-ounce burbot to shatter the previous record by nearly three pounds.

An Indiana angler has shattered a state record with his recent Lake Michigan catch of a 14-pound, 3.6-ounce burbot.

Anthony Burke’s catch on Jan. 6 eclipsed the previous record by nearly three pounds and marked the third time in 13 months that a new state burbot record had been established.

Burbot are native to Lake Michigan and spend most of their time in extremely deep water off Michigan and Illinois, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

They migrate into shallower Indiana waters during the fall and winter to feed and spawn.

Anthony Burke poses with record burbot. Photo: IDNR

“Unseasonably warm weather and light winds on Lake Michigan the last several winters have provided boaters with a longer open-water fishing season and more opportunities to catch fish that are usually not in our waters, like burbot,” Ben Dickinson, a biologist with the DNR, said in a news release.

Burbot are found in parts of Canada and the northern United States, and in parts of Europe. They spend most of their time at depths of nearly 700 feet.

They’re prized as table fare because their flesh cooks up firm and white.

The all-tackle world record for burbot stands at 25 pounds, 2 ounces. That fish was caught in March 2010 at Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Find a world of adventure at these spots along Lake Michigan

Discover beaches, parks, and more.

If you haven’t fallen in love with Lake Michigan yet, now is the time to do it. For outdoorsy folks, endless adventures wait on the shores of this Great Lake. Want to explore lakeside hiking trails? Or go surfing at the beach? Or visit incredible national and state parks? You can do all of that and more on the banks of this beloved landmark.

Make the most of a trip to the region with this guide on places to go and things to do there. Whether you like kayaking, hiking, or beachcombing, you’re sure to find fun times and gorgeous scenery on a trip to Lake Michigan.

A beach on Lake Michigan.
Photo by Gary Millar

Places to go

Witness some of the best lakeside views at nearby parks. Indiana Dunes State Park offers excellent beach hikes, and Harrington Beach State Park is a great place to go canoeing. Consider spending a day at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, too. Just make sure to prepare before climbing the dunes.

Lake Michigan also has plenty to offer tourists seeking more unique experiences. In Shelby, Michigan, tourists can go from the Otto Nature Preserve to the lavender labyrinth at Cherry Point Farm. About 55 miles further north, the SS City of Milwaukee provides summer boat tours and a ghost ship tour for Halloween.

Rocks and houses overlooking a lakeshore.
Photo by Kevin Dooley

Things to do

Obviously, Lake Michigan is perfect for water sports. In the summer, visitors can go swimming or surfing at local beaches. More adventurous guests can take to the water in a kayak or on a speedboat. There are also a variety of lake cruises available to take groups on a guided tour of the region.

The fun doesn’t stop on the shore, though. If you’re a rockhound or seashell enthusiast, try beachcombing at Michigan Beach Park. Eagle-eyed guests might be able to spot Petoskey stones. You can go on some fantastic hikes along Lake Michigan, too. Tackle the Empire Bluff Trail at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, or wander along Cricket Hill Loop in Chicago.

Aerial view of Chicago overlooking Lake Michigan.
Photo by R Boed

Ladder and luck contribute to Navy Pier lake trout catch

Since he was fishing for perch, Les Wooten didn’t bother bringing a net, so he was unprepared when he unexpectedly hooked a big lake trout.

Since he was fishing for perch at Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, Les Wooten didn’t bother bringing a net, so he was unprepared when he unexpectedly hooked a big lake trout.

Thankfully, he had some help from other fishermen, along with a good bit of luck.

His first challenge was reeling in the large fish on a crappie rig, as reported by the Chicago Sun Times.

Wooten told the Sun Times he walked down to the nearest ladder attached to the pier and worked his way down to the last rung.

“One fisherman had my rod, working the fish toward me, another fisherman handed me the net,” Wooten explained to the Sun Times.

The net had a short handle and was made for smaller fish.

“It took several tries to dip the fish in the net as [the laker] was so big, it kept falling out,” he said. “With one lucky lunge, I managed to get enough of the fish’s head and upper body in the net to lift it out of the water. I gave the handle to another fisherman while I grabbed the frame of the net while I ascended up the ladder to a bunch of cheers.”

Also on FTW Outdoors: Can you spot the crocodile? Family enjoying river never saw it

The lake trout measured 32½ inches and weighed 14½ pounds. He caught it using a shiner for bait.

Turns out, Wooten’s son had a similar experience catching a flathead catfish from Navy Pier.

Navy Pier is on the shoreline of Lake Michigan in Chicago. It opened in July 1916 and is a popular tourist attraction that draws 9 million visitors each year. NavyPier.org states that one of the hidden gems of Navy Pier is that guests can fish free, and it offers tips and tricks to catch perch, salmon, bass and trout.

Photo courtesy of Les Wooten.

Skipper raves about girl’s salmon catch, says ‘fish should fear her’

A 15-year-old girl landed a 29.6-pound Chinook salmon and had the skipper raving about her fishing skills in making the impressive catch.

A 15-year-old girl landed a 29.6-pound Chinook salmon and had the skipper of KingFin Charters raving about her fishing skills in making the impressive catch.

Olivia Bukowski caught the huge salmon while fishing Lake Michigan last weekend. She obviously knows what she’s doing.

“If you are a fish, you should definitely fear her,” Capt. Dan Wheeler of KingFin Charters told the Chicago Sun-Times.

“She would not let anyone take the rod from her or even let them touch it. She kept the rod up the whole time and worked the fish perfectly. She had already caught a few coho that morning without losing one and was ready to go when this beast hit.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Angler catches ‘dumbest bass in lake’ to repeat as Classic champ

“I have seen teenage boys and some men crumble on fish half this size. Definitely a catch I will never forget and a story I will be using for many years to come to put teenage boys to shame.”

Wheeler weighed the fish on a digital scale and wished it had hit the 30-pound mark.

“I wanted it to be 30 so bad, but it is what it is,” he said.