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Fishing Resorts/Rentals within 4 Hours of Chicago

We just do Vrbo these days, we can bring the pooches that way. We just pick an area and search for a lake house with a dock. We're staying close this year, Eagle River at the end of May. Last year we stayed in Curtis, Michigan. It was great.
 
MarPar said:
@Geetex I see you lurking about, Rick...I know we talked about Dixon, but Im lookin for a longer stay. I know you know places out there :poke:
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I'm lurking because I'm hoping someone comes up with something good, 'cause I've been looking too. I've been thinking about going south to Bull Shoals Lake, probably on the Missouri side, but that'll be double the 4-hour range that you're looking for. Bemidji would be nice, but now we're looking at 9 hours. I don't know if it's still there, but there used to be a whore house in Michigan City Indiana, that's only about 1-1/2 hours... at least you'll leave there smelling like you were fishing.
 
MarPar said:
Gents!

Just as the title says, looking for a fishing resort/rental to go to in mid July of this year that is around 4 hours away from Chicago.

Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, maybe Ohio (Lake Erie?).

On a lake, boat rental a plus (depending on size of lake-my tinny is electric only at present), stand-alone cabin with heat/AC, kitchen etc., restaurant on grounds or nearby, guide would be good too. Somewhere nice and relaxing. lol

I don't mind paying up for a nice place.

I appreciate any experiences (good or bad!) and any thoughts.

:thankyou:
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My son and I for many years have gone to Eli Minnesota to go camping and fishing. You may not like to rough it, but the fishing is excellent and one of the most beautiful and pristine wilderness areas I have been to. Lots of outfitters for canoe and gear.

boundary waters 2019 036.JPG
 
Yellow Breeches creek - it's a class A trout stream near a little town called Carlisle.
I hear that there is some kind of car related thing happening the 2nd week of July every year.

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Eldubb440 eluded to it but there, I said it out loud.

:poke:

:rofl::rofl: :rofl:
 
I fished for salmon in Campbell River, British Columbia in 2009. Trip of a life time ended up a bit of a fiasco when the area was hit with a record setting 103 degree heat wave. No kill order was placed on Sockeyes to insure successful spawning, and I had to release a dozen prime fish that would have sold for $30 a pound at home. I lost one huge Chinook, and ended up with a single 10 pounder which I donated to a food bank, rather than pay shipping charges home. After spending a week at a five star hotel in Vancouver, my wife got stuck in flea bag room while I fished, it was the only place in the area with a window mounted air conditioner. She held it over me for years.

In 2014, she was out of commission with a hip replacement, so she suggested I vacation with my son in law instead. I booked with a charter service out of upstate New York, fishing for salmon on Lake Ontario. Home run. We caught so many, I got sick of eating them. Same fish as British Columbia, just didn't have the scenery. Our captain joked he should get a screen made with a mountain view so we would feel we were getting the same experience. Made the last trip in 2017. I switched to walleye on Lake Erie two years ago, after my legs went out. Easy to play them sitting down, and just as good eating as the salmon, if not better.

Also fly fished for trout in the Sierra Nevada mountains in 2008, got my largest fly caught fish of my life on that trip. All kinds of great options if you are willing to fly. After all these great road trips, I still find trout fishing in local streams measures up to anything out there. Appreciated it more after I experienced the other stuff.

Much as I love my fishing, Carlisle has managed to take precedence. Have never missed the Chrysler Nationals, after attending the first event.

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It's too far outta your way I'm sure Mario, but...

Lake Ontario and Lake Erie out here, and a sweet gem of a fishing spot near us called Silver Lake.
We really enjoy our time on the St. Lawrence River too.
That's our home away from home up in the 1000 islands.

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2011 we were at a RV park in New Braunfels TX. We were in our 1985 B 300 Dodge Vanguard camper van. As usual camp grounds are like boat docks. Have a hood up or engine cover/hatch open on a boat. ( They shall cometh) best way to start a conversation!
This fellow had his hood up on his Dodge 3500 dually. So I went over, he had seen our Saskatchewan licence plate. Wanted to know where we were from. I told him. He said we have a very nice City.
Turned out that he and friends would drive to Points North on Wollaston Lake with their boats in early spring. About 41 hours, 2500 miles. Usually 3 units. Sometimes they would go without boats and fly into other lakes.
Their daughter was going to graduate from high school that spring. They asked her what she would like for a present. She said she wanted to go on the annual fishing trip. So she was going.
Don’t think there are very many teenagers that want to go on a long trip like that with their father.
 
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Lake Winnebago in around Fond Du Lac WI is okay and about 3 hours. Its a very large lake with alot of possibilities. Rend Lake in Southern Illinois is not bad either, very nice area.
 
Enjoy the fishing Mario & the steaks :poke:

Man, Mario/Meat Man :lowdown: @MarPar I wish I was way closer
or you were way closer
I haven't been on a good fishing expedition in a long time now...

It's not muskie or pike here, but great scenery & nice trout
a bunch of the high lakes are stocked now too, still a lot of native fish too

I'd bet it would be an event, going back east & north/Midwest
I never really fished much on my travels when racing, I know I missed out bigtime

Our high mountain lakes, need a boat really Dardanelle Res. about 7,000 elevation
Sonora Dardanelle Reservoir.jpg


Pinecrest/Strawberry area, below about 25-ish mile upcountry
it's great when the tourists are NOT around ,
a boat & trolling is OK/Ideal maybe
but it's a smallish lake, it can be hiked easily
or get to the stream that feeds it too
or below the damn,
the lake after the spring melt, still happening

& I haven't been to either since dads heart surgery, kind of a forced to be a homebody right now
I haven't even got my fishing license 'yet', usually have it by, opening day trout

Sonora Pinecrest Lake #2.jpg


Down 40 or so miles, hwy-49 west towards the valley some, New Malones Res., supposedly has good bass too
it's pretty full now, been like 3-4 years of wet winters, good fishing supposedly
I haven't been there in so long, I don't know where the launches are,
some of them if it's full, like I've been told are under water

Sonora New Melones Lake.jpg
 
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Geetex said:
I'm lurking because I'm hoping someone comes up with something good, 'cause I've been looking too. I've been thinking about going south to Bull Shoals Lake, probably on the Missouri side, but that'll be double the 4-hour range that you're looking for. Bemidji would be nice, but now we're looking at 9 hours. I don't know if it's still there, but there used to be a whore house in Michigan City Indiana, that's only about 1-1/2 hours... at least you'll leave there smelling like you were fishing.
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:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Sheeeit. Aint NFW Im goin to Michigan City!!!
 
Rebelrouser said:
My son and I for many years have gone to Eli Minnesota to go camping and fishing. You may not like to rough it, but the fishing is excellent and one of the most beautiful and pristine wilderness areas I have been to. Lots of outfitters for canoe and gear.

View attachment 1841448
Click to expand...
Used to rough it. If I had more time, I would. I just don't get much vacation from work and when I do, I don't want to **** but fish and drink. LOL
 
Budnicks said:
Enjoy the fishing Mario & the steaks :poke:

Man, Mario/Meat Man :lowdown: @MarPar I wish I was way closer
or you were way closer
I haven't been on a good fishing expedition in a long time now...

It's not muskie or pike here, but great scenery & nice trout
a bunch of the high lakes are stocked now too, still a lot of native fish too

I'd bet it would be an event, going back east & north/Midwest
I never really fished much on my travels when racing, I know I missed out bigtime

Our high mountain lakes, need a boat really Dardanelle Res. about 7,000 elevation
View attachment 1841588

Pinecrest/Strawberry area, below about 25-ish mile upcountry
it's great when the tourists are NOT around ,
a boat & trolling is OK/Ideal maybe
but it's a smallish lake, it can be hiked easily
or get to the stream that feeds it too
or below the damn,
the lake after the spring melt, still happening

& I haven't been to either since dads heart surgery, kind of a forced to be a homebody right now
I haven't even got my fishing license 'yet', usually have it by, opening day trout

View attachment 1841590

Down 40 or so miles, hwy-49 west towards the valley some, New Malones Res., supposedly has good bass too
it's pretty full now, been like 3-4 years of wet winters, good fishing supposedly
I haven't been there in so long, I don't know where the launches are,
some of them if it's full, like I've been told are under water

View attachment 1841595
Click to expand...
Gorgeous country right there, Bart. Man, if I only had the time...
 
PLUM72 has a couple good possibilities in post #31. Maybe do a little nosing around on places to stay with boat rentals.... and a bar. Guarantee you'll be able to find a guide on either of those lakes.
 
About 1977-8 we flew in to an abandoned outfitters camp. It was the only way in in the 1950’s-1970 when they built a road in on the East side.
For you plane guy’s, it was WVZ. CF 240 Cherokee IIRC.
Read the following on a frame in the dinner hall.
“ God does not subtract from the allotted time of Man
Those hours spent Fishing “
Still live by that.
Forgot, they brought in fishermen in DC-3’s. A lot of people from South of the 49th saw that area long before Saskatchewan residents.
 
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440 4 speed said:
About 1977-8 we flew in to an abandoned outfitters camp. It was the only way in in the 1950’s-1970 when they built a road in on the East side.
For you plane guy’s, it was WVZ. CF 240 Cherokee IIRC.
Read the following on a frame in the dinner hall.
“ God does not subtract from Man
Those hours spent Fishing “
Still live by that.
Forget, they brought in fishermen in DC-3’s. A lot of people from South of the 49th saw that area long before Saskatchewan residents.
Click to expand...
THAT is a GREAT quote!!
 
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