Relaxing & Fishing in Lake Argyle State Park
Written: Dec 24 '06 (Updated Jan 22 '07)
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Pros: Peaceful, good fishing, cheap weekend away from home.
Cons: Government cuts,fewer park staff, making it not as well cared for as years past.
The Bottom Line: Peaceful, good fishing and fun. Great week-end getaway.
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| cmaw63's Full Review: Argyle Lake State Park |
This 1700 acre park is the place to be if you love spending time in the great outdoors. Located outside of Colchester, IL and minutes away from Macomb, you have access to everything you need, yet feel like your miles from any city.
Picnic & Family Reunions: There are many pavilions situated toward the front of the park, up into the middle. All have BBQ grills & picnic tables. Some of the "parks" within the park have swingsets and slides for the children. There are horseshoe pits in one area for the adults. The larger pavilions towards the front of the park can be reserved for family reunions, birthday parties, etc.
Camping: The park website states that they have "86 Class A campsites, 24 Class B, 18 Class C & 31 Class D (primitive) sites. The rates are A-$15, B-$13, C-$8 and D-$6. The Class A & B are set up for RV's & trailer campers, with some of the sites offering electric hook-ups. A, B and C sites can be driven to and have community bathrooms/outhouses (no running water) nearby. The primitive sites are located further in and while you can drive your vehicle to a certain point, you will have to walk to get to your campsite.
My husband and I usually stay at the Class C sites in a tent. A few years ago, we used to stay in the primitive sites, but due to cuts in government funding and employees at the park, the primitive sites are getting overgrown and a tad bit scary to stay at. As long as you don't go while the Antique Gas Engine Show, over Labor Day weekend, is going on, you'll be able to find a spot away from to many people.
Showerhouse: The showerhouse is a nice, usually well kept place that has 3 toilet stalls and 2 showers. Get there early or REALLY late if you want to have hot water. If the handicapped shower stall is available, use it. The water runs constantly, while the other shower has a button you have to push every couple of minutes to get the water flowing again.
The showerhouse is, also, the storm shelter. We have been there during a severe storm/tornado and you would be amazed at how many people can fit into a relatively small building.
Fishing: The 93 acre lake has limited bank fishing opportunities, unless your the adventurous, physically fit type. There are walkways and a park like area, near the concession shop, where you'll see lots of families doing their fishing. Most of the primitive camps have steep trails that lead down to the bank. (Not so bad going down, but that climb back is a whopper!) There are 2 smaller pull-off areas near the dam, where you can walk down to the water and throw a line in. The rest of the shoreline is inaccessable due to trees, brush and rock. Jon-boats, canoes, peddle boats and all the accessories (including trolling motors) can be rented at the concession stand. There is a 10 horsepower motor limit if you bring your own boat. The lake has bluegill, redear, channel catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, tiger muskie and rainbow trout. The limits on each of these are located on a sign next to the boat ramp.
We are lucky enough to have our own Jon-boat and trolling motor, so spend most of our time at Lake Argyle...on it. We enjoy trolling in the mornings and evenings. Trolling involves going up and down the lake and thru the large fingers of it using the trolling motor on a medium speed with our lines trailing behind us. (We prefer a Mepps Minnow #2 lure and have a great luck with them..but, don't let my husband know I let our secret out!) We have caught many crappies, some nice large-mouth bass (my personal best there is 4 lbs 10 ozs), channel cat and one walleye. During the heat of the day we anchor in one of the many shaded smaller coves and use wax worms as bait. Bluegill, redear and channel cat fill this time. We do catch and release, just taking pictures of the bigger fish with whoever caught it, so it's not just another "fisherman's whopper tale". While we've caught larger fish, we haven't caught anything HUGE...but I know they're in there. I was bank fishing, yes, in one of those hard to reach spots, while my husband was out in the boat bass fishing. Sitting there by myself, 2 poles in the water, bottom-fishing for catfish I was enjoying the silence and beauty of the day. A duck was floating by about where my lines were laying on bottom. While I'm watching, this duck QUACKS and then gone. Seconds later white feathers float to the top of the water. I pulled my lines in...whatever got that duck wasn't getting pulled to the bank to get me!! Husband later said it was probably a huge muskie.
Hiking: Do not try hiking these trails by yourself or if your not in excellent shape. There are 2 trails rated moderate with the rest being difficult to very difficult. The area this park is in has very steep hills, so much so, that there are steps built into some of the trails and yet they are still rated difficult.
We have more than once given someone a ride in either truck or boat back to their campsite, due to them not being able to go any further. We have come across people laying next to the road, not able to catch their breath or move using everything they had just to get out of the woods back to where someone could help them. There are those that pop out of the trees after a hike looking like they could go another round. So, be aware of your physical abilities before you start out.
Equestrian There are 7 miles of horse trails at Argyle. As this trail is classified as "rugged", being the good horse owner that I am, I don't subject my horse to it. You may read chicken here...I prefer to think of it as smart ;)
Winter Winter sports are allowed here...everything from ice fishing, skating, sledding and snowmobiling. Have no opinion as hey.......it's COLD during that time.
Antique Gas Engine Show: There are old tractors lined up everywhere and even more people. Craft booths as far as the eye can see. Demonstrations in old time farm practices, such as wheat threshing, hay baling, sawmilling, sorghum making and blacksmithing. There is a man (or two) that does chainsaw art. He fires up a chainsaw, attacks a log and turns it into anything from a bear to eagle to well anything you can think of. It's fun to watch the log transform into a work of art.
We've only gone during this time once and it was enjoyable, but we go camping/fishing for peace & relaxation not crowds.
Overall, Lake Argyle is a wonderful place to visit. A lot of younger people take advantage of the lake to do some swimming/partying, but they are generally well-behaved and keep to themselves. We're always amazed that there are not more boats/fishing here. The most boats we've seen on this 93 acre lake at one time is 12. It's a great place to relax and get some fishing in. One other bit of advice...if you have strawberry pop tarts...keep em locked up! We forgot our snack sack in the boat overnight and raccoons took every last one of my pop tarts and left my husbands chex mix alone. Dang raccoons!
Illinois State Park & Wildlife Refuge Reviews
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Spring Lake Fish & Wildlife Area
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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cmaw63
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 in Pets, Home and Garden, Books |
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Member: Julie
Location: Illinois, USA
Reviews written: 307
Trusted by: 73 members
About Me:
Looking forward to my first grandbaby. She's due November 24!
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