Where are all the Illinois Guys ?

[slonezp]

And they have now closed 6 of the more popular forest preserves from Fri-Sun.

[papajoe222]

Am I correct? Are the state operated lakes open as of today, May,1st?  Are Braidwood and the lakes of Mazonia considered part of that group? The DNR site doesn"t list either one as open.

[Tracker22]

1 hour ago, papajoe222 said:

Am I correct? Are the state operated lakes open as of today, May,1st?  Are Braidwood and the lakes of Mazonia considered part of that group? The DNR site doesn"t list either one as open.

No, only listed lakes are open.

[papajoe222]

8 minutes ago, Tracker22 said:

No, only listed lakes are open.

Thanks. I just checked on Rock Run Rookery and I know the park is open, but not sure about the lake for fishing.

[Tracker22]

8 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

Thanks. I just checked on Rock Run Rookery and I know the park is open, but not sure about the lake for fishing.

Yeah, I don’t think they could make it any more confusing.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

10 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Thanks. I just checked on Rock Run Rookery and I know the park is open, but not sure about the lake for fishing.

https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/news/forest-preserve-will-county-access-areas-reopen?ext=.

[slonezp]

Couple from Island Lake this morning. Water temp 53*

[HenryPF]

More Illinois lakes open back up May 1st (copy and past if you don't wanna click the link)

 

Parks Open for Limited Use During COVID-19

 

Thank you for your interest in visiting one of Illinois' State Parks – we're excited to welcome you back! We continue to monitor the spread and effects of COVID-19, working closely with the Office of Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health. To best serve and protect our visitors and staff, the below locations are open effective May 1:

Parks will be open from sun-up to sundown. Guests will be allowed to engage in activities such as wildlife observation, hiking, biking, equestrian use and fishing (both from the bank and boats with a limit of two persons per boat regardless of the relationship of the people in the boat) and mushroom hunting. All visitor centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, shelter reservations, interpretive educational programs, beaches, special events and concessions will remain closed; turkey hunting will remain suspended at state parks. 

** Note: Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park is currently closed due to flooding and storm damage and will not be open on May 1st. The park will reopen when flood waters recede and storm damage is cleared.

 

For additional information on specific areas within the park that are open, please follow the link to the park webpage.

Northwestern Illinois: Argyle Lake State Park, Black Hawk State Historic Site, Franklin Creek State Natural Area, Hennepin Canal State Trail, Illini State Park, Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area, Jubilee College State Park, Lowden State Park, Mississippi Palisades State Park, Morrison-Rockwood State Park, Prophetstown State Park, Rock Cut State Park, Rock Island Trail State Park, Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, White Pines Forest State Park

Northeastern Illinois: Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park ** / North Point Marina, Chain O' Lakes State Park, Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area, Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail (includes Buffalo Rock, Channahon, Gebhard Woods, and William G Stratton), Kankakee River State Park, Moraine Hills State Park, Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife Area, Volo Bog State Natural Area

East Central Illinois: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Eagle Creek State Park, Fox Ridge State Park, Kickapoo State Park, Moraine View State Recreation Area, Walnut Point State Park, Weldon Springs State Park, Wolf Creek State Park

West Central Illinois: Beaver Dam State Park, Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area, Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, Sangchris Lake State Park, Siloam Springs State Park, Washington County State Recreation Area

Southern Illinois: Beall Woods State Park, Cache River State Natural Area, Cave-in-Rock State Park, Dixon Springs State Park, Ferne Clyffe State Park, Fort Massac State Park, Giant City State Park, Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area, Horseshoe Lake-Alexander State Fish & Wildlife Area, Kinkaid Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area, Lake Murphysboro State Park, Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area, Red Hills State Park, Saline County State Fish & Wildlife Area, Sam Parr State Fish & Wildlife Area, Stephen A Forbes State Recreation Area, Tunnel Hill State Trail, Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

[cadman]

21 hours ago, slonezp said:

Couple from Island Lake this morning. Water temp 53*

 

Nice fish. I used to fish Island Lake when I was a kid back in the 70's. What did you catch them on?Did you launch your boat?

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, cadman said:

Nice fish. I used to fish Island Lake when I was a kid back in the 70's. What did you catch them on?Did you launch your boat?

My son bought a house on the lake back in February. I did launch. There's a 10hp restriction, but as long as my big motor prop was out of the water, I am legal. I just used the big motor at the ramp, TM the rest of the day. First time I have ever fished the lake. The big one was on a jerkbait. The other one as well as the shorts we caught were on swimjigs and wackyrig 

[Dens228]

On 5/1/2020 at 12:13 PM, papajoe222 said:

Thanks. I just checked on Rock Run Rookery and I know the park is open, but not sure about the lake for fishing.

I was going to go to Rock Run in my kayak.  I either do great or horrible there.  I ended up not going because I figured it would be packed.  A buddy did go.  He said the police were there the day the parking lot opened in order to direct traffic because it was so packed.   I'll wait a few more weeks. Not only are people itching to fish, a lot of people have more time on their hands to fish until they can go back to work. 

[slonezp]

[Skunked again]

Slonezp - Good for them !!  For not enforcing that absurd rule .

[Allen Der]

13 hours ago, slonezp said:

Lake County Sheriff clarified today.  They aren't going to stop families but dont want people going out with friends.  Not sure how they can really differentiate though.  You're probably good unless you are partying on the chain and attracting attention

[slonezp]

7 minutes ago, Allen Der said:

Lake County Sheriff clarified today.  They aren't going to stop families but dont want people going out with friends.  Not sure how they can really differentiate though.  You're probably good unless you are partying on the chain and attracting attention

They can't enforce it. Not enough manpower. Nor is it against the law. It is an order (questionable) and would be nothing more than a ticket for disorderly conduct.

[Bass Rutten]

On a more cheerful note... I popped four 4+ lb bass in the last week, and untold numbers of crappie. The eggs in the crappie are still pretty tight so the bass spawn seems to be running late this year. It’s been good fishing a day or two after rains then tapering off. Been doing really well neko rigging a zoom mag finesse worm and 5.8 keitechs. What say you?

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Ive been doing the trout thing and a few bass mixed in

 

[slonezp]

Couple from today. Fox Chain. Water is in the low 60's and they are dumping a ton of water thru McHenry Dam from all the rain we have gotten. Spawn seems to be just beginning. Saw males on beds waiting for their lovers to show up. We did catch a few small females full of eggs. The one my son is holding was around 3lbs and all beat up. Mine was about 4 and not a wound on him. He didn't know he was hooked and didn't even put up a fight. Keeper bass and pike were all caught on moving baits. Shorts were caught on a mixture of senkos and swimjigs. Ended up with about 2 dozen bass and a 24" pike.

 

And now I wait to post the second pic because file is too large...

 

Dum-dee-dum-dum

 

Still waiting....

[slonezp]

Finally

[Skunked again]

Very nice! I need to get of my butt and finish the boat !!

[slonezp]

If your plates have expired...My trailer plates have. You have 90 days AFTER the disaster is over to renew them.

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/special/covidfaq.pdf

[Allen Der]

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

If your plates have expired...My trailer plates have. You have 90 days AFTER the disaster is over to renew them.

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/special/covidfaq.pdf

dang, I thought it was just for licenses.  I renewed my plates a couple weeks ago.  probably could have made it through most of the season on expired plates if JB gets his way

 

My DL expired last month.  Tried to buy Sudafed at the pharmacy last week and they rejected me.  their system cant scan an expired license.  Pretty sure I have a relatively mild case of COVID.  Knocked me on I disagree for two days this week and I'm still not over it.  Now I'm running low on the medicine I need to cope with the symptoms.  Anyone know anyone with pseudo? 

[slonezp]

On 5/6/2020 at 9:30 PM, Allen Der said:

Lake County Sheriff clarified today.  They aren't going to stop families but dont want people going out with friends.  Not sure how they can really differentiate though.  You're probably good unless you are partying on the chain and attracting attention

Spent a good portion of the day on the Chain. I also launch where the LCPD and health dept boats are moored. The police boats never left the dock yesterday and there was a good amount of boat traffic, both fishing and pleasure. Water will be warm enough in a few weeks for people to start tying up boat to boat at the party coves.

11 hours ago, Allen Der said:

dang, I thought it was just for licenses.  I renewed my plates a couple weeks ago.  probably could have made it through most of the season on expired plates if JB gets his way

 

My DL expired last month.  Tried to buy Sudafed at the pharmacy last week and they rejected me.  their system cant scan an expired license.  Pretty sure I have a relatively mild case of COVID.  Knocked me on I disagree for two days this week and I'm still not over it.  Now I'm running low on the medicine I need to cope with the symptoms.  Anyone know anyone with pseudo? 

I remember reading somewhere, probably here that the trailer renewal went from $28 to over $100. Can you verify if that is true?

 

As far as your fiasco at the pharmacy, It's not like they could even verify it was you in the DL picture since you were wearing a mask.

[Skunked again]

Very true for not being able to Id you, with a mask on. I've been wondering if store thefts would go up, because of such. Similar to foid cards using an older picture, last time I renewed I sent in a current picture. My new card came back, with the old picture.

For trailer plates, last year's bill was $18, this year $118. I could understand raising them, just not that much.

[Allen Der]

the feds track how much pseudo you buy by scanning your ID. The stuff on the shelves is not as effective as the kind you get behind the counter.

 

all trailer plates went up $100.  so if you have a single axle it went to $118.  they were lazy and really didnt think that one through.