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Bar Island

Location: Illinois River
Mile Marker: 85.7
Lat / Lon: N 40° 00.120' / W 090° 29.060'
Depth: 8-9 ft.
Description:
Bar Island offers good depth behind the south end of the island with plenty of swing room. Go all the way to Coal Creek Island Daymark 85.5 before turning northeast in to the anchorage.

4.17

(6)

4.17 out of 5 stars

Holding:

5.00

Good, Mud

Wind Protection:

3.83

Open & exposed W, E and wakes

Current Flow:

3.83

Wake Protection:

4.33

Open & exposed W, E and wakes

Scenic Beauty:

4.20

Ease of Shopping:

1.00

Shore Access:

1.17

Pet Friendly:

1.20

Cell Service:

3.00

WiFi:

1.00

Review for Bar Island

Reviewed by: Lance Williamson on Sep 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

4

Wake Protection:

4

Scenic Beauty:

4

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

2

Pet Friendly:

2

Cell Service:

1

WiFi:

1

A good anchorage in 8' of water. Good holding. Follow the directions and come into the anchorage from the downstream side.
- WG Editor Comment:
  
  Lagrange Pool 15.70 feet.
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Review for Bar Island

Reviewed by: Kevin King, High Tide, on Oct 17, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.0'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

3

Wake Protection:

4

Scenic Beauty:

3

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

1

Cell Service:

4

We anchored in 8 ft of water just below Bar island well out of the channel. excellent holding ,, great anchorage
- WG Editor Comment:
  
  River stage at Beardstown 9.95 feet.
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Review for Bar Island

Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer, Do It Now, on Dec 23, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

3

Current Flow:

2

Wake Protection:

4

Shore Access:

1

Pet Friendly:

1

We spent the night of 10/25/22 at this anchorage with another boat. (I'm a bit behind in my reviews.) We followed the instructions to get around the south end of the island, avoiding the shallow water. Our friends were anchored in the middle of the space between the island and shore so we anchored a bit closer to the end of the island and closer to shore. We had good holding.

Expecting the boat to swing downstream in the current, we were very surprised to find the boat swinging close to shore in the heavy crosswind. Several tows went by during the night but we were not disturbed by the wake. It was a good anchorage.

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Review for Bar Island

Reviewed by: Michelle Dixon on Sep 20, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.5'

Overall Rating:

3

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

4

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

1

Pet Friendly:

1

Cell Service:

5

Holding was great! We weathered a strong rain storm. We did put out a stern anchor just in case. Came up all mud. No place to the dogs unless you go back up to beardstown. We found a small muddy shore to take the pups.

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Review for Bar Island

Reviewed by: Roger S. on Sep 15, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 3.6'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

5

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

1

Pet Friendly:

1

Cell Service:

2

WiFi:

1

We approached from the south and saw no less than 9 feet water. Five of us anchored with room for at least 2 more boats. Plenty of swing room even at 7:1scope. Wake protection is pretty good as long as you're truly behind the island. Good stop.

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Review for Bar Island

Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

4

Wake Protection:

4

Scenic Beauty:

5

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

1

Pet Friendly:

1

Cell Service:

3

Proceed downstream beyond Bar Island almost all the way to the Coal Creek daymark (Green 85.5) and turn in towards LDB with a minimum of nine feet of water (normal pool). Turn back up stream favoring the LDB in ten feet of water and make your way back up to the island mid channel to anchor in ten feet of water with adequate swing room. Holding is good in sandy mud and the bottom seems clean. There is easily room for four to six boats and perhaps more if you explore depths further upstream. There really is no shore access in Beardstown. The anchorage was quiet with little or no traffic. Cell service is 3 bars for Verizon and T-Mobile and 2 bars for AT&T.

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