FOX CHAIN O'LAKES
Site Information
Water Name: |
Fox Chain O’Lakes |
Water Type: |
Inland Lake |
Water Size: |
7,110 acres |
Location: |
northeast Illinois, near Wisconsin border |
County: |
Lake & McHenry |
Fishing Regulations: |
refer to regs
booklet |
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One of the most popular water sport destinations in the state, the
Chain O'Lakes, located about 40 miles northwest of Chicago in Lake
and McHenry Counties, is the largest inland, recreational waterway
system in Illinois.
Consisting of nine major lakes, ranging from 86 to 1,700 acres
in size, the "Chain" is a result of the McHenry Dam on
the Fox River, historically the home of many Indian tribes in the
mid 1600's.
The nine major lakes and adjacent smaller bodies of water pro-vide
about 7,000 acres of recreational water that includes over 29 miles
of dredged and natural channels connecting the major bodies of water.
The "Chain" has 488 shoreline miles.
A variety of sport fish await anglers and angling has improved in recent
years, especially for walleyes which have been heavily stocked since 1978.
Northern pike and muskies in the trophy class also are occasionally caught
there, as well as largemouth and white bass, crappies, bluegills, channel
cat, bullheads, carp and yellow perch.
The area provides year round angling, and ice fishing is popular
during the winter months.
There are numerous hotels, motels and resorts in the immediate
vicinity of the chain.
Chain O'Lakes State Park, encompassing 2,450 acres, borders three
of the major lakes. The Fox River intersects the park from the north
and then flows into the lakes. The park, lying adjacent to 3,230-acre
conservation area, consisting mainly of water and marshland,
provides camping, picnicking, hunting, winter sports and interpretive
programs.
Fox and Pistakee Lakes are the two largest bodies of water on the
"Chain," encompassing 1,700 acres apiece. Grass Lake contains
1,350 acres. The area gets much public use, with as many as 60,000
people visiting on summer weekends.
Closeups of the major lakes follow:
Catherine Lake: Consisting of 155 acres with an
average depth of 45 feet, this lake, located two miles west of Antioch,
is the "sister" to the larger Channel Lake directly connected
to it. Dense weed growths there are favorite targets for largemouth
bass fishing. Good crappie action also comes in the channels and
the lake is one of the top spots for bluegills. There are two launch
ramps in the lake.
Channel Lake: Good bass and northern pike fishing
is associated with this 352-acre lake that provides a half dozen
launch ramps and about a dozen operations that allow access. A variety
of fish are taken from this deep lake. The bay at the south end
where the lake drops off sharply is a good area.
Lake Marie: Many anglers consider this 480-acre
lake the top fishing spot on the "Chain." It has a sand
bottom and good clarity, averaging about 14 feet deep with drops
going to 35. Located three miles west of Antioch, Marie provides
good bass fishing in the channels and weed beds, crappies in the
channels, white bass in the channels and along sand bars, northern
pike along the north shoreline and walleyes at the drop-offs. Seven
launch ramps are situated on the north and eastern sides of the
lake.
Bluff Lake: Located south of Lake Marie, this
86-acre lake is a good shoreline fishing area. There are two launch
areas on the south-east and southern shores. Panfishing is good.
Petite Lake: Like Bluff Lake, Petite at 167 acres, is virtually
free of water skiers because of its size. Located one-half mile
northwest of Lake Villa, the lake is a steady panfish producer.
There is good perch fishing and northern pike are frequently taken
there. The lake averages about 12 feet in depth and has one launch
ramp on the west side.
Grass Lake: The shallowest lake on the "Chain,"
averaging three feet, this 1,360-acre lake is also a popular waterfowling
spot. The Fox River empties into Grass and despite its depth, good
fishing is found there because of the aquatic vegetation. Some people
think the lake is one of the best northern pike spots on the complex.
Good bass action also is found on the north-south shorelines and
catfish often provide action in the northwest bay. There are eight
launch ramps on the southwest and east sides of the lake and several
more north on the Fox River, including a free site at the state
park, a short distance to the west.
Fox Lake: Most of the fishing is concentrated
around three large bays (Mineola, Stanton and Columbia) of this
1,700-acre lake. The Crabapple Island area is also a good crappie
and channel cat spot. There's an excellent drop-off and rock bar
in Mineola Bay which holds good numbers of walleyes, white bass
and perch. There are about a dozen launch ramps on the lake, most
of them on the southwest side where the lake joins Nippersink Lake
and along the south shore. There also are several at the north end.
Nippersink Lake: Nippersink and Fox Lakes often
are considered one and the same since they join. Nippersink contains
420 acres and is a connecting body of water among Fox, Grass and
Pistakee Lakes. There is a handful of launch sites on the southeast
portion of the lake.
Pistakee Lake: The southernmost lake on the "Chain;'
Pistakee contains 1,700 acres and lies on the McHenry/Lake County
boundary. Good walleye, white bass and channel catfish populations
are found there. Though the lake averages about six feet in most
areas, Pistakee Bay drops off to a depth of over 30 feet. Meyers
Bay is another good fishing area, as is Redhead Lake, a small lake
connected to Pistakee via a channel. There are about 10 launching
ramps on the lake. They are located on the northeast and southwest
sides.
Chain O'Lakes Profile
Location: The Chain O'Lakes is located in northeastern Illinois
in Lake and McHenry Counties between Antioch and McHenry. Facilities:
There are about 60 fee launching areas, around 30 boat rental operations,
a half dozen private camping spots and various resort-motel-hotel
operations that provide lodging on the lake.
Chain O'Lakes State Park provides added camping. Showers, electricity
and two disposal stations are located on the Class A grounds. A
free launch ramp also is situated on the west bank of the Fox River
just north of Grass Lake. Additionally, there are three ramps at
Oak Point, which is just east of the Fox River bridge on Route 173.
It also has camping. Rental boats and a concession are available
at Chain O'Lakes Park.
Public Recreational Facilities
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yes |
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yes |
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yes |
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yes |
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unrestricted |
Swimming |
yes |
Camp/Picnic |
yes |
