Planning A Trip To Fox River Chain O' Lakes

[hooah212002]

My dad and I want to go to the Chain o' Lakes in Northern IL but to say it is a daunting task would be an understatement. Is there anyone who could point me in the right direction as far as which lake produces the most LMB/SMB? Which lake has decent fishing with minimal leisure boat traffic? From what I have read, it appears you need some sort of permit? I've only visually seen any of these lakes on my drives through Fox Lake and I don't want to get down there and spend all morning just finding a spot to launch. We will be probably going in early October (hopefully) as by that time we will have gotten my uncle's boat.

[hooah212002]

Or, better yet, does anyone have any lakes/ponds they could point me to that are within ~1 hour of the Rockford/Roscoe area? Preferably somewhere that is not too heavily pressured. I wouldn't mind trying out Shabbona, but I've been reading that it is one of the most heavily fished lakes in IL for it's size. I ask because in our immediate vicinity there isn't really any good fishing that I can see. All of the quality lakes are at least 45 minutes or so away. Since we only get to get out once a week and that is a good length trip, I want to make sure we go somewhere that we can do relatively well on. Even if "relatively well" means a few small fish.

[MarkH024]

Take this from me, and this is strictly my opinion as I know some people will chime in. Since you're up by Wisconsin, I'd target something up there. The fishing (in my own experience) is just plain better in Wisconsin.

For starters, you have to pay for a permit whether seasonal or temporary on the Chain. The Chain is dirty...hotter than tick, super shallow...and in the boating season it's filled with drunk people flying around on 600HP boats. You're coming down in October so you'll miss the brute of the morons out there but you'll catch a few still. I know this because I used to go there and party with friends that still go there and do the same stuff. There are some select areas that are decent spots for fishing......but nothing great (in my eyes). I'm sure others will say it's awesome but I'm just being super honest with you based from my time spent out there.

If you want to fish the Fox down this way, you need a boat that you can port (canoe/kayak). The Elgin stretch is big enough to put a motor boat in with launches however you're limited to the dams. The Fox river is nice but if I were you I'd head North and hit the Wisconsin River instead. I'm from the Chicago area, and I've been to the chain, I fish the Fox River by my house, I've caught fish at both. But overall the fishing has been better to me in Wisconsin. I fish Wisconsin much more than in IL. The fishing pressure in IL is insane INSSSSANE. I think the other people fishing here makes me even more angry because of how they treat the water and shorelines.

Shabbona I hear is decent, but extremely pressured as well. I haven't fished it so I'm not going to say if it is good or not. I'll let someone else speak on that.

[hooah212002]

Take this from me, and this is strictly my opinion as I know some people will chime in. Since you're up by Wisconsin, I'd target something up there. The fishing (in my own experience) is just plain better in Wisconsin.

I'm sure it is, but right now I only get out on the weekends and only out with my dad. We both have an IL license and out of state WI license costs $50: my dad can't justify that anytime soon to my mom. The only fishing I can do in WI is very little after or before work and only after I get a license. I haven't yet had the need to get my WI license because I've not found a spot from shore to fish from. Also, if/when we get a boat, he's the one with a truck and somewhere to store it. Long story short: it is far more conveniant right now for us to fish in IL, as bad as that fishing may be.

[MarkH024]

I'm sure it is, but right now I only get out on the weekends and only out with my dad. We both have an IL license and out of state WI license costs $50: my dad can't justify that anytime soon to my mom. The only fishing I can do in WI is very little after or before work and only after I get a license. I haven't yet had the need to get my WI license because I've not found a spot from shore to fish from. Also, if/when we get a boat, he's the one with a truck and somewhere to store it. Long story short: it is far more conveniant right now for us to fish in IL, as bad as that fishing may be.

Understand completely. Everyone has their priorities and limits. Well, the Chain or Shabbona is probably your best choices for Northern IL then. Maybe next season convince your pops to get a WI license. You could also try Lake Zurich, Crystal Lake, and Silver Lake. Those are a few others that you can put a boat in.

There is plenty of good shoreline opportunities on the Fox River too just so you know. Just google it and you'll find pretty much shore access around all the dam areas. Let me know if you check it out and catch anything.

[hooah212002]

Understand completely. Everyone has their priorities and limits. Well, the Chain or Shabbona is probably your best choices for Northern IL then. Maybe next season convince your pops to get a WI license. You could also try Lake Zurich, Crystal Lake, and Silver Lake. Those are a few others that you can put a boat in.

Awesome. Thanks. We'll definitely give those a shot.

There is plenty of good shoreline opportunities on the Fox River too just so you know. Just google it and you'll find pretty much shore access around all the dam areas. Let me know if you check it out and catch anything.

We'll give this a shot too. Like I said, I've never scoped out the area very thoroughly firsthand, I've just driven through the town of Fox Lake on my way to O'Hare. But when doing so, it didn't look very friendly to landlubbers. Granted, I barely saw any of it.

Have you ever fished lake Le-Aqua-Na in Lena? It's pretty far west for you.

[MarkH024]

Have you ever fished lake Le-Aqua-Na in Lena? It's pretty far west for you.

No I haven't. Never even heard of it.

[hooah212002]

Whereabouts do you fish up here? I've been trying to find somewhere I could pop off to after work (I work in Racine, live in Delavan) or maybe get up early and go to for a couple hours.

[MarkH024]

Further north past Madison. Up by Green County area.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Have you ever fished lake Le-Aqua-Na in Lena? It's pretty far west for you.

Ive been there a few times. Its hit or miss. Just go for the quietness weekday. Electric only-- Would go to Shab 1st.

le-aqua-na

For Shore fishing Four Lakes Winnebago county is ok but pressured

[hooah212002]

For Shore fishing Four Lakes Winnebago county is ok but pressured

I took my son there last weekend and got skunked. There were SO MANY people there, it was ridiculous. As small as those "lakes" (and I use the term lakes loosely here) are, there was just far too many people. There was a person fishing every 50 ft or so it seemed. Not a single person I spoke to caught anything, nor did we even see any fish; breaching the surface or otherwise. I'd say that place is the very definition of pressured fishing water.

[NoBassPro]

You could also try Crystal Lake

I have been on that one. The fishing was nothing special, but they did have a no wake past noon on Sundays rule that was strictly enforced. Might have changed by now.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Just got back from Shab, 6hrs one 14" bass out of pads(senko) north shore near NMV buddy got a 2# cat chicken livers.

[hooah212002]

Just got back from Shab, 6hrs one 14" bass out of pads(senko) north shore near NMV buddy got a 2# cat chicken livers.

Wow, that's rough considering what I've heard elsewhere about that place. I've pretty much convinced my dad that he NEEDS his WI license. I just got mine last Thursday and have found a couple places up here for us to hit. It's just crazy how much more water there is up here and it's closer or the just as far as we were planning on going had we stuck to IL.