Dells of the Fox

[twade]

Any one ever fish the Dells of the Fox area? How is the wading? Very pretty part of the Fox river and maybe even the best in the state. With the cliffs, I always wondered what the levels and wading would be like, some areas appear to be tricky at best.

[Ken G]

A friend once posted that if I say an area is tricky, there's a 50/50 chance your going to die.

That area is tricky indeed.

That stretch has a lot of deep water. I've canoed it 3 times now, maybe 4. Makes it harder to pinpoint the spots the way I like to. But still manage to pull out a few. There are places you can wade, you just have to be real careful. It is beautiful.

IDNR once told me that the biggest smallies in the Fox are in the stretch from the Dayton Dam to the mouth. About 5 miles. Need a boat. One of these days I'm going to spend a day to see if they were lying to me.

[twade]

IDNR once told me that the biggest smallies in the Fox are in the stretch from the Dayton Dam to the mouth. .

I don't know much about the area from Dayton to the mouth but I have canoed and kayaked (rodless) the strech up from Sheridan to Wedron. Little Indian Creek. In the summer you'll see kids cliff diving so I can only imagine what the water is like. Looks like i'll have to kayak and just wing it.

[Special Ed]

Is there a launch in that section?




My boat would be fine as long as there is 1 foot of water at it's shallowest.

[Ken G]

Is there a launch in that section?
My boat would be fine as long as there is 1 foot of water at it's shallowest.

At the mouth of the Fox River, on the other side of the Illinois. Ottawa.

I guess we have something else to talk about next time we go fishing. Don't recall a boat in the conversation on Sunday.

I also guess we have some planning to do.

Another Monster Quest? Who else has boats? Won't be till June or July of next year depending on water levels. Lots of time to think about this.

Canoes and kayaks would work. I'll make the anchors that work in this stretch. An old friend showed me how.

[Special Ed]

At the mouth of the Fox River, on the other side of the Illinois. Ottawa.

I've fished at the mouth before. Good spot - for drum. I've often wondered how far up the Fox you could get in a small boat.....

I guess we have something else to talk about next time we go fishing. Don't recall a boat in the conversation on Sunday.

Well, that's cause you never asked.... oh, and you couldn't stop yappin' about all the things you hate about all those knuckleheads that come over here from Andrew's site. (j/k)

I also guess we have some planning to do.

Another Monster Quest? Who else has boats? Won't be till June or July of next year depending on water levels. Lots of time to think about this.

Canoes and kayaks would work. I'll make the anchors that work in this stretch. An old friend showed me how.

I could tow a whole parade of canoes and kayaks with the new motor I just put on the old tin can. This sounds like it has the makings of a typical "Ed Adventure". - Yet another thing I failed to mention Sunday, and will fill you in next time. Let's just say I literally could write a book about each and every "trip" I have ever taken fishing.

- Homeless guys that steal the keys to my car. Getting thrown out of a boat because of a battle with a Sea Lion over a sardine. The 12' rowboat 30 miles out in the Pacific at 3 in the morning loaded with 8 illegal aliens. The 30 Gallon Igloo cooler loaded with $100 bills, next to a similar cooler full of heroin/coke. Hitting a square-curb at 50 MPH head on into Aunt Bea's flower garden at 2 in the morning towing the boat the morning of H.S. graduation. Realizing the vacuum of a barge going up-river at less than 3 feet from the bow is less than 1 mph weaker than a 14' Alumacraft with a 9.9hp kicker at full throttle....... I could go on but is it necessary?

[twade]

Remember guys I have a kayak AND canoe. Could always float around. I like the wedron area, right in the middle. But would go further south and Ed I have seen large boats on this stretch .....

sounds like a trip to me.

BTW guys I have used IL canoe and kayak sites as a resource for take in's and take out's for not only boats but fishing access. Some paddlers journal very detailed information of depth on the river. Just another tool to use.

Example
http://www.paddleaway.com/put_ins?river_id_param=30

[Rob P]

Very cool area to paddle.
know many folks jumping off the cliffs to swim in the summer.
Its a very popular spot..

Also know of a guy who was a very good swimmer, jumped off the cliff right next to his friends.
Never came back up, his body was found the next day a ways downriver..
His friends had to notify the police and his family.


I never found cash paddling down there.
This summer we want to take the youth group and camp on an island somewhere..

[pezdek1]

My brother and I have a small 12 ft aluminum vbottom with a 5hp evinrude. This could be a good little idea to plan for next year.

[MattC]

I would definetly be down as long as i could tag along in someones boat or canoe.