4/18/09 Weekend Fox Prospects

From the Wisconsin border to the Illinois River, some of the best and easily accessible fishing in the Chicago area.
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Ken G
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4/18/09 Weekend Fox Prospects

Post by Ken G »

MattC wrote:The river is flowing at 2000 cfps right now, just wondering what cfps would be ok to start wading. I think last year i was out and it was about 1600. Hopefully by friday it will drop at least 400.
There are quite a few places I can wade at 2000 cfs. The middle of the river in most parts I would still avoid. For the most part. Download that Fox River Map I have posted. That will help a little. It sure looks like it will get down to 1600 by the weekend. If anyone goes, don't bother on Sunday. Starting to look like it's going to be pretty miserable out there.

The whole east side of Geneva, from the dam to the railroad tracks won't be bad. You might venture out into the river a little too.

Batavia, there's a channel that runs along Les Arends on the west side. Park in the first parking lot, hike the path upstream and you'll see where it starts. On the east side, from Glenwood down along the shore could be okay. Keep going south from Glenwood. You'll come to the former archery range. During the summer that stretch gets pretty shallow. Now it could be pretty good. It's just shallow and slow moving enough to be a pretty good smallie spawning area.

East channel at North Aurora. Get in on the south side of the 56 bridge and try to make it to the end of the island. Don't let the skinny water fool you.

I know some places between there and Oswego, but it would take a book to tell you how to do it at these water levels. I guess I know too many small details that make it easy on me, but pretty hard if you don't know the details. You'll have to go when the water is low and start learning. I'll answer questions if you go.

Orchard Road. Upstream on the south end to the end of the island. Downstream all the way to Saw wee kee. There are few spots downstream out in the middle you have to watch for, but this is overall a pretty shallow stretch of the river. They shore lines, especially on the south can be pretty good. If you're feeling daring, when you come to the islands, the best fishing is in that north channel. Some spots with the water at this level push hard and get a little deep, but it's not impossible. The highest the water has been in this area and I've survived is 2200 cfs. There was on part I did not like at all, but I was being stupid. Which I guess goes without saying if you're wading across rivers when they're flowing at 2200 cfs.

I'm not getting out this weekend. Gonna play with my daughter, teach her how to drive, go have lemonade at Silver Springs and go explore the beaver subdivision I came across.

If anyone goes, let us know.
Ken G
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http://www.waterdogjournal.com
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