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Posts: 149
| Hey guys, I need some info on some of the smaller lakes in Illinois and their HP limits. I searched the DNR site with no luck.
On Shab. you can launch/load with a motor over 10 HP but can't use it to motor around. Pierce lake you can use a big motor but just no wake.
I am boat shopping right now and am wondering about some of the smaller lakes that I'd like to fish and if getting a boat with only a single motor (Merc 150) capability is really going to hold me back.
My question for the following is: Can I launch on the listed lake & just not use the big motor? or can I use the big motor, just no wake?
Carlton - 10 hp limit
Evergreen - limit? (launch fee is annoying.
Otter - 115 limit, can I launch w/150 and just go no wake?
Spring - 25 limit
Loon (e & w) ?
McMaster ?
Any help is appreciated. |
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| twitcher,
I have been wondering the same. Carlton is so small that an electric is all that is needed. I've seen guys get on/off using their motors without getting nailed for it by DNR.
I fished Loon a lot as a kid and if there's a restriction, it's only in recent times. The water skiers used to cut us off constantly. Haven't been there in AGES and of course, it's "site regs" for the confirmation.
McMaster/Snake Den is 10hp. I think this might be a place where the big motor gets sticky.
You should try Duane Landmeier at 815-286-7170 if you don't get more help than my lame attempt. He guides most of those places I believe. |
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| Loon (Illinois) has no limits for boat motors. |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | There are a few lakes that are electric only. There are serveral lakes that are 10hp restricted like Evergreen & Shabbona. Banner Marsh and Spring North have 25hp Restrictions. Many of these lakes are not owned controlled by the DNR like Evergreen (McLean County owns it) therefore why you probably can't find info on may from the DNR site.
Here's a link to a map of all the lakes in IL that have muskies. http://www.frvmuskie.com/Illinois_Muskies/illinois_muskie_map.htm
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Posts: 323
| Twitcher,
In central IL here are the restrictions:
Electric only: George, Storey, Lake of the Woods (plus permit fee)
10HP limit: Evergreen (plus sticker fee), Shabbona, McMaster, Praire
25HP limit: Spring Lake, Banner Marsh (Wheel, Johnson, Shovel)
Hope this helps & good fishing..........................TC |
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| I have launched & loaded on all the 10 hp lakes with my big motor (even though I have a 9.9 kicker without any issues. I believe I have even down so infront of a DNR - just didn't power load and he didn't say anything. Otter they will not let you on the lake with anything bigger than a 115 hp motor. |
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Posts: 149
| Thanks guys. It seems like having only a 150 will definitely limit me on some of the waters I would like to visit. |
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Posts: 358
| Twitcher,
I believe IL law state, that you can use a big motor to launch and retrieve your boat regardless of any HP restrictions on any lake. I too have used my big motor at lakes like Shab without any grief from the DNR. However, those guys with the 9.9 motors on the backs of thier boats tend to shake their heads, and some have even had some comments. When I advise them of the law, they said they werent aware of that fact. So bud, there you have it. |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | You guys hit my hot button! What a stupid completely retarded law!!!!!!! Even wisconsin in all it's tradition holding it back does not have such a screwed up law. The law is losing tourism dollars for the state and a no-wake or a 5mph speed limit would be so much better. The arguement that people would violate the speed law is false. I fish indiana lakes with speed and time laws and they have bass tourneys on them, pleasureboaters and the law is rarely broken and when it is, it's by 5mph. The arguement about more fishing pressure is yes, initially but it will level back out. Underpowered waterplows will cause more erosion than a bassboat on plane but no wake means no erosion. A 1970 10hp johnson will put more pollutants in the water than a 135 optimax. Old big motors tend to stay and die with the big old boats they are bolted to so that is not a valid arguement either.
The people who passed these laws should be fired. Off my soapbox now. |
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Posts: 544
Location: Alsip, Il | I would love to see a 10 mph. limit on Evergreen for any motors over 10 horses. Todd, I know it would be hard, but I am willing to supress the speed gene. Al  |
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Posts: 117
Location: champaign, illinois | Twitcher, some of the others have given you pretty good info as I've pretty much experienced the same. But I do want to address a couple replies...
xllund (Mike), first you say you "believe", then later say "advise them of the law". Would you please cite this "law"? I've never heard/seen anything anywhere and I really want to be CERTAIN, I can't afford tickets.
ToddM, if you think hp limits on certain lakes is "a stupid completely retarded law", you should bone up on flowing water accessability in Illinois. The water flowing over the bed is public but the bed itself is NOT?!?! Now that, my fellow muskie nut, is "a stupid completely retarded law" (with apologies to those with mental/physical disabilities).
Jay
Lake Shelbyville Muskie Club www.shelbyvillemuskie.com
and
Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail www.illmuskie.com |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I have always thought its a dumb law, but anymore on Illinois lakes there are so many boats that if they got rid of the hp rule it could be worse. I dont' even want to think what that would be like. |
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Posts: 149
| Wouldn't no wake restrictions be sufficient? The lakes that have the hp limits tend to be smaller ones so cruising around at no wake shouldn't be a problem or Maybe it's no wake for boats with motors over xx HP?
That seems to be a good compromise of protecting the environment and yet still allowing use. |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | To Jay's point (Sorry to throw you under the buss Zipowitcz) I don't believe there is a law that permits you to use your big motor to load your boat on the trialer on all lakes in IL. Each lake has its own rules and not all lakes are controlled by the IL DNR. For example, Evergreen is a County lake and the county decides what is accpetable on that lake. I understand there are at least one lake near Danville where you are expressly prohibited from using your big motor to load your boat on the trailer. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | Gotta disagree with Todd on this one: "and the law is rarely broken and when it is, it's by 5mph. " I see that law broke on those lakes every single weekend I am there(keep in mind I am there almost every single weekend from march through november) and have been going down to those lakes for like 30+ years. Lakes like those ARE why IL has the law. 50mph on Backwater or any other IN lake under 300acres is a lot more common then many think, even though the law says you can't do it, you gotta get caught by the cons cops who are more concedrned with fisherman since we tend to be stationary and easier to hassle. If you want to be sure contact the IL Conservation cops and ask them to be safe. Electric only lakes in IL need the Gas removed, at least the ones I have been to, granted those were not Musky lakes either... But Fines are issued if you dip the boat in those with the Gas motor attached.
"I would love to see a 10 mph. limit on Evergreen for any motors over 10 horses" Would have to be No Wake I would think... 10 mph can leave some serious rollers from most boats 16' or larger..
Edited by kevin 6/29/2004 8:47 PM
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | Kevin, I do see it but it's not that common at all and I never see somebody full throttle. Sure it might happen but not to anywhere near the extent the pro-10hp people would have us believe.
Jay, what? I am not sure what you are saying about a bed. If I have offended anybody i am sorry. I have yet to hear a valid arguement why this should be in place. I can see electric only on small lakes, that makes most everybody equal for the most part but not with gas motors.
Edited by ToddM 6/29/2004 8:58 PM
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| ToddM - 6/29/2004 8:51 PM
Jay, what? I am not sure what you are saying about a bed. .
As in river/stream bed.
The bed is considered property of the landowner, but the water flowing over it is public. Only in Illinois *shrug*
Jay |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | Well this is my 2 cents......First of all if there was a no HP limit on a lake like lets say Shabbona you know some jet skier or waver runner that lives down the street would be there every day. Next you would have that guy trying to teach his kid how to water ski on the lake. Even of you say NO WAKE you know they would jump on it and see if they would get caught. As to Indiana lakes, I fish them all the time and for example Webster Back waters guys fly up and down that and even getting out to the main lake. I would have to say most are fisherman. It is the same case of posted speed limit, you know you go faster than 55 MPH"I DO" but if they restrict me to a horse and buggy I would have to honor the posted speed limit. So that is my 2 cents and yes sometimes I am an offender and I do make mistakes but and this is a big but, I try to live with what the state gives me and go about my fishing day and when that guy goes flying by me in a no wake zone I toss my sledge and hope to become a water skiier. 
PGASCHULZ
Go Dawgs Go
Edited by pgaschulz 6/30/2004 9:52 PM
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | Why do people think that if you restrict HP that people with high HP boats won't show up and break the rules any less then if it was a No Wake rule? If a guy is going to break the rules and there is nobody out there to enforce them, HP restriction or not, he's still going to break the rules.
Edited by Luke_Chinewalker 6/30/2004 4:15 PM
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | Jay, I get you now. I am all for gaining access to water., flowing or not. I don't believe anybody should own the water itself.
Do you guys see water skiing on those restricted mph lakes? I don't. Sorry kevin but I do not. I see it where it's supposed to be. Do you see it as a major problem where it's happening so much it's like having no law? You know you cannot answer yes to that. Those laws work 99% of the time.
As far as people taking jetskis and water sking on shabbona or lakes like it, can't that be posted? How hard is it to turn them in? I take a camera with me. I think it's easier to turn those people in then trying to dtermine if they have a 15 with a 9.9 sticker or an old 18 or a 25hp motor or trying to see if their big motor is running with their electric in the water. Make it simple and make it work for everybody. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | Heidecke, Lasalle and Braidwood are all No Pleasure boat/PWC lakes. Speed limit is 40mph I believe. Those lakes do not get jet ski trouble as they get ticketed if they try to launch, also none of the pleasure boat crowd in stuff like Malibu's, Ski Natiques and any other variety of no Fishing craft. Pontoon are allowed if they look like fishing rigs I believe, not positive though. The 40 mph is broken by many fisherman on those lakes, but if caught you get a ticket. As for water skiers on 10mph lakes, Secrist last sunday, they were actually tubing not skiing, but the speed was well over 10mph. Fish with me Todd and I will show you, very common down there. "You know you cannot answer yes to that" I can answer yes to it and be telling the truth.
Edited by kevin 6/30/2004 9:14 PM
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Posts: 358
| Jay & Luke,
I have contacted the IL DNR about this launch/retrieve issue using a big motor. For now, I will restate what I believe is true in IL waters (site restrictions not with standing)
A boat operator may use a big motor (above HP restrictions) to launch/retrieve a boat as long as it is operated at "no-wake" speed and is within 150' of the launch.
Jay, like I said earlier, I have done this at Shabonna and havent had any issues with the DNR. A couple of times, they were at the landing when I retrieved my boat (150 HP.) I dont want anyone getting a ticket, including me, so just as soon as I hear back from the DNR, I will surely post their response here.
Luke, I agree with you that there are site specific regs at certain lakes. This obviously would change things bud, but in general I believe what I stated is correct. I will certainly post the response of the IL DNR just as soon as I receive it.
Have a safe and relaxing holiday all! |
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Posts: 117
Location: champaign, illinois | xlund, I was wondering if that's not the case. I know they let you launch/load at Evergreen with the big motor also. Basically it's a lake by lake basis whether you can or not.
As far as HP limits go, I am against it and still believe it is an archaic law. I even wrote a nice long note to former IDNR director Brent Manning who touched on the issue publicly back then (early 90's), though only briefly.
Some of my, what I considered, valid points were;
1) on 10hp limit lakes that there were guys who had 15's and/or modified 9.9/9.5's
2) that I had witnessed guys using larger motors claiming battery was low, wind too high, blah blah
3) on 10hp restricted waters (including Carleton which is also supposed to be no wake) guys run wide open causing large wakes anyway, causing erosion
4) on 25hp restricted lakes, that my '82 50hp merc would go no faster than my dad's '89 25hp. What?
Thats right. My boat was 3' longer also, but we'd run side by side at WOT (there was also a change in the industry of where hp was measured, prop or power head).
5) That a 10hp limit lake is "self-policed" is absolutely hogwash!!! We all know that.
So I proposed mph restrictions as "enforcement is enforcement". I mean, SOMEBODY has to be there to write the ticket! Give the man a radar gun, I'm sure the state police could donate older units that they retire.
At least the state is in the process of evaluating the situation by doing a controlled test in a few previously hp restricted lakes. And they are seeing that most folks stay compliant with the no-wake rule. And to be honest, I don't see any more pressure now than before so I think that argument can go directly to the trash bin.
So that's my opinion, however much it may stink like my....never mind 
Everybody have a safe and happy 4th!!!
Jay |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | Jay, one thing I have found is that everybody who is for the 10hp rule is so for self reasons. They are fishing those waters and do not want any more people to have access to "their" public waters. I really get a kick out of the 25hp rule on north spring. The upper end is like a non-flowing shallow river yet they jet up and down in their johns with 25's on them on plane. I ran my 60 at no wake once to get out of the windy main lake and get yeled at once. How funny. |
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Posts: 140
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Hey ToddM ....
no one is saying not to launch your boat. No one is trying to keep any public waters to themselves.
You have every right to launch and either use your trolling motor or buy a 9.9 motor ..... either way please stop crying!!!!
It's funny how no one complained about the motor restrictions on the lake that I fish on most of the time until muskies were stocked in it. Like I say to anyone that brings this issue up to me. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT ~ DON'T FISH IT.
I can't speak for other lakes, but Evergreen has had motor restictions on it for 30 some years.
Why would they change rules just to make a handful of crybaby muskie fisherman happy? Deal with it dude!!
Thad Hinshaw |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | Thad, talk to the pro-10hp people on shabbona sometime. You have even said in your seminars that you have personal bias towards the limit. The lake you fish is much bigger and wind becomes a factor when you can't use your gas motor to at least get back to the launch. From a tourism standpoint it does not make alot of sense either. Anyways, hope your season is going well. Good fishing. |
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Posts: 140
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Hey Todd ~
I do understand what you are saying, but a large motor is just not needed on Evergreen.
I have also brought several pictures of good quality muskies that I have caught right off the boat launch.
Give me a call ... we need to get out and fish together. I will show you that all you need is a trolling motor.
(309) 726-1860
Thad |
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| Is it true that at Shabbona Lake you can use a bigger motor but only at idle speed? I read this about 3 years ago in Illinois Game and Fish. thanks in advance! |
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| does anyone know if it is ok to run a bigger than 10 hp motor at Shabbona if only at idle speed????? thanks in advance. |
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| does anyone know if it is ok to run a bigger than 10 hp motor at Shabbona if only at idle speed????? thanks in advance. |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | Eric, they were going to do that but the shabbona lake fishing club came out in force to shut it down. You can do thisx on pierce. Their claim is that there will be more fishing pressure. This would be true initially but would level off. The guy behind it is the guy who runs the boat rental, no conflict of interest there. |
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HP Limit Lakes in IL