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I Chain of Lakes, Fox have activities galore By Anthony Oliver $ Residents of northeastern Illinois are | situated along the most important of all l . the state's recreational facilities-the 2 Fox River and Chain O' Lakes system. § This waterway has attracted => thousands of people. as year-round - residents and even more as sum- x mertime visitors, when river activity is < at its height. Hie Fox branches off from the Illinois River at Ottawa, due south and central of McHenry County, and reaches in a northeastern direction into Wisconsin to just north of Waukesha, one of Milwaukee's western suburbs. Water sports are a way of life for the system's year-round residents and for the annual barrage of visitprs. from more urban areas! Every summe^the river attracts the young of all age£) to go b boating, canoeing, swimming, water skiing, fishing and just pic­ nicking on the banks. The river leads to 10 nearby lakes' in neighboring Lake County: Grass, Marie, Bluff, Channel, Fox, Pistakee, Petite, Catherine, Nippersink and Redhead. Renowned as one of the busiest locks in the world in terms of the number of boats that pass through them, the McHenry Locks are a testament to the popularity of the Fox River-Chain O' Lakes system. It is estimated that upwards of 18,000 boats move throught the locks each year. The locks opened May 1 and are generally open into October, depending on when the first onslaught of the winter season occurs. They are open from 8 a.m. to midnight every day of the week. The locks are operated by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and are closed when the river is "drawn down" each year. By opening the five large flood control gates located at McHenry dam, the water level of the river and the Chain is ac­ tually lowered. In this way, there is at least some room for spring rains and melting snows that could pose flooding problems. Boaters have been known to line up for more than two hours at a time on weekends and all manner of craft travel the river and Chain. A veritable boater's playground opens to these people and no fees are charged to pass through the locks. But a user's fee may be in operation at various commercial launching sites; one charged by the newly-created Fox River-Chain 0' Lakes Water Management Agency. This agency was created by a voter's referendum last fall and will use the money from the user's fee for projects to maintain the waterway. Adjacent to the McHenry Locks is the dam. Originally built in 1907, the low- head dam was donated to the people of Illinois in 1924 and construction began 10 years later on a new concrete-block facility. On the east side of the river, the dam is bordered by a spacious state park, McHenry Dam State Park. This area of woods and grassland lends itself to picnicking, jogging, hiking, fishing and all manner of outdoor activity. There is a concession area and boat rentals are available. Numerous properties along the Fox River are owned and operated by the McHenry County Conservation District' (MCCD). In addition to individual explorations by canoe on the river and its tributaries, there are several public canoe trails. MCCD sponsors the Nippersink Canoe Trail, which offers a scenic journey through McHenry County via an early form of transportation, the canoe. The trail can be entered at Glacial Park, Lyle C. Thomas Memorial Park, the Nippersink Canoe Base, McHenry Dam State Park and the Hickory Grove site. This network of trails offers tours which last from one to four hours. Information about the canoe trails and other MCCD services can be ob­ tained by calling (815 ) 338-1405 or (815) 678-4431. Fishing the Fox and Chain is a favorite of residents and visitors alike and the waterway is now more productive in terms of game fish than it has been in the past. This is due to the efforts of the Illinois Department of Conservation (IDOC) at the Spring Grove hatchery, which annually stocks the waterway system with millions of fry. The river offers anglers a chance to try their skills agaiqst the wily walleye, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass. For for those who favor panfish angling, the Fox has an abundant population of bluegill, crappie and yellow perch. Others likely to take your bait include channel catfish, bullhead, yellow bass and the omnipresent carp. Moraine Hills State Park, which is southeast of McHenry on River Road, surrounds the northern lakes area. The park is a Mecca for hiking and bicycling enthusiasts as well as fishing folk. The northern lakes-Wilderness, Tomahawk, Warrior and Defiance- provide fishing from the shore and boats (no motors) can be rented. The lakes contain a varied fish population, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, bluegill, bullhead and an occasional gar. Warrior and Tomahawk have been stocked with northern pike and channel catfish. According to IDOC, all fishermen must have a valid fishing license in their possession at all times while fishing and are required to purchase a salmon stamp before taking either salmon or trout. The licenses are valid from April 1 to March 31 of the following year. They are availble at many commercial outlets and various v government offices. There are exemptions to the rule and these are people older than age 65, younger than age 16 or fishing waters on or flowing over their own land. SI5/459-4455 •SWIM INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL AGES •DAYCAMP FOR AGES 3 - GRADE 8 (Extended hours available for children of working families.) •TENNIS - 4 LIGHTED COURTS (Leagues & Instruction) SERVING . McHENRY COUNTY SINCE 1964 •A WIDE VARIETY OF ADULT FITNESS CLASSES THE LAKE REMON YMCA 7315 SO. ROUTE 31 CRYSTAL LAKE