Upper Illinois Question

[hoglaw]

Hey guys, new to the board.

I've floated and fished the upper Illinois since I came to Fayetteville for school a decade ago. I'm looking for a takeout that doesn't appear to exist anymore. As you hopefully know, the Illinois flows north from the Savoy area, underneath 412, takes a turn to the west, then goes south under 412 again, then down to the Fisher's Ford and Lake Francis area. I'm looking for a bridge that crosses it as it travels west, between the 412 crossings. I believe it was called Kecheloe road at one point in time, but I can't find it. I played around on Google Earth, and the route I would have taken had a sign on it that said "bridge closed" and it was totally blocked off. Is there another way to the bridge from the north? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[24KGold]

Before 412 was built, I used to go with my parents to my grandparents farm toward Siloam Springs. We would turn off of what is now old highway 68 onto Kincheloe dirt road and cross the old steel bridge that crosses the Illinois River. You could always see through the boards you were driving on and it was a little spooky.

When I was older, my dad and I used to float from that bridge in a john boat to an old concrete bridge down river. That bridge was on Chamber Springs Road. It was just the right float for a day of fishing.

My Grandparents had 160 acres between those two bridges with land running down to the River. When 412 was built, it went right through their land and separated them from the Illinois. They had already sold the farm at that time, but it was sad to see it happen.

As far as the old Steel Bridge on Kincheloe road, I have heard that it is closed ( and I can understand why ) but if you want to put in there, I would imagine you could access the area from the south ( turning north from 412 ) We put our boat in from the south side of the bridge anyway, so this way, it wouldn't matter if the bridge was closed because you wouldn't have to cross it.

You can find Kincheloe road by following old highway 68 using Google Earth. I found it rather easily, however, I know that area. Hope this helps.

Another place I have taken out is to go past the bridge on Chamber Springs Road and float to a take-out spot on Fairmont Road. Turn off of 412 onto Fairmont and you will run into the river. I haven't been to that area in a while so I don't know what the area looks like now, but it still looks like there is a parking area next to the river where you can take out your boat.

Terry

[hoglaw]

I'll have to take another look. I tried to find the old bridge, but the way to it from the south was blocked off. There's a way to drop down from the north, but I suspect it's blocked as well. I'm trying to figure out how to float that portion upstream from Kecheloe road because it borders on the national forest most of the way, and would make for a great spring turkey hunt. I've always found floating and calling to be the most effective method of covering ground.

On a personal note, I feel like the fishing has declined a bit in the Illinois over the past four or five years. I can't catch the numbers I used to catch, but it's still a good float for a shot at a serious monster or two.

[bobber]

we just did the section above that and next weekend it looks like we will run that section so i'll give you the scoope later on in the week

[hoglaw]

the section above that being the take out at robinson road? Where are you guys planning on taking out this weekend? The old bridge I was talking about?

[hoglaw]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm thinking about heading to the Illinois this weekend and doing some combination of the places mentioned above. Point of information though, the old bridge has indeed been closed and the roads leading to it as well. The roads were abandoned by Benton County a few years ago and the farmer who owns the land on both sides of the roads now owns the roads too. There are big locked gates on each of them. That was a nice present from Benton County.