Illinois Family Fishing Destinations for 2016

One of the toughest challenges of modern parenting is convincing the offspring that there is a whole new world out there that doesn't involve smart phones, iPads or television screens. Being an old-timer myself, my kids had matured, married and started their own families prior to the peak of the electronic information age.

Oh, I use and value my PC, cell phone and GPS, but, believe it or not, I still maintain a "land line," and you will never catch me walking around entranced by a 3- by 5-inch screen that tells me how the New York Yankees game is going. As a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan I couldn't care less, anyway.

What really brought the problem into focus for me was the sight of several of my grandkids relentlessly texting away while sitting at our family's Christmas dinner table. And, they were no doubt communicating with friends who were sitting at their family's dinner table. While I make it a point not to offer opinions on how my children should raise their children, I veered from that course on this occasion, and that rude behavior will not recur.

But, aside from shutting down the smart phones at family functions, what can a parent do to get the kids to put them down voluntarily and turn to something that will expand their horizons beyond the digital realm?

While the range of activities available to young people these days is limitless, the one that will fit nearly every budget, lifestyle and physical condition is a family fishing trip. It is rare to find a youngster who isn't enthralled by contact with nature, and the hands-on prospect of actually catching a fish will take their minds off those electronic gadgets for a while. Of course, the first thing they will do upon hauling a finned critter aboard is snap a photo to post on their Facebook page, but what fisherman doesn't like to brag a little?

Probably the best thing about family fishing trips is there are no set rules for where, when, or how you go about them. Whether it is a simple day excursion to a local pond, a weekend overnighter at a state park or a full-blown, weeklong vacation at

a major fishing site, the objective of turning the kids on to nature's wonders and instilling a self-reliant spirit in the young people will be achieved. It is all good.

Here in Illinois, we are blessed with a wide range of opportunities across the state to plan a family fishing trip that fits the needs of all family members involved.

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Let's take a look at how to plan your family's next Illinois fishing outing. Your first step is to select a lake, pond, reservoir, creek or river that offers the amenities your group requires. Arriving at a site you have selected by guess and by golly invites the kind of unpleasant surprises that can ruin the entire trip. By doing a little online research you can tailor your selection to fit your requirements.

By exploring the Illinois DNR's ifishillinois.org website and selecting the "Places to Fish" tab, you will be presented with a long list of DNR managed fishing sites from which to choose. You will have the option of reviewing all the state managed waters, or refining the list to show only the areas available in your locality. If you are planning a weekend trip, you probably should concentrate on areas close to home. The more time you have, the more distant sites may be considered.

The online info can be sorted to include only lakes and reservoirs, family-friendly waters, river and streams, bank fishing or Lake Michigan. Also available are the fishing reports from each body of water. By clicking on each fishing area you will find complete information, including location, a physical description of the lake and additional recreational amenities such as boat fishing, boat/motor rental, boat ramps, skiing, camping, swimming, picnicking and spring trout stocking. Some of the areas feature kids-only fishing ponds, which would be great for our purposes. Any site-specific regulations are also shown.

The "Family Fishing" tab also offers advice on taking kids fishing. I would recommend studying that page, even if you are a seasoned angler. Taking an inexperienced youngster fishing requires preparation that differs from adult fishing. Remember, first impressions are lasting, and it is important that a child's initial exposure to fishing be an enjoyable one.

When you are pondering which fishing site is best for your family outing, keep in mind that each individual's attention span will differ. One youngster may happily sit for hours waiting for the bobber to go under, while another could lose interest if something doesn't happen quickly.

One or more family members may or may not fish at all, preferring instead some quiet time with a good book, or a nap in the fresh air. Included with details about the fishing locations are contact numbers for the site managers, and it would be advisable to check with those managers about alternative activities available, such as hiking trails or bird watching, as well as any off-site recreational opportunities.

Camping is the most popular and economical choice of most families. It gives the kids a chance to catch a fish, cook meals over the campfire they built, explore woodland trails, maybe spot a deer or an eagle, crawl into their tent and curl up in a sleeping bag for the night, and even take a few pictures in the great outdoors to share with their friends. Believe me, these are experiences the young folks will remember and pass along to their own children when that time comes.

But, not everyone owns suitable camping equipment, and they may hesitate to invest in some before they know how the kids are going to react to the outdoor lifestyle. That should be no problem since there is a small town within a few miles of nearly every DNR managed fishing site in the state, and just about every one of them has at least one small, inexpensive motel for overnight lodging. You can fish, hike, swim, bar-b-que and relax in the park all day, and then simply retire to the motel for the night. What's not to like about that?

On the other hand, you really don't have to rough it to enjoy a top-notch family fishing trip. Here are a few tips on where to find some world- class fishing right here in the Land of Lincoln, plus more additional activities than you can imagine.

NORTHEAST

We'll begin up in the northeast, in Lake and McHenry counties where we find the Fox Chain O' Lakes. This string of lakes, created by dams on the Fox River, is probably Illinois' most diverse fishery. The Fox Chain is located 50 miles northwest of Chicago off Illinois Route 173 and U.S. Route 12 near the cities of Antioch, Fox Lake and McHenry. Included in the chain are Catherine, Marie, Channel, Bluff, Spring, Petite, Grass, Fox, Nippersink and Pistakee.

You will find excellent populations of bluegills, crappies, channel and flathead catfish, largemouth bass, walleyes and northern pike. And if you have a large empty space on your wall to fill, the Chain is rated as one of the country's top 10 musky destinations.

Along the Way

There are state-owned free boat ramps available at Chain O Lakes State Park; and private (for fee) launches are available throughout the system. Camping, swimming, skiing and picnicking are available. Concessions are available at Chain O Lakes State Park and the McHenry Dam, offering fishing boat and motor rental, canoe/kayak rentals, live bait, tackle, ice, food and soft drinks. Boat rentals, restaurants, bait/tackle and guide services are available via private vendors throughout the system.

There is no end to the additional recreational activities available in the area, including golf courses, restaurants, Great America amusement park and Lake Michigan charter fishing for trophy trout and salmon. Motels in all price ranges will be found there as well.

SOUTHERN STATE

In Southern Illinois sprawling Rend Lake, with its 18,900 acres creating 162 miles of shoreline, is one of Illinois largest. Rend Lake is located in Franklin and Jefferson counties along Interstate 57, approximately 15 miles south of Mount Vernon and just northwest of Benton.

Fishermen will find outstanding crappie and catfish angling here, along with good largemouth bass and white bass populations. Both bank and boat fishing is productive, and guides are available for all species. I would highly recommend hiring a guide, especially on your first trip to the lake.

The family recreational opportunities farther south are so numerous I can't pick one over the other, so I will just send you down to Marion, Ill., in Williamson County and let you choose for yourself. Williamson County is located in beautiful Southern Illinois, home to Herrin, Carterville, Johnston City, and the county seat of Marion, where Interstate 24, 57 and Illinois Route 13 intersect.

A good place to start your search is to go back to the DNR fishing site and sort through the lakes listed under the "South" heading. A great many of these highly productive bass, catfish and crappie lakes are within Williamson County, and all have state access ramps and camping sites on them. Somewhere in this array of recreational opportunities you will find just what you are looking for. Local weekend festivals are especially popular.

Along the Way

Rend Lake State Park offers camping, boat ramps, boat rental, skiing, picnicking and swimming. At the Rend Lake Resort you can rent motel rooms or cabins, buy bait, enjoy fine dining, play tennis, golf or just enjoy the scenery. Simply put, there is something for the whole family. Check it out online at rendlakeresort.com for additional information.

Williamson County has a variety of attractions and entertainment options for those windy or rainy days that keep you off the lake. Check out the Williamson County Tourism Bureau at visitsi.com for additional information on the area, including a calendar of events and other resources you may find helpful while planning a trip.

SUMMING UP

Wherever your family decides to go for a fishing vacation, the high point will be the days they spend together enjoying the outdoors. The big thing is to make sure the kids have a fun and memorable outing. They almost surely will not be up for a dawn to dusk day of fishing, so don't hesitate to head for the dock if they begin to lose interest.

There are a lot of good times waiting for the family that does a little homework, finds the right location to fit their needs and then spends a few days together lakeside. It just doesn't get any better than that.

No matter which area of the state you decide to explore, right now is a great time to get out and enjoy the many great options available for your next family fishing excursion.