FISHING RULES
1. All members and guests must be licensed by the Illinois Dept. of Conservation.
2. State of Illinois laws must be observed, as enforced by the Illinois Dept. of Conservation.
3. Fishing shall be limited to pole and line only. All other means are prohibited, except by permit, issued by the Board of Directors.
4. No live bait is to be used, with the exception of worms, crayfish, and minnows.
5. Daily limit of 6 largemouth bass per person, under 12” plus 1 bass over 18” size. Daily limit of 6 channel catfish per person, no size limit. Daily limit of 3 walleye per person, 15” minimum size. Crappie limits have been removed at this time. Citations will be issued by patrolman for violations of fishing rules.
6. Fishing is for members and their guests.
7. Please dispose of dead fish immediately, by placing in containers provided for this purpose on the outlots.
8. Absolutely no fish are to be stocked.
9. Bullfrogs: Season and limit as established by Ill. Dept. of Conservation.
10. Please don’t litter, or trespass on others property.
11. A 1998 meeting resulted in the passing of a $25.00 fine for anyone violating the above fishing rules.
If you feel someone is abusing the fishing privileges, or trespassing, please notify the patrolman. Carry your membership card . . . one issued per member. This makes it easier to identify members and guests.
SUMMER & WINTER SPORT RULES
Note: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources requires ALL watercraft and snowmobiles operating on public and community/club property to be registered. The Little Swan Lake Club expects all members to comply with state registration and regulation laws.
Boating:
1. Those participating in motorized water sports must wear Coast Guard approved life-preserving devices. (State Law)
2. Motorized water sports shall be from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. (State Law)
3. No skier shall ski or attempt to ski with tow bar placed around the neck.
4. Motorized water sports are restricted to area between the Dam and NO WAKE buoy.
5. All boats must respect the NO WAKE zone west of the NO WAKE buoy.
6. All persons shall be COMPLETELY inside the boat while riding. No standing or sitting on decks, seat backs, or gunnels when watercraft is underway. THIS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
7. Speedboats and participants are required to stay at least 100 feet from other boats, docks, and shorelines, except when beaching or leaving shore or dock.
8. Boats are required to have two persons aboard when engaged in towing any person participating in a water sport. (Sec. 15, Illinois Regulations)
9. Ski boat operators are advised not to trail tow ropes in the water except when returning for a fallen skier. Other boats are cautioned against crossing the ski boat’s wake closer than 100 feet to the boat. Each boat is responsible to their own dropped loose skis.
10. No more than 2 people can be towed behind a boat at the same time.
11. All speed/pleasure/cuddy/sail/ski/fishing boats not to exceed 19.5 feet, horsepower not to exceed 115 outboard, 160 I/O. Deckboats not to exceed 22 feet or 90 hp outboard and 120 hp I/O. Pontoons may be up to 28 feet in length and 115 outboard, 160 I/O. No permanent enclosed structures on deck. Current marine standards apply.
12. Children 13 years old and under must wear a life jacket when in a boat that is not tied to a dock.
13. No air boats, jet boats, houseboats, personal watercraft or inboards are permitted.
14. No homemade boats without consent of boat committee as to structural content and material. Homemade pontoon boats must be constructed or commercially manufactured, Coast Guard approved aluminum pontoons.
15. All boats must have a Little Swan Lake Club decal. First decal will be furnished with membership card, upon request, when current dues are paid. Additional decals may be acquired for $1.00 each.
16. Guest watercraft of any type are NOT PERMITTED at anytime.
17. Boat traffic shall be in counter-clockwise pattern.
18. MOTORBOATS: For the first time, the state will place restrictions on Motorboat operators who are between age 12 and 17. Such persons will have to operate the boat under the supervision of a parent, guardian or someone at least 18 years old who has been designated by a parent. Or they will have to hold a Boating Certificate issued by the State Department of Natural Resources. Such certificates can be earned by taking an 8 hour boating safety course approved by the department, and offered by organizations, school systems and volunteers throughout the state. The new law also bars anyone age 9 or under from operating a motorboat, and requires anyone at 10 or 11 to have a parent, guardian or someone over age 18 aboard.
19. There will be NO BOATING on the lake at such times as the Lake shall be on flood stage.
Swimming:
Swimmers: Must stay within 100 feet of lot owned shoreline. NO SWIMMING off outlots or off boats in the lake. Swimming safety floats must be brought in at night.
Other sport vehicles:
1. Motorcycles are not permitted to operate on the lake ice at any time. All other usage will be on the owners’ private property or follow state laws and regulations for motor vehicle operation.
2. Snowmobiling and other winter sports (such as sledding) are to be held on community/club property or on the owners’ private property. Guests at this time are to be with members. Hours are not to be later than 11:00 PM. Please observe these rules, and do not destroy lawns and small trees on another’s private property.
3. All-terrain vehicles (such as “4-wheelers”) are to be operated on community/club property or on the owners’ private property.
Reporting:
Monthly safety reports issued by patrolman will be reported to the board.
BOAT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The State of Illinois requires ALL watercraft operating on Little Swan Lake to be registered with the Department of Natural Resources. Little Swan Lake Club also requires all MOTORIZED boats to be registered and decaled by the Club. The boat committee will review your application for registration of motorized boats when all of the following information is received.
1. Your COMPLETED registration application (including answering all Yes/No questions).
2. A copy of your current state registration card.
3. A late charge of $10.00 will be required for all boats registered after May 1st of the current year.
4. No motorized boat requiring the club’s decal shall be launched until that Little Swan Lake decal has been obtained AND affixed to the boat.
The committee will meet once a week to review all pending applications. If your boat meets the requirements for registration approval, a permanent season decal will be mailed to you.
The boat committee reserves the right to inspect any boat before or after a permanent season decal is issued if questions arise regarding the boat falling within size and horsepower rules. Any current member whose dues are paid may request an inspection of any boat for good cause. The request must be made in writing and state the reason for cause.
If any false information has been supplied for the purpose of registering a boat not meeting the rules, the member supplying the false information will be suspended from lake privileges for that boat for the entire season.
