In case you get the urge to fish the Fox River, for overall Fox River watershed information, the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership site is well worth perusing. You’ll learn everything you need to know about the Fox River and virtually all of the creek watersheds that feed into it, including how to preserve and protect this fine river system. I’ve been involved with this group for over a decade, I highly recommend getting involved on some level if you can.
Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
The Fox River and its tributaries have more publicly accessible shoreline than any other river system in the state. The Fox Valley counties and communities have done an excellent job of setting aside Forest Preserves and Parks all along the shores of the river and its creeks. Most Park and Forest Preserve Districts have maps of their properties. You can usually get them off their website.
Here’s some that I rely on for all things Fox River access.
Kane County Forest Preserve District
Kendall County Forest Preserve District
DeKalb County Forest Preserve District
Openlands – Northeastern Illinois Water Trails
The Illinois Paddling Council
South Elgin Parks and Recreation
St. Charles Park District
Geneva Park District
Batavia Park District
Fox Valley Park District
Oswegoland Park District
Yorkville Parks and Recreation
Initially some of these links may be confusing and you’ll be wondering why they are here. But if you go rummage around the DeKalb County Forest Preserve site, you’ll figure out why. The Fox Valley, when you take in the individual creeks along with it, is quite large.
Since I rarely fish north of Geneva, I didn’t include much of the river north of there. I’ll get around to it eventually, but that requires more research on my end. That takes time.