Love To Fish wrote:I am also in Illinois around the Joliet area. Most of the coling lakes do not have a hp restriction but do have speed limits of 40 mph and yes they are enforced by DNR. I know 2 people that were cited to prove it. Some of the lakes that have the 10 hp limit I find I get around just fine with the 36 volt trollig motor, it just takes a little longer to get where you are going.Shabbana is a good example with about 1/2 the lake is electric motor only, the rest a 10 hp limit. Several other lakes are no wake but you see that being abused frequently. No wake here in Illinois is defined as causing another boat at rest to move when you pass it or 5 mph.One advantage with the Smart Gauges is that you can set your big motor to troll by rpms or mph. I can get down really slow for trolling if I so desire.I have always power loaded the boat onto the trailer without any problems.I also thought about adding a kicker motor but it would have been a waste of money and added weight to the boat, at least the way I fish.JohnMost of these type lakes in S. IL DO NOT let you idle around with the big motor. TM only. Just wanted to clarify that for the poster
