Fox Chain O'Lakes
A chain of connected glacial lakes on the Fox River northwest of Chicago. It's the busiest inland recreational waterway per acre in the U.S. and has a strong muskie, walleye and bass fishery.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Muskellunge
Big baits along weed edges and rock bars, best in fall.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- More public accessPublicSee the IDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass No more than 3 may be smallmouth | 14 in | 6 / day combined |
| Smallmouth Bass All smallmouth must be released Apr 1-Jun 15 | 14 in | 6 / day combined |
| Muskellunge | 48 in | 1 / day |
| Northern Pike | 24 in | 3 / day |
| Walleye No possession of 18 to under 24 in; only 1 may be 24 in or longer | 14 in | 4 / day |
| Flathead Catfish No more than 1 of 28 in or longer | See Illinois rules book ↗ | 3 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Illinois Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Gill'sAt lakeDirections ↗
- Triangle Sports & Marine1.5 mi23480 W Grass Lake Rd, Antioch(847) 395-0813Directions ↗
- Bait Shop4.5 miDirections ↗
Local tips
- Boat traffic is very heavy in summer. Fish early and on weekdays.
- No-wake zones and Fox Waterway Agency stickers apply.
- Each lake in the chain fishes differently.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
More Illinois lakes
Lake Shelbyville Crab Orchard Lake Clinton Lake Lake Springfield Lake Decatur Kinkaid Lake Horseshoe Lake (Madison County) Horseshoe Lake (Alexander County) All Illinois lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.