I've been kayaking since the 'pandemic'. Saved my soul, it did. Couple years ago we spent a week in Glen Arbor, Mi. in late October !!! I'm a city boy that loves kayaking IN THE SUMMER... We left for the Platt River at 7am in FORTY DEGREES and rain. I thought they were stringing me along that we were really putting in. Well we did and it was THE GREATEST RUN I ever had in a kayak. It was truly amazing. What a great sport. LOVE ur vids! Stay safe.
I really enjoyed going back to a place I was familiar with growing up. Such a different perspective of a place do you think you know! Any other suggestions for DuPage County area if I’m back home for a weekend?
It's been a while since I have kayaked on the Fox River, but it is a nice place to kayak. There is a concert venue in Aurora, Riveredge Park, where you can watch concerts from your kayak.
I’m in Glen ellyn. I like the history of both Dupage and Chicago and enjoy imagining what it was like 150 -200 years ago living in this area…the area you paddled as a pristine wilderness. A little further down on the Fox there’s a small cave on the east side. It was probably used as a shelter as travelers canoed those waters for hundreds of years.
I’m looking forward to doing the Fox River through Aurora on my next trip to Illinois, but I need to figure out best place to put in and where all of the dams are. You might also enjoy my Chicago river video! By the way, I grew up in Glendale Heights, neighbor!
@@RedkayakladyI’ll check out the Chicago river video since I grew up near it on the north side. I live now on the north end of Glen Ellyn near Glen ellyn road and ST Charles road where Geneva rd crosses. Happy travels! I’ll be watching.
Elgin’s dam is needed for their municipal water. They get 70% of their water from the Fox. The water intake “might” be able to modified if the dam is removed. And that would be very costly.
I grew up in Batavia and live in N. Michigan. Well, you haven't lost your Wisconsin accent have you? This was a nice, nature filled video which brought back fond memories of the good 'ole Fox River.
@@Redkayaklady Sorry, "kayaklady"...but I have a history of studying foreign languages, English and have a "good ear"...and you have a definite Wisconsin/Minnesota (think the movie "Fargo") accent...not that there's anything wrong with that either, ok? It's quite endearing to my ears.
The Fox can be tough to paddle. My buddy and I have done that stretch north of St Charles a few times over the years. We preferred a late spring paddle as water levels are reasonably high. The stretch south from Montgomery to Newark can be very shallow and rocky. We do want to do some further south but haven't gotten there yet.
I was so fortunate to get a great day for November. I have so many options of where to paddle in Wisconsin but really enjoy exploring places I knew growing up. I’m open to suggestions!
@@Redkayaklady We found the Rock River from Byron south has a good depth. We canoe so we need a bit more water than a kayak. We have done stretched to Oregon and then also south from Oregon. On the Fox, in Yorkville, they set up a little shoot for kayaks to do a little whitewater.
Try the Kankakee. I live in Bourbonnais and fish around the state park all the time! See a lot of kayak and canoers! You can get pretty far up some of the side creeks. I saw one of those little jet boats fly through Rock Creek at about 50! To me that was very dangerous! They went really far up the creek!
Those dams are still used for flood control. Secondly, it would cause a catastrophic loss on home values for ALL those homes that now front navigable water, which would result in far lower property values and property tax assessments ultimately. Causing a drop in property taxes for the locales impacted. It would greatly harm some very successful recreational fisheries that have been established as well.
Prior to the dams the Fox was a national destination SMB fishery. I understand that it is a fantastic fishery now too, just different. I've enjoyed wading it for bronzies, would love to have done so without the dams. Just my 2 cents, BEST AND PEACE & TIGHT LINES ALL!
Love your slow photo scans of the shoreline as well as running commentary, especially when you add a historical or local color view. One recommendation, though, if you haven’t already, P L E A S E…please…please invest in a better microphone. I think if you did, your followers would be more inclined to listen to you and, importantly, far more inclined to recommend your channel to family and friends. Keep doing what you’re doing because we love its uniqueness. Best and safe travels, Will
@@Redkayaklady Sorry , official name is Chain 'O Lakes State Park. Grass lake is one of the three lakes within the park. North east corner of the state. Still on the Fox River. Would be a bit of a drive from DuPage County. Search the website, very pretty country.
I do use both. Since I made this one last year I invested in a mic to reduce wind noise. Kind of a newbie here. I’m still learning 😊 Thanks for watching!
@@Redkayaklady youtube search has been reinvented into something that doesn't come close to working so when I try to find any videos about it the results i get are a lot of random unrelated videos. Just wondering. It looks like itd be fun to do
I can see the argument on both sides and interested in knowing what the majority of the public thinks. I don’t get there as often as I’d like to, so I don’t have a horse in this race!
I’ve been hearing a little bit of buzz about this and I do think that at least two are scheduled for removal. I can understand the argument on both sides and being that I don’t live in Illinois anymore. I don’t have a horse in this race. That being said, I sure would love to paddle a longer stretch of that river Without having to portage around the dams.
Word of caution. Illinois River in Illinois is a heavily commercial trafficked waterway. Huge towboats move barges up and down that river pushing water upstream and downstream depending what direction they travel. The area around Starved Rock State Park downstream of the Lock and Dam has a forceful undertow... Many people have met their Maker in those waters around SRSP. The water appears to be very calm on the surface but in reality to has tremendous undertows. ALWAYS WEAR A LIFEJACKET ON THAT RIVER!! ALWAYS!! CaptSeamus, mmc.
@@Redkayaklady .. Yes.. I WAS .. its all good .. Im not offended. ..they didnt call joliet little chicago for nothing thou.. but ya…👍🏼theres good and bad from every town in this country.. just sayin!! Now that yer in da great white north.. does that mean yer a Packer fan now?😀😀😀👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I’ve paddled only in the Jacksonville area, around Amelia Island and in Silver Springs State Park. Looking forward to going back. I love paddling with the gators and manatee!
I used to live in DuPage County and now I’m in Wisconsin. Most of my videos (and those that watch them) are in Wisconsin. I proudly still consider myself a FIB.
Lady in Red Kayak thanks some Much for this Lovely Video. Awesome Day of Kayaking With an Awesome sweet Lady. Peace Be With You 🤞 Greg
Thank you, Greg! This was a real fun one.
Fox R fishery has made remarkable comeback from the 70’s
Good to know, the effort to restore are working!
I've been kayaking since the 'pandemic'. Saved my soul, it did. Couple years ago we spent a week in Glen Arbor, Mi. in late October !!! I'm a city boy that loves kayaking IN THE SUMMER... We left for the Platt River at 7am in FORTY DEGREES and rain. I thought they were stringing me along that we were really putting in. Well we did and it was THE GREATEST RUN I ever had in a kayak. It was truly amazing. What a great sport. LOVE ur vids! Stay safe.
Appreciate that! Coldest weather I paddled in I think was about 35°. Hard to keep a hard-core paddler down.
I always like the perspective of looking back at the land from the water.
Agreed! You really look at the city in a whole new way… Sites you’ve driven by dozens of times suddenly you see so differently.
I was waiting for this video. I love me some Fox River.....great fishing and canoeing.
I really enjoyed going back to a place I was familiar with growing up. Such a different perspective of a place do you think you know! Any other suggestions for DuPage County area if I’m back home for a weekend?
@@RedkayakladyThe only rivers that I've been to were Salt Creek, Des Plaines and of course Fox River.
@@Redkayaklady Dupage river.
It's been a while since I have kayaked on the Fox River, but it is a nice place to kayak. There is a concert venue in Aurora, Riveredge Park, where you can watch concerts from your kayak.
Thank you for that information! Kayaking through Aurora is actually on my list the next time I visit family. I’ll have to check the concert schedule.
I’m in Glen ellyn. I like the history of both Dupage and Chicago and enjoy imagining what it was like 150 -200 years ago living in this area…the area you paddled as a pristine wilderness. A little further down on the Fox there’s a small cave on the east side. It was probably used as a shelter as travelers canoed those waters for hundreds of years.
I’m looking forward to doing the Fox River through Aurora on my next trip to Illinois, but I need to figure out best place to put in and where all of the dams are. You might also enjoy my Chicago river video! By the way, I grew up in Glendale Heights, neighbor!
@@RedkayakladyI’ll check out the Chicago river video since I grew up near it on the north side. I live now on the north end of Glen Ellyn near Glen ellyn road and ST Charles road where Geneva rd crosses. Happy travels! I’ll be watching.
Elgin’s dam is needed for their municipal water. They get 70% of their water from the Fox. The water intake “might” be able to modified if the dam is removed. And that would be very costly.
Great input, thanks! And very interesting. I had no idea. Elgin got so much of their water from the Fox River.
It sure was a nice day when you were out on the fox river hope to be out on the river myself today take care stay dry👍
Our season is finally upon us. Thanks for watching!
We live in St. Charles. I’ve fished in there, and caught a 4 lb. Smallmouth bass. I transferred it to a big lake at Fermi Lab.
Very cool! It’s fun to paddle some of the waters near where I grew up since I didn’t start kayaking until long after I left the area.
Appreciate the video. I caught a cool fish in the Fox River from my kayak, a medium sized but very old looking female walleye.
BTW I'm a fisherman and I say, "REMOVE THE DAMS!!!" Flathead dams are dangerous as hell, and a blight on the environment
Nice little slice of nature in the middle of the suburbs.
Great video!!! I bought a Pelican kayak and enjoyed Busse Woods but am thinking of Chain O Lakes this year
So awesome you’ve taken to the water! I’m always up for new suggestions on where to paddle in northern Illinois when I’m down visiting family.
I been on that river before in my canoe. What type of kayak do you like? Length?
Hope to see you again.
@@chefgiovanni This day I used my sea kayak. It’s a Current Designs Solstice. 17.5’. I have a 12’ and 14’ boats I use as well.
I grew up in Batavia and live in N. Michigan. Well, you haven't lost your Wisconsin accent have you? This was a nice, nature filled video which brought back fond memories of the good 'ole Fox River.
Oh nooooo! I tried hard not to get a Wisconsin accent. 😬
@@Redkayaklady Sorry, "kayaklady"...but I have a history of studying foreign languages, English and have a "good ear"...and you have a definite Wisconsin/Minnesota (think the movie "Fargo") accent...not that there's anything wrong with that either, ok? It's quite endearing to my ears.
The Fox can be tough to paddle. My buddy and I have done that stretch north of St Charles a few times over the years. We preferred a late spring paddle as water levels are reasonably high. The stretch south from Montgomery to Newark can be very shallow and rocky. We do want to do some further south but haven't gotten there yet.
I was so fortunate to get a great day for November. I have so many options of where to paddle in Wisconsin but really enjoy exploring places I knew growing up. I’m open to suggestions!
@@Redkayaklady We found the Rock River from Byron south has a good depth. We canoe so we need a bit more water than a kayak. We have done stretched to Oregon and then also south from Oregon.
On the Fox, in Yorkville, they set up a little shoot for kayaks to do a little whitewater.
@@Redkayaklady Wait...wait...Are you the woman we spoke to who works in the restaurant who moved down here from WI??
@@jcavenagh nope. I used to live down there, now in WI.
Try the Kankakee. I live in Bourbonnais and fish around the state park all the time! See a lot of kayak and canoers! You can get pretty far up some of the side creeks. I saw one of those little jet boats fly through Rock Creek at about 50! To me that was very dangerous! They went really far up the creek!
I will look into that. I’m always looking for places to paddle when I’m down visiting family.
My hometown
@@ANIMLFIRE My home county. 😊
Those dams are still used for flood control. Secondly, it would cause a catastrophic loss on home values for ALL those homes that now front navigable water, which would result in far lower property values and property tax assessments ultimately. Causing a drop in property taxes for the locales impacted. It would greatly harm some very successful recreational fisheries that have been established as well.
Thanks for that insight! I have no house in this race but interested in how locals feel about it.
Pr
Prior to the dams the Fox was a national destination SMB fishery. I understand that it is a fantastic fishery now too, just different. I've enjoyed wading it for bronzies, would love to have done so without the dams. Just my 2 cents, BEST AND PEACE & TIGHT LINES ALL!
Love your slow photo scans of the shoreline as well as running commentary, especially when you add a historical or local color view.
One recommendation, though, if you haven’t already, P L E A S E…please…please invest in a better microphone. I think if you did, your followers would be more inclined to listen to you and, importantly, far more inclined to recommend your channel to family and friends.
Keep doing what you’re doing because we love its uniqueness.
Best and safe travels,
Will
@@billw4481 thank you Will! I have invested in a better mic set up for my current season, and I agree.
@@Redkayaklady Great! It would be a pity to waste such a pretty face! Thanks for the follow-up! Will
Found your comment on Joliet behavior particularly offensive. WAY TO GO, KEEP SPEAKING THE TRUTH!.
Enjoyed your video, thank you. BEST AND PEACE
I struggled with whether I should keep that in. I appreciate your feedback. Thanks for watching.
Great job, Jack, RI, USA
Thanks Jack. This area will always be “home”.
Hi I'm from Chicago and just got a kayak.I would love to join you for a few hours one day.I'm always practicing by Canal organs
I don’t make it down there as much as I’d like to but I’d love to hear where you’re taking the new boat!
Grew up near Algonquin. Know the area you are in very well. Hope you have had the chance to explore Grass Lake Park.
Where is Grass Lake Park? I’m open to suggestions for anywhere else in DuPage County to paddle when I’m there visiting family.
@@Redkayaklady Sorry , official name is Chain 'O Lakes State Park. Grass lake is one of the three lakes within the park. North east corner of the state. Still on the Fox River. Would be a bit of a drive from DuPage County. Search the website, very pretty country.
Use a gopro than your cell phone. You will get much better video with much better audio
I do use both. Since I made this one last year I invested in a mic to reduce wind noise. Kind of a newbie here. I’m still learning 😊 Thanks for watching!
@@Redkayaklady I figured.
Great video
Thank you!
Are there any videos of people kayaking the canoe chute in downtown aurora?
I don’t have any, but I would love to add that to my next trip to Illinois!
@@Redkayaklady youtube search has been reinvented into something that doesn't come close to working so when I try to find any videos about it the results i get are a lot of random unrelated videos. Just wondering.
It looks like itd be fun to do
Oh my gosh I’ve seen you on the fox before!
@@Unkownsector no way! Last fall in Illinois?
I want to see you this year. Maybe for lunch lol.
@@Redkayaklady yes I think we may have spoke to each other in the parking lot at fearson creek on the Fox by at Charles
@@Unkownsector I don’t think that was me. I’ve only paddled the Fox River once, when I was visiting Illinois last November.
cant catch much in that little river they call the fox. give me the Muddy Mo ( Missouri) or the Mighty Mississippi rivers :)
Good thing I don’t fish. 🐠 😊 thanks for watching!
Research who has purchased the swamp land and wetlands for very little money. Take out the dams and the land becomes build able. Follow the money.
I can see the argument on both sides and interested in knowing what the majority of the public thinks. I don’t get there as often as I’d like to, so I don’t have a horse in this race!
I heard they are removing the dams
I’ve been hearing a little bit of buzz about this and I do think that at least two are scheduled for removal. I can understand the argument on both sides and being that I don’t live in Illinois anymore. I don’t have a horse in this race. That being said, I sure would love to paddle a longer stretch of that river Without having to portage around the dams.
Where were girls like that when I lived in Wisconsin? I had to move to California. I don’t miss the cold ,but damn girl.
☺️ Thanks for watching!
"FIB" reasons... LoL 😂
@@michaelyoumans2113 😉 🙂
Have you tried the Illinois River down by Starved Rock?
I haven’t yet but I’m planning another trip to Illinois soon. I have that on my list and Buffalo Rock State Park and Rock Cut State Park.
@Redkayaklady Have you tried the Kikapoo river in Wisconsin? Supposed to be good kayaking
@@tomlorenzen4062 yes it’s beautiful! Planning another trip there soon.
They took out all the dams you would not be able to canoe or kayak down the river.
Word of caution. Illinois River in Illinois is a heavily commercial trafficked waterway. Huge towboats move barges up and down that river pushing water upstream and downstream depending what direction they travel. The area around Starved Rock State Park downstream of the Lock and Dam has a forceful undertow... Many people have met their Maker in those waters around SRSP. The water appears to be very calm on the surface but in reality to has tremendous undertows. ALWAYS WEAR A LIFEJACKET ON THAT RIVER!! ALWAYS!!
CaptSeamus, mmc.
Hey I live there!
@@larryandersen681 great area! I grew up in DuPage County.
Damn..dissin Joliet..lol
I was thiiiiis close to editing that out. But sadly, it’s not wrong. Thanks for watching… I hope you’re not from Joliet!
@@Redkayaklady .. Yes.. I WAS .. its all good .. Im not offended. ..they didnt call joliet little chicago for nothing thou.. but ya…👍🏼theres good and bad from every town in this country.. just sayin!! Now that yer in da great white north.. does that mean yer a Packer fan now?😀😀😀👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
@@PowertotheHIGHIQPeople I get asked that a lot! I was never a football fan when I lived in the Chicago area and I’m still not. lol.
Geez, let me show you Florida. I've paddled 56 rivers here, and there are some really magical places, plus year round.
I’ve paddled only in the Jacksonville area, around Amelia Island and in Silver Springs State Park. Looking forward to going back. I love paddling with the gators and manatee!
Dang. You make the river look better.
@@jstins awe, thanks 😊
Where is your PFD?
@@user-ij9ks8po8e i’m wearing it the entire paddle. It’s red.
Ya lost me with the FIB jab.
@@BoatyMcBoatface669 I still proudly consider myself a FIB 😊
Ladies play disc golf too
Some of them play real golf! 🙂 Not me though. 🚣
I kayak in the fox river from Algonquin. We should get together 😘
I don’t even live in Illinois!
I live in the valley where you kayaked
I grew up in Du Page County. I hope to be back there in the next month to do the Aurora area.
Your in St Charles why do you keep bring up chicago people for?
I used to live in DuPage County and now I’m in Wisconsin. Most of my videos (and those that watch them) are in Wisconsin. I proudly still consider myself a FIB.
Wow this was a waste of time.
If so, I wonder who the dumbass is that continued to watch it then…😂
Were you looking for a plot twist?