Clinton Lake

[Keep'r Wet]

We were up at Normal Il (ISU) for Parents week end this past week end and stopped at Clinton lake, for the first time, on the way home Sunday. What a perfect day. Was not as much activity on the lake as I thought there might be, but was impressed with the lake and the suroundings. It would be a 2 1/2 hour drive with boat from home, but looks like it might have to be a week end trip next summer. Now that gas prices are so low that it seems like they are giving it away, we tend to think of longer trips. I guess those are the thoughts that get us through winter.

[DaleM]

Pretty good Rinker contingent on Clinton.  Haven't seen any of them posting here for a while now.  I didn't make it there this season at all.  More of a weather related bad boating season for me though.  Their Party Cove is pretty good as well, granted it isn't LOTO.  Now with all the rules at Shelbyville look for Clinton to get a little more traffic in the coming years.   

[4LakeBums]

We boat on Clinton all summer long...Great lake and with the power plant you can actually hit the water earlier in the year as it gets pretty warm.  The campgrounds are excellent, one of the nicer campgrounds in Central IL in my opinion.  The lake can get pretty rough on the weekends, however there are several coves to dip in and out of. There is even a little restaurant that serves great food.. I would make the trip...You will not be dissapointed...

[Keep'r Wet]

Was not the best boating season for alot of people this past year, too much water.  We did go over to Shelbyville one weekend, while Mark Twain was closed for high water,  and had a good time. We drove through the camp grounds at Clinton and they did look real nice. Does water level change much or do they keep it pretty well regulated? I am sure we will see some of you there next year. The getting in a little early sounds good also, nothing better than a early start.

[4LakeBums]

They do keep the water pretty regulated.  The average depth of the lake is about 10-15 feet.  Closer towards the power plant it will get around 30 feet deep.  I never made it to Mark Twain this year...I heard it was closed when we had all that rain. 

Look forward to seeing you out there...

[capnkevin]

Pretty good Rinker contingent on Clinton.  Haven't seen any of them posting here for a while now.  I didn't make it there this season at all.  More of a weather related bad boating season for me though.  Their Party Cove is pretty good as well, granted it isn't LOTO.  Now with all the rules at Shelbyville look for Clinton to get a little more traffic in the coming years.   

What are the rules for Shelbyville?

[DaleM]

Raft ups are limited to no more than 5 boats.  Not more than 2 cruisers, houseboats or pontoon boats over 24' in any raft up.  All boats rafted together must be at least 150' from any other raft of boats.  There was also another issue about people off boats swimming, be in vests, not real sure how it was worded.  I'll try to find something that spells in out more accurately.

[Talon]

Sounds like they are even stricter there than down here on Lake Norman.

[slawson]

Ouch on the regs at Shelbyville.   They may rethink that some if/when usage goes down and they don't realize the launch/parking fees at some of the ramps.  Hard to say.   Quite a few years ago they tried the same thing at Clinton with swimming.  That got a lot of local press in the newspaper, lots of letters were written and the policy was recinded within a few weeks.  While it was in effect no one really followed it anyway and I was not aware of anyone getting ticketed for that.  That said, I did notice the few times I was out last summer (same reasons as many....lousy weather and other personal commitments) I did notice that the conservation police were much more active.  I suppose that is a good thing when someone is driving after having a few too many adult beverages but they were in general more present and active in stopping people for various things (hint: make sure you meet all USCG safety issues 'just in case'). 

I can see the raftup rule in 'open' water as some do raft up in more open spaces and don't always anchor and tend to 'float around' as the current/waves push them.  I suppose this could cause traffic problems if there were 20 or more boats tied together....but in a cove where navigation is not as important (although in houseboat cove it does a little tight sometimes just to get turned around and in and out of there).  Again, if there's enough revolt....you might be surprised what can happen.  I think the local bad press might have been as much of a factor in getting the Clinton swimming rule quickly changed as anything.

I sure hope to get out more next summer and look forward to seeing everyone out there next summer.  4lakes is definately right, if you want an early spring place where the water is warm, the warm side at Clinton will fit the bill as soon as they reopen it (they close the really warm part in mid October and don't open until I think mid March if memory serves me right)

Cheers

Steve L.