Magicpaddler
When I am in the Chicago area I stay with family in the Gurnee area which is north of Chicago near the Wisconsin border. The Des Plaines is right near her home. No channel there! ( At least I think it is called the Des Plaines :question)

I picked up a book "Paddling Illinois" and I also got the Gazeteer "book map" of Illinois so I could find my way around. Very handy those book maps. Good at showing the backroads and trails.

I went to paddle the Sugar river but it was in flood stage........Rats! Ended up at Rock cut state park where every where I looked there was people lining the banks fishing or pounding the banks from bass boats. I got lucky and found a little rock pile out in the middle of the lake and caught several smallmouths.

There was another river near Rockford, the Kishwaukee, that was nice. There is a livery there that can give you a shuttle.

If you would like to peruse the book let me know and I will send it just PM me your address.

Al