Originating northwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Fox River enters Illinois near Antioch and flows generally in a southerly direction for 115.2 miles through populous northeastern Illinois emptying into the Illinois River at Ottawa. This major tributary to the Illinois provides considerable recreational opportunity and is within easy access of the more than 7 million people living in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Sport fishing is one of the major recreational activities engaged in along its course, particularly in the tailwater areas below 15 major dams, which impound the river into pools of varying length. The majority (11) of these dams are found in the Elgin-Aurora area, more specifically located at Carpentersville, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia (2), North Aurora, Aurora(2), and Montgomery. Other dams are located at McHenry, Algonquin, Yorkville, and Dayton. The Dayton Dam is the only one on the river used to generate electrical power.
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.
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF FISHERIES
FOX RIVER ACCESS AND FISHING GUIDE
BY
JAMES R. LANBEIN
REGIONAL FISHERIES BIOLOGIST
AND
HARVEY BROWN
DISTRICT FISHERY BIOLOGIST
REVISED: APRIL, 1996
REGULATIONS
When fishing the Fox River, anglers should consult State fishing regulations regarding current size and creel limits – particularly, largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye*, and northern pike. All State boating and hunting regulations are also applicable and enforced.
Copies of these regulations can be obtained where fishing licenses are sold or by writing to:
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Fisheries
Lincoln Tower Plaza
524 South Second Street
Springfield, Illinois 62706
* A special regulation became effective April 1, 1992: An 18-inch minimum length limit and 3 fish daily creel limit was imposed upon all walleye harvested from the Fox Chain O’Lakes proper and that portion of the Fox River from the Illinois-Wisconsin State Line south to the McHenry Dam.
POLLUTION
Pollution problems have stemmed from enrichment – particularly, in the form of nitrates and in-organic phosphates introduced from agricultural drainage, sewage effluents, and other sources. The enrichment triggers tremendous bloomsof planktonic algae, which can give the river a bright green appearance during the warm summer months.
Water quality has improved due to good environmental management practices. Legislation has been enacted for flood plain protection, especially in the upper areas of the river and Chain O’Lakes region. Construction of housing, which displaced wetlands and marshes essential as biological filters and as fish spawning and rearing areas, has ceased because of recent legislation. In addition, governmental agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have assisted in controlling pollutants which are introduced into the Fox River Basin.
SAFETY
Whether boating or wading, safety is an important concern on the river. Avoid the areas immediately above and below dams. The boil area below the dam can be extremely hazardous, especially during high water periods. A certain amount of respect for the river is only good judgment.
SPECIFIC AREAS TO FISH
The most popular fishing areas have been at the following dams: Dayton, Yorkville, Montgomery, North Aurora, St. Charles, and McHenry. Spring and fall are the best times to catch most species of fish found in the Fox River. Limits of walleyes are not uncommon at these times, especially in April and September, with many smallmouth bass taken right along with the walleye.
The farthest downstream dam at Dayton is located approximately 5.5 miles up from the confluence with the Illinois River. In addition to the tailwater area below the dam, another exceptional fishing spot is located here. Immediately below the hydro-electric power plant on the west side of the river just down from the dam has been a hot spot for walleye, white bass, crappie, and channel catfish.
Proceeding upstream, in addition to the fine tailwater fishery below the various dams, there are several well-known channel areas that provide fine angling opportunities. Channels and backwaters, in addition to spring and fall, can be exceptionally productive during the ice fishing season and at times of high water. Bluegill, crappie, and yellow bass are most commonly caught at these locations. The east channel just above Montgomery Dam has been noted as probably the best. This channel, at one time, was dug for the purpose of boat lockage; but the project was never completed and has provided a very popular place to catch fish and enjoy the outdoor setting.
Another good channel is an area known as Depot Pond. Located on the west side of the river, at the upper Batavia Dam, it also produces fine catches of panfish, especially crappie.
To the north, the farthest upstream dam is located 2.5 miles south of McHenry. Providing a tailwater fishery of the Fox Chain O’Lakes, this area provides more walleye than any spot on the river and is a prime area for channel catfish, white and yellow bass, and crappie. Flathead catfish have been caught below most Fox River dams, including McHenry Dam, where 20 to 30 pound fish are not uncommon. Northern pike are also taken, especially in April.
In order to be a successful fisherman, one must expend some time and effort to learn and understand the behavior and habits of the various fish; the types of bait ant tackle to use, and when, where, and how to fish for them. As the old saying goes, “Ten percent of the fishermen catch ninety percent of the fish” Hence, all fishermen must learn to be patient if they expect to consistently catch fish.
ACCESS AREAS
The following pages contain information relative to the public and private access areas along the Fox River. Sites are numbered and listed in tabular form showing facilities available. Maps show access numbers and river miles beginning at the junction with the Illinois River at Ottawa upstream to the Illinois-Wisconsin State Line near Antioch. Access areas along the section of river, which becomes part of the Chain O’Lakes, have been listed in a separate report, FOX CHAIN O’LAKES ACCESS AREAS AND FISHING GUIDE.
A few major named highways have been shown but a State highway map would be useful in finding exact locations of access areas.
AREA MAPS
AREA MAP LEGENDS
MAJOR SPECIES OF FISH KNOWN PRESENT IN THE FOX RIVER
Accepted Name | Local Names |
---|---|
Largemouth Bass | Largemouth, bass, black bass, bigmouth bass, line side, greenbass, green trout, Oswego bass, slough bass, lake bass. |
Smallmouth Bass | Smallmouth black bass, black bass, smallmouth, Oswego bass, bronzeback, redeye bass. |
Northern Pike | Common pike, pickerel, great northern pike, northern, jack fish. |
Grass Pickerel | Pickerel, grass pike, mud pickerel, little pickerel, slough pike. |
Walleye | Pike-perch, walleyed pike, pike, jack salmon, jack. |
White Bass | Striped bass, streaker, silver bass, silver fish. |
Yellow Bass | Streaker, striped bass, barfish, black-striped bass, gold bass. |
Black Crappie | Calico bass, strawberry bass, crappie, speckled crappie. |
White Crappie | Crappie, silver crappie, bachelor, newlight. |
Yellow Perch | Perch, ringed perch, ringtail perch, lake perch. |
Rock Bass | Redeye bass, goggle-eye, rock sunfish, redeye. |
Bluegill | Bream, brim, sunfish, sun perch, gill. |
Green Sunfish | Green perch, sunfish, perch, black perch, creek perch, rock bass. |
Orange Spotted Sunfish | Redspotted sunfish, pumpkinseed, dwarf sunfish, pigmy sunfish. |
Pumpkinseed | Common sunfish, round sunfish. |
Channel Catfish | Fiddler, spotted cat, channel cat, catfish. |
Flathead Catfish | shovelhead cat, mud cat, yellow cat, Hoosier, goujon, shovelnose cat, Johnny cat, Morgan cat, flat belly. |
Black Bullhead | Bullhead, common bullhead, yellow-belly cat, catfish, horned pout. |
Brown Bullhead | Speckled bullhead, speckled cat, bullhead. |
Yellow Bullhead | Yellow-bellied cat, greaser, catfish, white-whiskered bullhead, bullhead. |
Longnose Gar | Billy gar, garpike, billfish, |
Bowfin | Dogfish, grindle, mudfish, cypress trout. |
Carp | German carp, European carp, mirror carp, scaleless carp. |
Goldfish | Carp, goldfish. |
Quillback | Silver carp, carpsucker, white carp. |
Hog Sucker | Sucker, hognose sucker. |
White Sucker | Common sucker, fine-scaled sucker, sucker, mullet, whitehorse, slender sucker, black sucker. |
Muskellunge | Great Lakes muskellunge, muskie (musky), lunge, maskinonge. |
Freshwater Drum | Sheepshead, drum, white perch, perch, croaker, grunting perch, gasper gou. |
*River Redhorse | The River Redhorse is a threatened species in Illinois therefore; possession of this fish is illegal. If caught, the fish should be released immediately. |
*Plus various minnows, darters and redhorse suckers.
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