Where to boat in northern IL or southern WI?

[u007]

I just bought an inflatable boat and wanted to boat in IL. I went to Highland Park area where it is close to Lake Michigan. I was told by a boat owner that you need to pay a fee like $300 to lunch a boat there. I thought you can boat anywhere as long as you register it. My questions is where you can boat in IL or WI without charge or small charge.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Where to boat in northern IL or southern WI?

Check out the Wisconsin DNR website- plenty of info there.
I like Lake Geneva, Lauderdale (WI, ), Whitewater, Beulah, Big Muskego, well, you get the point. Close enough for a quick hop for you if you are near the border.

http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/maps/

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Where to boat in northern IL or southern WI?

Kinda funny, we were at the launch today and here comes a Toyota SUV with Illinois plates and a inflatable on a trailer with a center console with steering wheel and a 40 horse Tohatsu
Kinda thought about this topic when I saw these guys, free launching onto lake Michigan here. I spied a truck and trailer with Ohio tags using a pontoon boat out on Michigan fishing.
Lots of Illinois folks pleasure boating, fishing on land and fishing on boats round here all the time.
That Highland Park boat launch is a scam. Nothing but money around there, go figure.

 

[Buzzwindrip]

Re: Where to boat in northern IL or southern WI?

I made the mistake of trying to launch my daysailer on Lake Geneva over the Labor Day weekend. Beside the line at Williams Bay, the remote trailer parking for an extra $10 was the final straw, and we were going to just head home. Then I remembered Lake Como, which is just north of Lake Geneva. Nice lake, single ramp public launch for $6 or so, and plenty of parking. I will go back there again.

 

[rhody]

Re: Where to boat in northern IL or southern WI?

Has Williams Bay gone commercial. I haven't been there for almost 40 years when you could rent a boat on the beach for 25.00 a weekend. It was a small little town back then, it was a really great place to go for a weekend and fish. I was thinking about going up there again for a weekend and dol so fishing would it be worth it.

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: Where to boat in northern IL or southern WI?

There are actually a lot of places you can boat in northern Illinois/Southern WI. The chain is always a good place to go to just cruise around in. Free launch at the state park. four concrete lanes, courtesy dock, and very well kept. I'm sure there are a number of free launches on Lake Michigan. Just over the border, you can go to Lake Marie. Costs 8 bucks to launch, but not a very crowded lake by any measure, and with fall here, I'm sure it is less crowded. Just not a large lake (about 600 acres) and the launch site is hard to find.

Sadly, a lot of lakes in northern Illinois especially around the highland park area have gone private. You need to be a resident to get onto the lakes.

The boat launch that costs $300? Sounds fishy, but I've never gone onto michigan. May be a private beach or club if it is true.