Any Fox River boaters from northern Illinois here? I just transplanted my
boat from Wisconsin (closer to my home) and had a blast last two days of
boating. Had a few questions, and curious if any one on this usenet group is
using this river?

1. I put my boat in a marina around Barrington area. How far south can I go
on this river if I go through the locks? Can I go all the way?

2. Is the Chain of Lakes the furthest North I can go?

This boat is a Pontoon boat, I only need 1.5 feet of water to Navigate
through (helps - seems this river is mighty shallow).

3. Any good restaurants that you guys can recommend? Any places where you
can spend the night? Like B&B on the river?


Thanks

Dan

Subject spelling error are=area

Hi,

Lived in Grayslake in the late 70's & early 80's. We spent a lot of time on
the Chain of Lakes.

There was a McDonalds that had water access in the town of Fox Lake. Also
there was a resturant in I believe Grass Lake that was out in the middle of
the Lake. Served a good burger and was a lot of fun.

That's about all I remember, it's been a long time. Now retired on Lake
Marion in South Carolina.

John


"Dan J.S." wrote in message
...
Any Fox River boaters from northern Illinois here? I just transplanted my
boat from Wisconsin (closer to my home) and had a blast last two days of

Well, if you launched from Barrington the locks would be north a few miles.
South you can get to Algonquin. Just north of the Barrington launch is the
Broken Oar Bar and Grill. They serve a good burger.

Passing north through the locks you will want to eat at Vickie's Place in
McHenry, good food in general. Continuing north into the Chain O' Lakes you
can go to the state line. Several good restaurants are in the Chain area.
Blarney Island is in Grass Lake - No children allowed. It is a bar with
panties covering the ceiling... if you get my drift.

Go to the Watertower Marina in McHenry and pick up some guides to the Chain
that will include restaurants marina's etc.

Have fun, watch out for the Lake Michigan size cruisers and drunks.






"Dan J.S." wrote in message
...
Any Fox River boaters from northern Illinois here? I just transplanted my
boat from Wisconsin (closer to my home) and had a blast last two days of
boating. Had a few questions, and curious if any one on this usenet group
is
using this river?

1. I put my boat in a marina around Barrington area. How far south can I
go
on this river if I go through the locks? Can I go all the way?

2. Is the Chain of Lakes the furthest North I can go?

This boat is a Pontoon boat, I only need 1.5 feet of water to Navigate
through (helps - seems this river is mighty shallow).

3. Any good restaurants that you guys can recommend? Any places where you
can spend the night? Like B&B on the river?


Thanks

Dan

Illinois Fisherman wrote:
Well, if you launched from Barrington the locks would be north a few
miles. South you can get to Algonquin. Just north of the Barrington
launch is the Broken Oar Bar and Grill. They serve a good burger.

Passing north through the locks you will want to eat at Vickie's
Place in McHenry, good food in general. Continuing north into the
Chain O' Lakes you can go to the state line. Several good restaurants
are in the Chain area. Blarney Island is in Grass Lake - No children
allowed. It is a bar with panties covering the ceiling... if you get
my drift.

Go to the Watertower Marina in McHenry and pick up some guides to the
Chain that will include restaurants marina's etc.

Have fun, watch out for the Lake Michigan size cruisers and drunks.


That is the weirdest thing. The river is like 5 foot deep, and you would
think these HUGE boats would never venture in these types of waters, yet
they do!! Weird! Yeah I know about the drunks. I will probably stay away
from the chain of lakes.

Really though, can I take the fox river to the state line? or the lakes
themselves? I looked at a map, and the fox river looked really small by the
chain.

And going south, how far can I get passed Elgin? All the way to the big
river? Anything to see passed Elgin (south of Elgin?)

Thanks
Dan

Algonquin is as far as you can go.


Dan


Dan J. S. wrote:
Illinois Fisherman wrote:

Well, if you launched from Barrington the locks would be north a few
miles. South you can get to Algonquin. Just north of the Barrington
launch is the Broken Oar Bar and Grill. They serve a good burger.

Passing north through the locks you will want to eat at Vickie's
Place in McHenry, good food in general. Continuing north into the
Chain O' Lakes you can go to the state line. Several good restaurants
are in the Chain area. Blarney Island is in Grass Lake - No children
allowed. It is a bar with panties covering the ceiling... if you get
my drift.

Go to the Watertower Marina in McHenry and pick up some guides to the
Chain that will include restaurants marina's etc.

Have fun, watch out for the Lake Michigan size cruisers and drunks.



That is the weirdest thing. The river is like 5 foot deep, and you would
think these HUGE boats would never venture in these types of waters, yet
they do!! Weird! Yeah I know about the drunks. I will probably stay away
from the chain of lakes.

Really though, can I take the fox river to the state line? or the lakes
themselves? I looked at a map, and the fox river looked really small by the
chain.

And going south, how far can I get passed Elgin? All the way to the big
river? Anything to see passed Elgin (south of Elgin?)

Thanks
Dan

Dan Krueger wrote:
Algonquin is as far as you can go.


Dan

Dan

There are locks in Algonquin that allow you to go to Elgin and beyond. I
wonder if anyone ventures in those areas on regular basis... would be
interesting to find out!!

Dan

I read that the locks at McHenry are the BUSIEST LOCKS IN THE WORLD...based
on number of boats put through. I don't know if it is true, but lots of
people apparently use them. I watched them lock some boats through a few
summers ago. Of course, the Fox has been closed to boating on and off for a
number of weekends, on and off.
--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners

"Dan J. S." wrote in message
...
Dan Krueger wrote:
Algonquin is as far as you can go.


Dan

Dan

There are locks in Algonquin that allow you to go to Elgin and beyond. I
wonder if anyone ventures in those areas on regular basis... would be
interesting to find out!!

Dan

When were they built? As of two years ago, it was only a dam! I also remember
that the river under I90 was VERY shallow. I'll be back up there for the 4th
and check it out.

Dan


Dan J. S. wrote:
Dan Krueger wrote:

Algonquin is as far as you can go.


Dan


Dan

There are locks in Algonquin that allow you to go to Elgin and beyond. I
wonder if anyone ventures in those areas on regular basis... would be
interesting to find out!!

Dan

From the Fox River paddling site

The McHenry Dam, reconstructed by the State of Illinois in 1939, became the
only dam on the river to provide boat Lockage and created the 6,500 acres of
water forming the Fox Chain O'Lakes. Boaters can go through the lock at
McHenry and proceed upstream into the Fox Chain O'Lakes, one of the most
popular recreational areas in Illinois. A separate publication, FOX CHAIN
O'LAKES ACCESS AREAS AND FISHING GUIDE, is also available through the
Division of Fisheries.

Regulations



--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
"Dan Krueger" wrote in message
k.net...
When were they built? As of two years ago, it was only a dam! I also
remember
that the river under I90 was VERY shallow. I'll be back up there for the
4th
and check it out.

Dan


Dan J. S. wrote:
Dan Krueger wrote:

Algonquin is as far as you can go.


Dan


Dan

There are locks in Algonquin that allow you to go to Elgin and beyond. I
wonder if anyone ventures in those areas on regular basis... would be
interesting to find out!!

Dan