WiDan…since you asked, I swim in lake Mendota (yuck). I think it is better than Monona. Don’t they treat lake Monona right before IMWI? I’m not sure that I would swim in Wingra either. The beaches have been closed down in the past (due to cat pee)…that and I’ve never seen anyone swim there. Any suggestions from all of the Madison crowd in here?
Waubesa? There is a swim area and water slide near a camp that is in a cove area. I swam in that lake all the time in the summer when I was a kid. Waubesa is a bit more popular with Skiers too I think, the way I see it…if it is okay to ski in, it is okay to swim in it.
make the drive to Devil’s lake with a friend and swim 2.4 miles in a clean, safe water and enjoy the view…no boats, minimal fishers and calm, warm water.
in the summer (June / July / Aug) I will swim in lake mendota a couple mornings a week - but other then that it’s indoor swimming for me (i use the east side Y - the pool is a bit better there then the west side). I think the UW pool is the best in town if you can use it.
There is a guy named Mark Peterson who runs a summer lake swimming class that friends of mine have taken and have enjoyed. PM me and I can send his contact info to anyone who’s interested.
I usually hit the pool at MATC its a bit warmer than UW’s and its easier for me to get to. Bonnie G. keeps MATC’s pool at a perfect temp (at least for me).
I was also thinking about lake Waubesa. Devil’s lake it great too, except you have to be careful in August when it gets to be 90 degrees or so…the Schistosomes come out to play…