fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

so...in this time of drought, hows the water levels at the fox chain? i am thinking of going out to Blarney's on Thursday but dont know if i should take the boat or not....

any heads up would be great!!! :drink:

kevin

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

lotsa posts tonight,

TTT

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

it's shallow to start with, has to be worse now. Just guessing.

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Ron P from Extreme Boats Magazine will be there this Thurday writing an article about Blarney's Island. He will be taking many pictures too.

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Apparently its deep enough for the idiots to be out. 2 boat wrecks there 2 weekends ago.

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

I had boated on the Chain for a few years and after the initial spring flood the lake would settle. After that the lake pretty much stayed thet same level all summer, although some of the lakes are very shallow by nature. Grass Lake where Blarney's Island is is an average of about 5' deep, deeper in the running lanes (stay between the marker bouys) very shallow everywhere else!!! Lost quite a few props there, but the good times definitly out way that........... :D :D

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

yeah i know its shallow ALL the time but without any rain around here i just wondered if it was TOO shallow. i heard that there were accidents lately! and that theres some crazy people out there!!

just wanted to know if anyone has been out and how bad is it?

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

I live on the fox river just north of Mchenry I will have to start leaving ny boat off of the lift do to the water level. The area aroun Blarneys will soon be unusable do to the level last week my slip was to shallow to pull the boat fully in. Water levels are terribble I know people south of McHenry lock unable to get boats off of lifts, At Blarneys they are saying the Blarney Queen is a good alternative to get to the Island do to the low level. I was not there Sunday but a friend who was there said they had closed some of the slips closest to the Island do to fear of boats getting stuck in the Mud.

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Yeah im out there every weekend and its easily a foot or more lower then normal, you can see how low it is on all the sea walls and bridges,I was at Blarney's last thursday and its definatley low, every boat that went by was kicken up tons of mud, its so shallow there to begin with but with no rain its even worse,just keep inside the bouys and trim way up.I also have a friend on lower river and he can't use his dock because it's so low.

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

I concur with Sonic31 . I have a 36 Outlaw and if it gets any worse I will be driving to Lk. Michigan to finish out the summer. If you do not know exactly where to go I highly recommend that you leave your boat at home and take the Blarney barge. I have a slip for the thursday races but I can't use it because I will get stuck.

Sorry for the bad news !!!

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

I live on Lake Marie (one lake north of Grass Lake). The water level is down about a foot from normal levels. I was out boating all weekend and I was also out last night. I was at "The Island" Saturday and Sunday this weekend and they do have the slips closest to the Island blocked off and I assumed it was so people didn't get stuck in the mud. I do have a few more dings on the prop than normal this year and I have a few friends who can't get their boats on their lifts. I am not having a problem yet. It would be a good idea to have someone on the boat who knows the lakes well and can help navigate the shallow areas. By the way you will not hit any rocks on Grass lake only mud so keep an eye on those temp gages.

If you do go out to Blarney DO NOT back your boat into the slip. This is a rule you do not break even when the water is higher than normal. See you Thursday night.

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Hell, i remember jetskiing years back and blowing an exhaust coupler on grass lake......we were STANDING in waist deep water fixing it no more then 15' away from the channel marker!!! :eek: i cant imagine how the lakes must be with the level even lower!!! :(

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Wow,you guys must really be in a drought :eek: :eek:
What happened to the normal Chicago week (sunny all week rain all weekend) :rolleyes: I don't ever remember the lake getting low to the point Blarney's was closing slips, that sucks I will be back there in a few weeks and planned on hitting the boat races!!! Sandbars must be pretty shallow, ankle deep???

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Smitty,

What does your boat look like? Blue with ghost flames?

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

YSS--

It has a red and black thin stripe front to back and the yellow circle with the crosshairs in it at the back with red checkerboard around it. It has the name "Doctor's orders" on the sides. Can't miss it !! You might not see me but you will hear it !!! Looks like you have an all white scarab?? Is it a 21 footer ?? I had an 89 and it was a great boat.

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

thanks everyone...thats the advice i was lookin for...the barge it is!!!

whats up the "no backing in rule" never heard about that. just cuz of the shallow water or what? i think in the past we'd always back in to the slip.

anyways....thanks again for the advice and will be there on thursday!!!

kevin

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

if its running in the shallow water that is!!! :eek:

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Yeah its been close to 90 plus degrees here for the last 2 plus weeks, and no real rain for like 2 plus months,everything is brown around here, pretty bad :( :(

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

You guys need one of these.....

:D

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

For you guys heading to the Island this Thursday, bring lots of scantily clad women for Ron P to photo :D

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

The rain today should help. :cool:

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

well we just had a nice downpoor here in Glenview....dumped some good rain but i doubt enough to make any difference....atleast the grass will benefit :)

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

No one backs in. So the mud accumliates in the front of the slips. I went thru 2 impellers in 2 weeks because I was backing into the slips at the island.

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Oh yes. I've seen you many times. And your right, I have a 1998 all white 22 Scarab w/ flags on the hull/bow. It will be sold by next week. Moving up.:D

By the way, if you haven't given anyone else the use of the slip for tom. night. Think I could use it?

Thanks
Bryan

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Bryan

I wish I could help you out. i share it with a buddy who has a much smaller boat and he is going out tomorrow night.

See Ya out there sometime !!!

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

The rain today was like putting a teaspoon in a bath tub. We need it to rain for 8 hrs steady.

Nice, what are you moving into ?

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Yeah it rained here for about 2 minutes today!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

:evilb: :evilb: :evilb:

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

95WIL Rock is having their Ms. August contest at Blarneys this Friday! :D

Re: fox lake, IL...water levels?
 

Thats whwat i hear, not sure if i can make it though :( but i will try!!!! :evilb: