Health & Fitness
Channahon Quarries Finally Open to Public
The old quarries on Route 6 east of Channahon are finally open to the public for fishing. Now called the Rock Run Rookery, this facility has plenty of excellent fishing and fun for the entire family.
The old gravel quarries on Route 6 east of Channahon were finally opened for public fishing on June 16th. The property now called the Rock Run Rookery was acquired in 2002 by the Will County Forest Preserve as a nesting sanctuary for several species of birds including egrets and herons. But now the property is open for public use by fisherman, as well as hikers and bikers. There are actually 2 lakes to fish on the 218-acre property. The smaller lake on the west end is catch-and-release only. There is no boat access on that lake, but there are some great spots to fish from shore and a huge platform dock that is handicapped-accessible. The larger lake situated between Route 6 and the Des Plaines River is open for boats using a trolling motor only. Anglers can keep up to 15 bluegills, 3 catfish and 1 bass over 18".
In addition to the awesome fishing, the facility is a fantastic place to take the entire family. With plenty of bluegill action, the kids won't get bored. And they have a beautiful pavilion with picnic tables and permanent grills - perfect for a family cookout (check with the Forest Preserve for rental details.) The brand new facility has an excellent concrete boat ramp, and the groomed trails around the lake are perfect for biking.
My buddy Jerry Bush and I fished the larger lake Friday night and caught a bunch of nice bass working green 4" tube jigs. We had the most success by flipping the tube jig up by shore, and working it slowly down the incline where it drops to 8-10 feet of water quickly. We also boated a few nice catfish. The bottom structure is fantastic, with lots of humps and bowls. And there are plenty of islands and rock points that are holding lots of fish. Bass are also being caught on silver/blue RattleTraps and wacky worms. And you can't go wrong with minnow and bobber, or nightcrawlers fished with a slow retrieve on the bottom.
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I took my kids to the small lake on Saturday morning. We caught and released over a hundred bluegill and sunfish in less than 2 hours with jig and nightcrawlers. We then enjoyed a picnic lunch in the pavilion. Not a bad way to start the weekend.
Make sure you get all of the regulations before you head to the Rock Run Rookery: visit http://www.reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-and-trails/Test-Preserve-Name.asp
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Play Hard in the Outdoors!
