Pike Chain of Lakes

07/04/2025

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July!! What a Kick Off to the Weekend~Duluth Air Guard made a Fabulous Flyover at 9:35am!! We got a few videos but just have to say, when you are that fast it’s had to Capture!!

Please pass the word to use Slow Wake DNR practices to all. Our New Buoys weren’t able to be out.

Happy Birthday America 💙❤️🇺🇸💙❤️

07/04/2025

Fireworks on Twin Bear have been changed to Friday night due to weather forecast Saturday. Hopefully everyone can still make it. Please let people know. Thank you
❤️🤍💙

06/26/2025

Pike Chain Lovers!!
The Pike Chain of Lakes Association INC
is in the end process of purchasing No Wake Buoys for our Lakes. The old ones had to be put to rest after decades.

We are asking for everyone’s help until the New are in place to always obey No Wake areas, between the lakes and in our two long channels.

Our hope is they will arrive just before the 4th of July Weekend!!

P.S. 🇺🇸 Fireworks Saturday, July 5th in Twin Bear

06/22/2025

Tis’ the Season for Baby Loons!!
First and foremost please be aware and on the look out when in boats and jet skis. Often in the shadows you can’t see the Loons.

Loons are considered one of the most primitive birds on earth! That means they have not changed their current form in about one million years.

Current Wisconsin populations are at about 4,000 nesting adults.

The Pike Chain is lucky enough to host about one couple per Lake! Again proving our Lakes are a Special Place!

Please report in the comments your sightings on the lake and photos if you have them.

Reminders to go out to all watercraft and all ages of drivers please to use caution around these amazing birds we get to share our waters . Thank you!

06/09/2025

Some Pike Chain homeowners may have noticed a large reddish crayfish in the water or, surprisingly, walking across their property. On Eagle and Flynn lakes I have observed these White River Crayfish since the very early 2000s. I most often find them, or evidence of them, following heavy summer rains. For example, I found one smashed on Ledin Rd and one in our yard following the “heavy” rains this last Sunday. I also often see parts of them (usually smaller legs) on the dock or shore, likely from Otter predation.

White River Crayfish (sometimes called White Swamp Crayfish) are native to the very southeast corner of Wisconsin, but have not been previously identified in the Lake Superior drainage. Thus, they are an invasive species in our lakes. White River Crayfish are very noticeable because they are larger (can be ~5”) than our native crayfishes and the invasive Rusty Crayfish, have small claws (especially relative to their body size), and can be an eye-catching deep red (almost a burgundy) color. Their “tail” may appear black with red “stripes” on both sides. White River Crayfish are also unique (relative to our other crayfishes) in that they create burrows in the ground, usually with two openings with mud-lined rims, that extend several inches underground. These burrows may be used for breeding, but may also protect the species during dry summer and fall seasons. The effect of White River Crayfish on other crayfishes (or plants, fish, etc) is not well known, but burrows may cause some damage to banks and yards. Given their non-native status, I usually kill them (i.e., step on them) when I find them in the yard. In my experience, they are not common, but also not unusual to see. I have not noticed a substantive increase in their abundance over the years. Please leave a comment if you have observed White River Crayfish on the Chain.

By Derek Ogle

06/04/2025

If you’d like to see a photo of “The Spot” on Buskey Bay early on (1930s? 1940s?)
Help us out with a time line please!!

06/02/2025

We Sure Have Super Volunteers!!!

🏆
Highway Cleanup a Resounding Success

A crew of 18 volunteers picked up trash along Highway H from Pine Lake Rd to the Crooked Lake gravel pit “back entrance”, Scenic Drive from H to Eagle Lake Rd, and all of McCarry Lake Rd and Tepee Trail on May 31st. The volunteers did an amazing job picking up ~250 gallons of trash, ~50 gals of recyclable glass and plastic, and ~75 gals of recyclable aluminum cans.

The value of this work was evident in the observation that the amount of trash along our traditional section from Rooster Rd to Scenic Drive was minimal, whereas the amount in the extended sections was extensive. Thanks to all of the volunteers for making the choice to spend their Saturday morning doing this work on behalf of the Lake Association and also for making it enjoyable for everyone involved. Thanks also to Buskey Bay Resort for letting us stage in their parking lot.

Picture of volunteers (left-to-right, front-to-back) … Derek Ogle, Susan Brown, Karen Vlasaty, Don Vlasaty, Karin Amundson, Paula Millar, Kathy Tuttle, Melanie Jensen, Carla Ward, Shelly Manion, Debb Sharbono, Lauryn Swanson, John Mahan, Raine Amundson, Mark Manion, Mike Hershberger, Kim Ogle (not pictured), Ieuan Amundson (not pictured)

05/31/2025

The Annual Twin Bear Fireworks will be held Saturday, July 5th at Dark O'Clock at the west end of the lake.

If you'd like to donate you can drop your donation off with Ginger, Ron or Judy Pagac, John or Mary Podlesny, Jay or Margie Johnson or via Venmo.

Venmo address Bucket2023

Thanks in advance for your donations !!!

05/21/2025

WELCOME to Summer 2025!! Help us kick off the Season!
Pike Chain is looking for about 20 Volunteers for 2 hours on May 31 at 9:00am to help Clean-Up Highway H! See all the details in below Photo and make sure to email our new Board Member Derek Ogle who took on this project from Julie Peck who successfully ran it for Years!

05/13/2025

I thought some folks from our area might want to participate. We've sure seen ticks on our pups.

STOP squishing ticks!🛑
Scientists at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute need them for a research study.
The study is surveying the distribution of tick species in our area, including any new, invasive ticks that may be moving into Wisconsin.
Learn how to submit your tick -> https://www.marshfieldresearch.org/News/marshfield-clinic-research-institute-seeks-ticks-for-second-year-of-study
Tick collection kits are also available in Public Health Vending Machines at Ashland County Health & Human Services and Super Smoke Shop & V**e Shop.

05/08/2025

Derek Ogle will be coordinating a "Highway Cleanup Day" for Saturday May 31st (probably starting in the morning with a backup day of June 1st). Please contact Derek at [email protected] if you are interested in helping with the highway cleanup and would like to be added to an e-mail list for details about this or future Highway Cleanup events. [This announcement will also be sent via the Lake Association's mailing list. Apologies for the redundancy for some of you.] More info to follow with actual time and starting location.