Some in my work place would used to go up there and I knew of two or three other local groups that would get together and make the trip. I dont even remember what they were fishing for (perhaps lake trout?) but they were all charter trips with the cost being reasonable if you could get five to seven people to go. Some of the outfitters were good and got repeat buisness from our locals because it was easy to see which charters would take the time to change lures & depth if things were slow.
One thing that would happen (Strange But True) is that it was not uncommon for our boy's to be stopped and have their coolers checked for perhaps illegal numbers or fish size within 10miles of leaving the charter parking area after the day was done. They figured that their license plates were being recorded and that they were targeted for checks latter when at that gas station or restaurant a few miles down the road. This did not happen every time by any means but was just frequent enough to make our (Legal) guys personally check the count and especially the lenght of all fish taken.
Perhaps this was a good DNR practice or perhaps a "charter" in particular was being harrased because of a history of problems to include no kick-backs (Sorry For This Assumption)
But at any rate it sure did dampen the trip to be checked out and regarded with suspicion. I dont know of anyone around here that has been up there within the last two or three years but the area in question was
Within plus or minus 15miles (north or south) of the navy pier area. This is strange as said considering the overall traffic but yet the law enforcement would know what time charters return to the dock and what restaurants or fuel stations that the people leaving would be most likely to use after being on the lake all day.
I am not saying Do Not Use the charters but do make sure everything is legal & up to snuff.
Maybe us (Down-Staters) are just paranoid
