Fox Chain O' Lakes Fishing
7,110 acres on the IFishIllinois page, a lake of Lake County.
Pick for black crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Tripp, CC BY 2.0
First Illinois notes on Fox Chain O' Lakes
IDNR lists Fox Chain O’ Lakes at 7,110 acres, a lake lying in Lake County. From the IDNR pin it is around 1 mile to Fox Lake.
10 boat ramps show on the IDNR boat ramp layer here. Read its digest entry before you keep fish.
Acres as listed on the IDNR IFishIllinois page (printed only where the page text gives the same size); depth only where the IDNR text states a maximum depth. IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
What IDNR says about Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Location (IDNR)The Fox Chain O' Lakes 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.
- Description (IDNR)The Fox Chain O' Lakes are unique from other major bodies of water in the state in that they were formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. Composed of nine major lakes interconnected by channels, the Fox Chain O' Lakes is classified as a public navigable waterway managed under the authority of the Department of Natural Resources and the Fox Waterway Agency to provide a variety of water oriented recreational …
- More from IDNRThere are state-owned FREE boat ramps available at Chain O' Lakes State Park; private (for fee) launches are available throughout the system. 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 …
What IDNR says is available at Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Family FriendlyNo
- Handicap AccessNo
- Boat FishingYes – Unrestricted
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsYes
- CampingYes
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingYes
- SwimmingYes
- Trout StockingNo
We copied the Fox Chain O' Lakes entry from IFishIllinois without edits.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
How IDNR rates the fishing at Fox Chain O' Lakes
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Crappie spp. | Excellent | Both Black Crappie (n=84) and White Crappie (n=63) catches have increased since 2015, but fish measured about the same across recent surveys, and were between 2” and 18” long and weighed up to 2.1 lbs. Good numbers of… |
| Smallmouth Bass | Fair | Smallmouth Bass make up about 10% of the total bass catch. They maintain themselves with natural reproduction. Fish up to 18" are collected during surveys. |
| Channel Catfish | Excellent | This species is maintained through natural reproduction, and they are common in river systems. Since the Chain is part of a river system these fish are a significant predator, relatively abundant and caught by a lot of… |
| Largemouth Bass | Good | In 2021, Largemouth Bass were collected at a rate of 41.2 fish/hr., which is above the long-term average of 21.8 fish/hr. Fish measured from 2.5” to 20” long and weighed up to 4.4 lbs.; 50% of the bass collected were… |
| Flathead Catfish | Fair | Flathead Catfish are present up and down the entire Fox River/Fox Chain O’ Lakes system but are more common the further you go below the McHenry Dam and all the way south to Dayton. Northern Pike Improving Northern Pike… |
| Muskellunge | Very Good | Muskie are managed for high catch rates and the longevity of the stocking program has allowed females to grow LARGE! The average Muskie is 36” long but fish up to 51” are reported by anglers almost annually. In the… |
IDNR rates crappie spp. at Fox Chain O' Lakes as excellent, the top mark in its outlook here.
Species for Fox Chain O' Lakes come only from IDNR pages and tables.
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026. IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026; IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
For the black crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Survey history at Fox Chain O' Lakes
- IDNRThe Division of Fisheries has been actively monitoring the status of Fox Chain O' Lakes fishery for over 60 years (1954 to present). We usually collect between 35 and 40 fish species during our biennial fish surveys. Three fish species have voluntarily become established in the Fox Chain O' Lakes; Yellow Bass (1973, with a significant die-off in 1995 and 1997), Freshwater Drum (1992) and Gizzard Shad (2007).
- The Fox Chain was stocked with 336,950 2 inch Walleye fingerlings, 2,242,000 Walleye fry, 3633 Muskie fingerlings between State-reared and Club Donations and 25,157 4- to 6-inch Largemouth Bass fingerlings in 2021. Natural reproduction maintains all other species including Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, crappie, Bluegill and White and Yellow Bass.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Backing a trailer into Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Fox Chain O' Lakes American Legion Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch; Fox Waterway boat sticker required
- Fox Chain O' Lakes Anchor Pointe Marina Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch; Fox Waterway boat sticker required
- Fox Chain O' Lakes Bauske Marina Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch; Fox Waterway boat sticker required
- Fox Chain O' Lakes COLSP Maple Grove Boat Rampfee noted, Fox Waterway boat sticker required
- Fox Chain O' Lakes Musky Tales Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch; Fox Waterway boat sticker required
- Fox Chain O' Lakes Oak Park Lounge Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch; Fox Waterway boat sticker required
- Fox Chain O' Lakes Sandbar Bar and Grille Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch; Fox Waterway boat sticker required
- Fox Chain O' Lakes Sequoit Harbor Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch; Fox Waterway boat sticker required
- Fox Chain O' Lakes Turtle Beach Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch; Fox Waterway boat sticker required
- Fox Chain O' Lakes Your Boat Club Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch; Fox Waterway boat sticker required
Ramps to know near Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Turner Lake Boat RampTurner Lake (COLSP), 2 miles northwest
- Fox River COLSP Oak Point Boat Ramp on Turner Lake (COLSP)Turner Lake (COLSP), 3 miles north
- Long Lake Boat Ramp (north)Long Lake (KSRA), 4 miles south
- Fox River Miller Point Canoe/Kayak LaunchFox River, 8 miles southwest
- Defiance Lake Boat RampDefiance Lake, 8 miles southwest
- Fox River Miller Riverfront Park Boat RampFox River, 8 miles southwest
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Contour maps published for Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Fox Chain Channel LakeIDNR depth map
IDNR has drawn 1 depth map of Fox Chain O' Lakes; the waterbody page carries them.
IDNR depth map list, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
The latest pool number at Fox Chain O' Lakes
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Fox Lake Near Lake Villa, Il | 4.01 ft gage height | Nov 5 4:30 pm |
| Nippersink Lake At Fox Lake, Il | 3.97 ft gage height | Nov 5 5:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 5, 2026 5:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The USGS panel is live and provisional.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
What IDNR put into Fox Chain O' Lakes
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Largemouth Bass | 11,716 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Largemouth Bass | 4,018 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2026 | Muskellunge | 2,015 | Adult |
| 2026 | Walleye | 2,762,000 | Not Specified |
| 2026 | Walleye | 333,577 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 18,219 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 6,024 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | 7,553 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | 2,025 | Adult |
| 2025 | Walleye | 2,845,000 | Not Specified |
| 2025 | Walleye | 341,396 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Largemouth Bass | 32,911 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
These Fox Chain O' Lakes lines are from the IFishIllinois stocking table.
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
The rules on keeping fish at Fox Chain O' Lakes
| Species group | Daily limit | Statewide rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator Gar | 1 per 24 hours | Harvest limit is 1 Alligator Gar per 24 hours. |
| Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish | no limit | There are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Other Sunfish | no limit | There are no harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Crappie (White, Black or Hybrid Crappie) | no limit | There are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Lake Sturgeon | no possession | Protected; No possession. |
| Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass | 6 (combined) | Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. In rivers and streams and their tributaries statewide, except for the Mississippi, Ohio (including Golconda Marina), and Wabash Rivers, the d |
| Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and their Hybrid | muskellunge 1, northern pike 3 | All Muskellunge and Muskellunge hybrids (Tiger Muskie) taken must be 36" in total length or longer, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. No more than 1 Muskellunge or Muskellunge hybrid (Tiger Muskie) may be taken per day, except as specified u |
| Paddlefish | 2 | Daily harvest limit is 2 Paddlefish. Please refer to Site Specific Regulations for the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa and the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri. |
| Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their Hybrids | no limit under 17 inches; 3 at 17 inches or longer | There are no daily harvest limits or minimum size limits for Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids, which are less than 17" in total length, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. For these fish 17" in total le |
| Trout and Salmon | 5 (combined) | Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate. |
| Walleye, Sauger, or their Hybrid | 6 (combined) | All Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid (Saugeye) taken must be 14" in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River, Wabash River, or except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. Daily harvest limit is 6 Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid, either |
Unless the digest names Fox Chain O' Lakes for a species, the statewide row decides.
Local rules at Fox Chain O' Lakes
- The Fox Waterway Agency (FWA) requires an annual user fee/sticker for watercraft utilizing the Fox Chain O' Lakes and the Fox River from the Illinois state line to Algonquin Dam. Please contact FWA for their annual fee schedule and …
- Trot line fishing is permitted.
- The State owns management jurisdiction for the Chain O' Lakes and allows homeowners to treat vegetation in front of their homes by hiring a Licensed Commercial Applicator and obtaining a Letter of Permission (LOP) from the Division …
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only (on state park property bordering the Fox River and Grass Lake) and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing
- All live bait greater than 8 inches must be rigged with a quick set rig
- Flathead Catfish: 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 fish greater than or equal to 28 inches and 2 fish less than 28 inches
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 14 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit of which no more than 3 can be Smallmouth Bass
- Muskie: 48 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Site-specific regulations on the IFishIllinois page, as printed, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. IDNR license fees (ifishillinois.org), read November 4, 2026.
Illinois record fish pulled from Fox Chain O' Lakes
| Species | Weight | Division | Date | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Carp x Goldfish | 4 lbs 6 oz | bow and arrow | June 6, 2015 | Lake |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Tournaments on Fox Chain O' Lakes
See the Fox Chain O' Lakes tournament page for the schedule and winners.
Fox Chain O' Lakes next to the lakes around it
The biggest neighbour here is Hastings Lake (LCFPD), listed at 74 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Chain O' Lakes | 7,110 | 10 | Crappie spp. | ||
| Turner Lake (COLSP) | 2 miles northwest | 45 | 10 | 2 | Northern Pike |
| Hatchery Park Ponds | 4 miles west | 20 | 0 | ||
| Lake Tranquility | 4 miles northeast | 27 | 11 | 0 | |
| Hastings Lake (LCFPD) | 6 miles east | 74 | 1 | Northern Pike | |
| Nippersink Lake (LCFPD) | 7 miles southeast | 13 | 17 | 0 | Channel Catfish |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
Down the county road from Fox Chain O' Lakes
More Illinois lakes within reach of Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Turner Lake (COLSP)2 miles northwest
- Hatchery Park Ponds4 miles west
- Lake Tranquility4 miles northeast
- Hastings Lake (LCFPD)6 miles east
- Nippersink Lake (LCFPD)7 miles southeast
Tackle stops within a short drive of Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Inland Harbor Marinamarina, Antioch, 1 mile
- Dolphin Harbor Marina and Campgroundmarina, Antioch, 1 mile
- Mineola Marine Incmarina, Fox Lake, 2 miles
- Light House Marina of Fox Lakemarina, Fox Lake, 2 miles
- Spring Lake Marina & Campgroundmarina, Antioch, 2 miles
- Sandbar Marinamarina, Antioch, 2 miles
Hiring a guide boat for Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Bear King Fishingcharter, Waukegan, (855) 520-3747
- Booth Fishing Charterscharter, Waukegan, (847) 772-3215
- Diamond Ghost Charterscharter, Antioch, (847) 838-2037
- Jawzon Fishing Charterscharter, Waukegan, (847) 337-0584
- Kristy lynn charterscharter, Waukegan, (847) 553-7129
- Migrator Charterscharter, Winthrop Harbor, (815) 338-8093
- Morning Star Fishing Charterscharter, Zion, (847) 746-8006
- Relentless Pursuit Sport Fishingcharter, Winthrop Harbor, (815) 621-4126
Borrowing a rod near Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Prairie Grass Nature Museum/Round Lake Park DistrictRound Lake, 6 miles
- YMCA Camp IndependenceIngleside, 6 miles
- Nippersink Public LibraryRichmond, 8 miles
- Moraine Hills State ParkMcHenry, 8 miles
Beds and breakfasts for a run to Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Fox Lake1 mile
- Fox Lake Hills2 miles
- Pistakee Highlands3 miles
Courthouse-county pages reaching Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Lake Countyseat: Waukegan
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Spinning reels from Piscifun matched to Fox Chain O' Lakes
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Lakes and river bends close to Fox Chain O' Lakes, in pictures
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Adam Moss, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0
What gets asked about Fox Chain O' Lakes around Illinois
Is Fox Chain O' Lakes upstate, central or down in Little Egypt?
The Fox Chain O' Lakes 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. Search Lake County, about 1 mile from Fox Lake.
What acre figure does IFishIllinois print for Fox Chain O' Lakes?
7,110 acres, per IDNR.
Which launches on the IDNR map serve Fox Chain O' Lakes?
IDNR plots 10 boat ramps; start at Fox Chain O' Lakes American Legion Boat Ramp.
How does IDNR grade the bass at Fox Chain O' Lakes?
First in the IDNR outlook: crappie spp., excellent; also present per IDNR are channel catfish, largemouth bass, flathead catfish, muskellunge and walleye.
Does a digest length rule cover Fox Chain O' Lakes?
Statewide digest row for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass: Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. The same row adds a separate rule for rivers and streams, quoted in the limits band. A digest line for this water changes part of that; see the limits band.
Which IDNR paperwork comes before a day at Fox Chain O' Lakes?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Where do shore anglers go at Fox Chain O' Lakes?
No pier is inventoried; the IDNR page notes Family Friendly No; Handicap Access No.
Where are crawlers sold on the way to Fox Chain O' Lakes?
Nearest in our shop file: Inland Harbor Marina, about 1 mile away,.
Does a USGS or NOAA gauge read Fox Chain O' Lakes?
a live USGS lake gauge reports it; the reading is above.
Is there an Illinois record from Fox Chain O' Lakes?
Common Carp x Goldfish at 4 lbs 6 oz (bow and arrow division, June 6, 2015) is the heaviest entry IDNR lists for Fox Chain O' Lakes; IDNR prints no angler names.
Save a Saturday for Fox Chain O' Lakes
Buy the Illinois license online before you leave.