Clinton and Lake Decatur Spillways
07-19-2011, 10:02 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 229
Clinton and Lake Decatur Spillways
FYI
It is illegal to bowfish;
Lake Clinton dam to the Rt 10 bridge
Lake Decatur dam to the Rt 48 bridge
There is a place on the Sangamon River just east of the Rt 48 bridge where you can carry a small jon boat or canoe down to the Sangamon River and head west under the Rt 48 bridge when the water is up. Not to bad to bowfish for about 2 miles to the west. Farther down river at Riverton, IL. there is a ramp in the park at the south end of town.
The Salt Creek coming out off the Clinton dam is narrow and hard to navigate unless the water is really up. To many down trees across the Salt Creek. There are some bridges down stream where you can get in a canoe or small jon boat. I wouldn't use a gas motor in the Salt Creek, to many trees.
It is illegal to bowfish;
Lake Clinton dam to the Rt 10 bridge
Lake Decatur dam to the Rt 48 bridge
There is a place on the Sangamon River just east of the Rt 48 bridge where you can carry a small jon boat or canoe down to the Sangamon River and head west under the Rt 48 bridge when the water is up. Not to bad to bowfish for about 2 miles to the west. Farther down river at Riverton, IL. there is a ramp in the park at the south end of town.
The Salt Creek coming out off the Clinton dam is narrow and hard to navigate unless the water is really up. To many down trees across the Salt Creek. There are some bridges down stream where you can get in a canoe or small jon boat. I wouldn't use a gas motor in the Salt Creek, to many trees.
07-20-2011, 06:06 AM
#3
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 71
I have been told your not supposed to use a gas motor in the creeks anyway , electric only , we prefer to strap our bows on the front of the kayaks and find somewhere shallow to set up , works perfect 
FYI
It is illegal to bowfish;
Lake Clinton dam to the Rt 10 bridge
Lake Decatur dam to the Rt 48 bridge
There is a place on the Sangamon River just east of the Rt 48 bridge where you can carry a small jon boat or canoe down to the Sangamon River and head west under the Rt 48 bridge when the water is up. Not to bad to bowfish for about 2 miles to the west. Farther down river at Riverton, IL. there is a ramp in the park at the south end of town.
The Salt Creek coming out off the Clinton dam is narrow and hard to navigate unless the water is really up. To many down trees across the Salt Creek. There are some bridges down stream where you can get in a canoe or small jon boat. I wouldn't use a gas motor in the Salt Creek, to many trees.
It is illegal to bowfish;
Lake Clinton dam to the Rt 10 bridge
Lake Decatur dam to the Rt 48 bridge
There is a place on the Sangamon River just east of the Rt 48 bridge where you can carry a small jon boat or canoe down to the Sangamon River and head west under the Rt 48 bridge when the water is up. Not to bad to bowfish for about 2 miles to the west. Farther down river at Riverton, IL. there is a ramp in the park at the south end of town.
The Salt Creek coming out off the Clinton dam is narrow and hard to navigate unless the water is really up. To many down trees across the Salt Creek. There are some bridges down stream where you can get in a canoe or small jon boat. I wouldn't use a gas motor in the Salt Creek, to many trees.
07-20-2011, 10:05 AM
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location:
Posts: 623
They may have changed things over the years concerning the Clinton Spillway but I do know that at one time, like Uncle Dave stated, aka Bowfisher5, we were told we could not bowfish down along the riprap down to the bridge. But again, this ruling very well may have changed over time, it never ceases to amaze me how ignorant of the bowfishing regulations even those that are supposed to know..... don't know.
Last edited by robow7; 07-21-2011 at 08:13 AM.
07-21-2011, 07:24 AM
#7
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 71
Talked to a DOC officer this morning about the spillway and he told me that I cannot shoot fish down there , I asked him about going on the other side of rt 10 and he said thats all private property I would have to ask the land owner about accessing there property , just a heads up , and who ever is leaving there fish at the salt creek water fowl area on the bank , better starting taking them with you they are watching it .\
forgot to ask him about the gas motor / creek thing , I was told that from someone other than DNR so they could have been FOS like you said
forgot to ask him about the gas motor / creek thing , I was told that from someone other than DNR so they could have been FOS like you said
Last edited by pure havoc; 07-21-2011 at 07:27 AM.
07-21-2011, 07:32 AM
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 194
Talked to a DOC officer this morning about the spillway and he told me that I cannot shoot fish down there , I asked him about going on the other side of rt 10 and he said thats all private property I would have to ask the land owner about accessing there property , just a heads up , and who ever is leaving there fish at the salt creek water fowl area on the bank , better starting taking them with you they are watching it .\
forgot to ask him about the gas motor / creek thing , I was told that from someone other than DNR so they could have been FOS like you said
forgot to ask him about the gas motor / creek thing , I was told that from someone other than DNR so they could have been FOS like you said