Do's and Dont's at the Chain of Lakes in Illinois
#11
Registered
Sounds like a really great time
#12
Registered
lots of do's and donts..if your a moron you will get stuck in mud..if your smart and stay between the boueys you will be alrite..what boat are you bringing? make sure you have a old set of props just in case..i for one have a labbed ss prop thats been on my donzi for 10 yrs and is still in good condition..yes the port has a good launch ramp,so does ben watts marina..dont forget the chain pass,,its 17.50 for a day and like 25 for a week or depending on weather you want to come back you can just buy the sticker..i think for 21 aND UNDER ITS 50 BUCKS.. you want to watch out for the rocks on the south side of blarneys island and also any where in grass lake,just follow the boueys to the island then trim up around the island..also in pistake lake you want to be careful in both no wakes around the center island around jackies landing and rt 12 ,,als the same goes for beer can bridge and 12 to dockers restaurant is shallow..if you want to tie up with all the party people during the day then you want to go to lake petite,their is also fameous freddies and captains quaters which are happening places on the lakes..try and get their early and be docked by noon..its usually crazy between the channels around 11 to 4..i have never had any problems their but then again if you dont know where your going then it could screw up your day..just stay in the channels and you will be fine..
I would pass on Dockers it's pretty shallow out there in spots even with the water as high as it is.The channel between Pistakee and Nippersink is marked well just stay in it do not be tempted by pontoons and short boats to short cut the channel. I use to launch out of Ben Watts use the ramp closest to the gas pumps.
http://www.foxwaterway.com/pdfattach...eeschedule.pdf
My slip is over at Five Star Marina right next door to Ben Watts PM if your interested in hooking up or need more info. I'm heading to the boat Friday by 1 or so.
#14
Registered
Do..... Yourself a favor and go somewhere else. Unless you go on Thursday night and take the ferry to blarney island for the boat races! The races are the only thing worthwhile on the chain.
#15
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH / Pewaukee, WI
Posts: 5,872
Received 365 Likes
on
209 Posts
The Port of Blarney has a nice launch! Petite Lake sand bar is good swimming and party area. So is Columbia bay on Fox Lake. The chain o lakes has some shallow places so watch your drive taking off. We will be rafting up on Petite lake Saturday we are always in the front line. Just a heads up Finders are important rafting up. If you have any questions p.m me.
#17
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH / Pewaukee, WI
Posts: 5,872
Received 365 Likes
on
209 Posts
lots of do's and donts..if your a moron you will get stuck in mud..if your smart and stay between the boueys you will be alrite..what boat are you bringing? make sure you have a old set of props just in case..i for one have a labbed ss prop thats been on my donzi for 10 yrs and is still in good condition..yes the port has a good launch ramp,so does ben watts marina..dont forget the chain pass,,its 17.50 for a day and like 25 for a week or depending on weather you want to come back you can just buy the sticker..i think for 21 aND UNDER ITS 50 BUCKS.. you want to watch out for the rocks on the south side of blarneys island and also any where in grass lake,just follow the boueys to the island then trim up around the island..also in pistake lake you want to be careful in both no wakes around the center island around jackies landing and rt 12 ,,als the same goes for beer can bridge and 12 to dockers restaurant is shallow..if you want to tie up with all the party people during the day then you want to go to lake petite,their is also fameous freddies and captains quaters which are happening places on the lakes..try and get their early and be docked by noon..its usually crazy between the channels around 11 to 4..i have never had any problems their but then again if you dont know where your going then it could screw up your day..just stay in the channels and you will be fine..
Thanks for the long detailed response. It's taking a bit to soak in. I will be looking all over those areas on google maps. We will be towing the scout down. The plan was to get a room at the waterfront hotel and marina in Johnsburg on the river. It looks like there is a ramp right there. Where do I get a chain pass from?
#19
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH / Pewaukee, WI
Posts: 5,872
Received 365 Likes
on
209 Posts
FIXX pretty much covered it you can run down the river also to the Snuggery which is pretty nice with good docks to tie up to Vickies is on the river but I don't really fit in the slips a couple other places too but Snuggery is the best on that part of the river past Snuggery is the locks I would pass I dont ever take my boat through the locks.
I would pass on Dockers it's pretty shallow out there in spots even with the water as high as it is.The channel between Pistakee and Nippersink is marked well just stay in it do not be tempted by pontoons and short boats to short cut the channel. I use to launch out of Ben Watts use the ramp closest to the gas pumps.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]526225[/ATTACH]
http://www.foxwaterway.com/pdfattach...eeschedule.pdf
My slip is over at Five Star Marina right next door to Ben Watts PM if your interested in hooking up or need more info. I'm heading to the boat Friday by 1 or so.
I would pass on Dockers it's pretty shallow out there in spots even with the water as high as it is.The channel between Pistakee and Nippersink is marked well just stay in it do not be tempted by pontoons and short boats to short cut the channel. I use to launch out of Ben Watts use the ramp closest to the gas pumps.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]526225[/ATTACH]
http://www.foxwaterway.com/pdfattach...eeschedule.pdf
My slip is over at Five Star Marina right next door to Ben Watts PM if your interested in hooking up or need more info. I'm heading to the boat Friday by 1 or so.
#20