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Posts: 7
| Moving to Chicago Area from Minneapolis and wanted to get a little information about the musky population on Fox and any other advice. I fish right now a lot of Leech, LOTW (Angle & Sabaskong) and Bemidji area lakes. Any advice would be great.
Thanks, |
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Posts: 7010
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Be ready for disappointment. |
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Did you sign any legal binding papers yet? Maybe you can still get out of this? |
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Location: The desert | It's a little late for the advice you needed. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | my condolences .. |
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Posts: 390
| Just moved from St Clair Shores(Detroit) to Chicago, I grew up near the bay of Green Bay. All I can say is I hope you have other hobbies or a lot of vacation time to drive to st clair or GB, 4-5 hour drive. |
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Posts: 2240
Location: SE, WI. | Hope to God, your 2 men and a truck get lost to Minny!
Be ready to dodge some Cigar boats on the chain! I was once told there is about 9-12 deaths on the Fox Chain a year from Boating accidents;( Yikes!
Bout the only good thing is, if you frequent Grassy Island, many women wear one piece Swimsuits.....just the Bottoms _
JD
Edited by jdsplasher 8/21/2018 3:58 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | if i were you i'd sell my inland gear, get some tracks, riggers, line counters, dipsy's, flashers and flies and play the big water games. it's a whole lot more fun and better use of time especially living there. |
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Posts: 20181
Location: oswego, il | I would just add what sled said. Between that and the chain, you will wonder why you ever lived anywhere else!
You could also join Fox River Valley Muskies Inc. It's like getting an extra cherry on your sunday!
Edited by ToddM 8/21/2018 5:06 PM
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Posts: 38
Location: Lakeville, MN | I moved from the Chicago area to Minneapolis almost 2 years ago. It's not as bad as you're hearing IMO, I would catch a musky more than half my trips (usually weekday evenings), better than I've done around here (I'm not die hard enough to fish overnight), excluding the fall. Feel free to PM me. I also grew to love fishing for Kings, brown trout and lake trout in the Milwaukee harbor area - love MN but do really miss Lake Michigan, that fishing may only be 75-90 min away for you |
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Posts: 93
| Sno, the chain is densly populated. On the weekends you can walk from boat to boat to boat across the water. There are musky and other fish there to be caught, but its best to attempt to fish it during the week or "off season".
The pelagic fishing on lake Michigan is better when you are talking close to downtown.
You might want to start frequenting the Chi-Town Angler forum: http://www.chitown-angler.com/1fish/index.php
Best of luck. |
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Posts: 7
| Well with that said I might have to figure out some other hobbies. Looks like maybe only certain days of the week would be best for Fox when they are not packed like Minnetonka. Thanks for the advice guys. |
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Posts: 774
Location: Delavan, WI | Yeah its not as bad as others have said there is a lot of fishing pressure on weekends and the recreational boat traffic is a quite in full swing on the weekends as well, but most of those guys are just yanking your chain. I lived in that area for 17 yrs and spent a lot of time on the chain my advise is try to fish during the week and early am on the weekends. Sure u might have to dodge a cigarette boat or 2 and some jet skis too during the day but those guys usually don't even get on the water until after 10 am on a sat or sun that's about the time to be coming off if u got out at 4am anyways.
The fish are plentiful but average fox chain musky might be a 34 - 38"er . Don't get me wrong there are plenty of fish over 40 but not a lot over 48 although an occasional 50 can make an appearance your odds aren't very good I've only heard of 2 or 3 to come from there in the last 7-8 years
There maybe more but that's about all the ones I've heard about. And as far as fatalities maybe 1 or 2 year is the most ive ever heard of not 10
Most were due to alcohol consumption or wrong place wrong time.
Edited by muskymartin67 8/21/2018 7:55 PM
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Posts: 5129
| There are plenty of fish in the fox chain,and if you fished tonka the chain is childs play.Alot of 30 to 40 inch fish.It really isnt that bad,and all the shenanigans you will see there will make you laugh.I like my chances catching a fish there over tonka anyday.good luck,but you will be fine. |
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Posts: 556
| FORGET THE FISHING--- Who would want to live in this state----Just wait until you see across the board Tax increases on everything--Oh yes-- also that 3% real estate sales tax they are going to put on HOME SELLERS... I am here in ILLINOIS as of right now---- but IF ALL GOES WELL----- Friday I will be re-locating out of this State for good..... Good Luck to all that remain----GAS TAX, SALES TAX, INCOME TAX,PROPERTY TAX and the NEW HOME SELLERS TAX..... All will begin their march upward next year..... |
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Posts: 90
| esox911 - 8/21/2018 11:20 PM
FORGET THE FISHING--- Who would want to live in this state----Just wait until you see across the board Tax increases on everything--Oh yes-- also that 3% real estate sales tax they are going to put on HOME SELLERS... I am here in ILLINOIS as of right now---- but IF ALL GOES WELL----- Friday I will be re-locating out of this State for good..... Good Luck to all that remain----GAS TAX, SALES TAX, INCOME TAX,PROPERTY TAX and the NEW HOME SELLERS TAX..... All will begin their march upward next year.....
There is a proposed 1% real estate tax on top of our ridiculously high tax rate to fund state pensions but I am unaware of a 3% real estate sales tax. I am considering selling my home next year and may expedite if in fact there is another imposed tax. Do you have a link?
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Posts: 774
Location: Delavan, WI | Yes agreed on the taxes. State of IL is the worst on all that . Was a big reason for my move to WI about 4 yrs ago and I never looked back.
Sounds like it maybe getting worse too I did hear something about that 3% real estate tax if you are leaving the state kinda of llke an exiting penalty- just a way for them to get more $ out of you as if they don't over tax you whileyiu live there
Glad I avoided that one so good luck.
Edited by muskymartin67 8/22/2018 6:57 AM
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I think most of the comments were poking at more than just fishing. As far as moving to Illinois, I hope for your sake the job pays really really well and/or she’s both hot and from a wealthy family  |
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Posts: 7
| Yeah I kinda figured that would be the case. Thanks for the info muskymartin67.
Edited by Sno96 8/22/2018 7:30 AM
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Location: oswego, il | Illinois has a flat income tax. One of about three states that do. Great for high incomes.
Edited by ToddM 8/22/2018 11:42 AM
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Posts: 736
| Besides the outrageous tax situation in Illinois, Chicago has become one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Kdawg |
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Posts: 24
| Don't let people scare you about the chain or Chicago in general. The chain does get really busy but we have fished till noon with no problems. Healthy population of all species. I believe the "Challunge on the Chain" this year had some good results. There are some hog walleyes in there as well. Good bass fishing around docks and weed pockets. And when you are done you can go check out some decent scenery at any of the 50/60 bars on the water. The sandbar is a sight as well. Don't forget Blarney Island.
As for Chicago, yes the shootings are high but I believe I saw a report that 90% of the crime occurs in less than 10% of the area. Stay away from certain neighborhoods and you won't have any issues. Downtown is one of the cleaner/nicer cities you will find.
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Posts: 7
| Thanks for the info. That makes it sound a lot better JZ2386. |
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Posts: 24
| No problem. Also there is no closed fishing season. Fish all year long. |
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| The good thing is you will be closer to Lake St. Clair... ToddM shares his pizza with his friends... and you will really look forward to visiting home.
Check out all of the lakes in Central Illinois. There are some very, very nice lakes south of the city. Very peaceful.
Good luck and best wishes.
Edited by Reelwise 8/22/2018 9:35 AM
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Location: oswego, il | Will you be in the city or a suburb and which one? You are also not far from madison, milwaukee or indiana, you have many options. |
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Posts: 7
| ToddM, thanks for all the input. I am moving to Norwood Park, which I guess is located within Chicago City Limits. Seems pretty reasonable to Milkwaukee area and Gb as well. Others have mentioned St Clair as well. I am already typically driving 3 hours from the twin cities to get up north as is.
Edited by Sno96 8/22/2018 4:41 PM
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Location: oswego, il | Three hours will get you to madison and milwaukee(well under 3), indiana, a little farther to central/southern IL. Cheap weekend stays are available in indiana. Lsc is about 6 hours.
Edited by ToddM 8/22/2018 8:15 PM
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Posts: 151
Location: IL | I recently just had a 6 fish day out on the chain. 4 of the fish were over 40" with one being 48". We also had action from about 10 other fish. So I honestly don't think it's that bad..
Edited by scot 8/23/2018 7:54 AM
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Location: Already Gone | Sno96 - 8/22/2018 4:39 PM
ToddM, thanks for all the input. I am moving to Norwood Park, which I guess is located within Chicago City Limits. Seems pretty reasonable to Milkwaukee area and Gb as well. Others have mentioned St Clair as well. I am already typically driving 3 hours from the twin cities to get up north as is.
Just like ANY body of water these days, timing is everything.
You are in reasonable striking distance of alot of good choices.
You'll be fine.
Tight lines. |
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Posts: 23
| I agree, there are plenty of fish on the chain! Timing & conditions mean everything. The chain has moved to a trolling & suspended bite. Find baitfish & cast/troll them you will see/catch fish.... |
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Posts: 23
| I agree, there are plenty of fish on the chain. It's a tough body of water no doubt but timing & conditions will trump everything. The chain has moved to a suspended bite. Cast/troll baitfish & you will see/catch plenty of musky... |
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Posts: 23
| I agree, there are plenty of fish on the chain. It's a tough body of water no doubt but timing & conditions will trump everything. The chain has moved to a suspended bite. Cast/troll baitfish & you will see/catch plenty of fish... |
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Fox Chain of Lakes - IL