Do's and Dont's at the Chain of Lakes in Illinois
 

Hey guys, looking to tow down to the chain this weekend. Any do's or dont's? Was thinking of launching at Blarneys. Any shallow areas or lakes/bays to stay away from? Is there any swimming/ beach spots?

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.

Also some good info is on www.funonthefox.com

We will be out also Blue/white 34 Scarab III If ya need anything just call or text 6084494992 Jason

Good luck! I went once..once

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"ll keep it short... Don't: be a p*ssy, Do: represent... got it now?

Best don't is don't go .... !

Don't go, its nothing more than a mud puddle.

Do as in DO NOT GO!!!!!

Sounds like a really great time

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.

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.

By the way I use to live on Catawba I miss PIB, the sand bar over by the route 2 bridge and the flats back in the day when they were jumping shooters, etc.

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.

Thanks for the input and suggestions..

Thanks for the heads up. It soumds like I may need a tow... :)

Hey Fixx,
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?

Ratts always on point.....!

Awash, thanks for the suggestions. I have actually stopped at tha marina by land. A friend of a friend had a camper there. As for sandusky, man I love that area! We spent a week back there over the forth. Had a plast ripping around everywhere on the weekdays. Actually got front row parking at the casino.

Really that bad! Just looking to tool around burn some gas and do a little swimming... Kinda tired of our local lakes and want to see something different.

your welcome,,you wont have any problems with the little boat..my formula digs up some their but i also never had any problem with getting stuck..if guys with 500k skaters boat their it really cant be that bad of lakes..its really a fun spot..kinda like loto but bo 10 wakes lol..i have been boating their my whole life,,i find that the people that talk bad about it either dont know where to go or have bad experiences their..ben watts had the pass's or the ace hardware has them as well..i forgot all about the river,,that too is a blast in a smaller boat,,i usually cruise around 50/60 on the river..have fun and dont sweat the small talk..

The ramp at the hotel is on the river. It is going to be a challenge to say the least. FYI the hotel is under a renovation the last time I passed by it. Port of Blarney and Watts are both great ramps. Not alot of "modern" hotels in the area near the water. If your up to it Port of Blarney's even rents slips with power for the night instead of staying at a hotel.

If you do stay there you MUST go to Epic Deli across the street from the hotel in Johnsburg. Places to go I agree on Snuggery is a must. Famous Freddies has a great outdoor bar and good piers. For swimming Pistakee Bay is very nice. If your looking for people watching then Petite Lake, Channel Lake, and Columbia Bay on Fox lake are all good.

Yes it isnt ocean blue water by any means. In fact I dont think it is even a shade of blue. You would really have to try to not have a good time on the Chain.

Be careful by the waterfront hotel. I stayed there years ago, when it was paradise motel (total dump, I slept with my shoes on in that place). Looks like the new place is nice though. Anyhow, we went out for a ride on my buddy's 21ft deckboat and we were coming back to paradise, and getting off plane in the river out front when he smacked a rock/stump right in the middle of the river. He had started the weekend with a 3 blade prop, and finished the weekend with a single blade prop after that, and a half a skeg.

At that time I had a Four winns 241 Liberator. I was lucky and didnt hit anything that weekend, but I kinda followed the advice from some locals. I remember going to blarneys island, and had to trim the drive way up to get in there, lots of mud splashed all over the transom.

I did a night cruise on the river down to Vicki's place for a bite to eat and a few beers. That was fun. I wouldnt be afraid to go back for a day or two if I had a smaller boat. You're still on the water getting some sun. I wont take my Fountain there, because for starters I dont know the lakes that well, and I am not gonna tear up my speedmaster style props, they simply cost too much. I dont want to be dodging jet skis, and all kinds of boats when I am trying to run mine. Lake michigan you get wide open area to sit back and relax and enjoy the boat. Im all about relaxing on the weekends.

Hook up with one of the guys from here if you can. Have them lead you around a bit. Thats what I did, and had an uneventful weekend as far as hitting anything. I think you'll have fun with the scout there. Be sure to bring something to clean the yellow stains off the hull though when you pull it out.

Port of Blarney over nite slip is good, Ben Watts also does over night slips I think $20 bucks (The slips are nothing great and I churn up some mud but they are very protected just put your flip flops on as soon as you get on the dock!). You can get your sticker at Ben Watts or just up the street to the Fox Waterway Agency and pay a little less. http://www.foxwaterway.state.il.us/contact.htm

With your smaller boat you will be fine in most areas I'd still be careful going to Dockers. If I was you just say NO better yet HELL NO to the waterfront hotel. McHenry IL. is close by with a Comfort Inn hell even the Super 8 is several step above the Waterfront!!!! The Chain is not LOTO or Florida coast but it's plenty of fun. Yea I run out of Winthrop, Kenosha and run up to Milwaukee but just try and goo tie up and swim this week in Michigan its a warm and welcoming 50 deg.

Good looking boat I'm going to date myself but there was no Casino back when I lived in the area!!

What is the casino brand? Caesars? MGM?

I run a 36 footer out there every weekend. Been out there for 25 yrs. Sure it is muddy/murky water, but it is water with no speed limits and the cops leave you alone on the noise as long as you are not completely ignorant. There are some nice spots to anchor/float or even get out of the boat and stand on the bottom. I can give you some general ideas of where to go/not go. PM if you want to discuss anything.

Smitty

I stayed at that place a couple years ago...the ramp blows and the "hotel" is a dump....Just saying

Amen!

I think Iv'e seen your boat a couple times Smitty we are the black/red 35 Outlaw (pretty sure I'm the only one with that color) if you see us say hello sometime.

Blarney Island Pimp & Ho party tonight..... I don't have enough brain bleach for this anchor up time and heading home and folks said don't go to the chain who would want to miss this!

Nothing better then trying to get on plain and smacking the bottom. For me no thanks.

Thanks for the input... I will definately stopping at Ben Hurr's Marina to give Ilinois their respected money :) We decided to try the hotel on the river. It is or is being renovated... If its bad, we will just pull or or sleep like BZ... I have been to Freedies by land so that may be a good stop,
Thanks, Jr.

Thanks for the good advice. Luckily I have an outboard with a jack plate... I can get it up pretty high out of the water... To bad that will be after the fact of hitting a stump.. :)

Was it Dirty Don's back then?

Thanks for the offer Smitty

http://www.kelleysislandcasino.com/

The chain rocks!!!! Was out there this past Thursday with my 32 Sunny. I've been boating at the chain for the past 20 years. Stay in the channels and don't be an explorer. You will be fine. Water is good this year because of all the rain. Shouldn't have any issues.

Call Wild Bill. I think his brother Johnny moved back into the house on the river. I think its like two lakes down from Blarneys and you have to go through a couple locks to get there. Be safe.

A plus is if you break down you can get out of your boat and walk for help.

Better have your water wings on when you try that would be fun to watch !!