[ccryan05]

Hello,

I was hoping to get some bow fishing help. We will be traveling from Texas to Chicago in October and we really hope to go bow fishing.

We are staying in downtown Chicago. We will not have a car and prefer not to rent one. Can anyone recommend a fishing location nearest to downtown Chicago as possible? Or perhaps one that can be reached by public transportation or Lyft/Uber?

I have searched online and saw that the Dresden and Marseilles Pools are good spots, but the map said they are over an hour away. We also would like somewhere where you can fish from the shore; we will not have a boat, but we do have all the bow fishing gear

By the way, I'm completely unfamiliar with the area. This will be out first visit to Chicago. We're pretty excited!

THANK Y'ALL!

Christie

 

[Taterman]

You'd be promptly arrested shooting a bow anywhere in Chicago. You have to get quite a ways outside of city limits. I think a member here guides bow fishing, search the site for him.

 

[hipster78]

You'd be promptly arrested shooting a bow anywhere in Chicago. You have to get quite a ways outside of city limits. I think a member here guides bow fishing, search the site for him.

You don't think one can bowfish in the city?? I thought as long as you weren't on a body of water that was regulated for two pole and line fishing you were good to go, but I could be wrong.
There are places I shoot but they are at least an hour and a half south of the city.

 

[ccryan05]

Thank you for the heads up, Taterman. It would be a long way to go for someone to bail me out. I'll be sure to be clear on regulations. I'm searching for the guide you mentioned.

Hipster78, from searching all this week, I suppose my best option is to rent a car and drive an hour or two. My son had saw on TV all the Asian Carp invasion craze so we hope to come home with an ice chest full of them. Can you suggest any specific spots that we can bow fish from the shore?

THANKS AGAIN

 

[Polish Joe]

The entire Illinois river basin is infested with Asian carp. Not sure of the particulars,but the Des plaines conservation area in Wilmington is a hot spot for bow fisherman.

 

[hipster78]

If you are just interested in the asian carp I've been told this guy is a good time. The arrow gun looks like a fun carp slaying tool. It might be a little late in the season, and at least a two hour ride. Why would you bring an ice chest of them home???
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...s.com/&usg=AFQjCNE__NufCAEwlusuq0dlkd43FMUvNA
What I shoot will not be fishable for at least a week because of recent rains.

 

[ja-knee-sea]

I think as long as you stick to rivers you should be OK... I wouldn't try it of of Wacker Drive though... Most likely the Fox, or the southern stretches of the Des Plaines south of I-55...

 

[Polish Joe]

Why would you bring an ice chest of them home???

I attended an Asian carp shoot on the Ohio river a few years back. The fish in the 5 to 10 pound range were kept and cleaned. No mud vein and very white fleshed. The meat was very mild. I tried it fried in a fish taco and smoked in a cream cheese type dip with crackers. Both offerings tasted pretty good.

 

[Tubes77]

Sorry about the slow reply, I haven't checked this site in awhile. There is virtually no place in the city that you can bowfish. There just aren't many bodies of water period, and those that are there it is not legal and most of them are in areas where you are likely to find bodies IN the water if you know what I mean! The two closest options for you would be the chain of lakes area to the north and west of the city which is about an hour or so. The problem is that there is almost no shorefishing options there as nearly 100% of the shorelines there are developed. To the south and est are the Illinois, Kankakee and Desplaines rivers which all offer decent shooting and even some shore fishing. The Illinois is going to be your best bet by far for the 3 differeent Asian carp we have, the Silver, Big Head and the Grass carp. This time of year though, the silvers jump very little because of the cooling of the water. If you can find shallow creek areas they can be shot during the day, but 99% of any fish shot in October are shot from a boat with lights (silvers) or spotlights (big heads). Unfortunately, there are no guides in the entire area. It is extremely difficult and expensive to get insurance for it and there just has never been enough of a demand to make it cost effective. The last guy I heard of who was (legally) running tips was in Peoria (about 3 hrs from Chicago) and he was charging nearly $1,000 a day!

If I had time I would have been willing to take you guys out in my boat (2072 troller rig) but this is deer season time and duck season starts in 12 days so my boat is getting switched over (pulled the deck already). I had to be a pessimist, but I'd recommend finding something else to do with you time. ****, bring a rod and a handfull of spoons and walk right down to one of the harbors and cast of King Salmon!

Good luck, enjoy your stay, avoid the south side at all costs.:lol:

 

[ccryan05]

Polish Joe: Thank you! I had looked up the conservation area on the map. It is not too far from the place we're staying.

Hipster 78: Thank you for the link! I just now contacted that guy to see of he'll have anything available. I haven't ever tried carp, but heard it was good...so I was going to bring back what we could. From what was mentioned so far we may have an empty chest to bring home

ja-knee-sea: Thank you very much! Very helpful!

Tubes77: Wow!!! Thank you so much! I have contacted one guy that someone mentioned on here that has a boat..so hopefully he will have a spot available for us. Thanks so much for your offer too....that was very kind of you! Perhaps we'll go for the King Salmon
Thanks for the heads up on the south side.
Good luck on duck and deer season!


Thanks again, and y'all take care!