Fox Chain , IL
MuskieMike
Posted 3/29/2011 3:09 PM (#489641)
Subject: Fox Chain , IL





Location: Des Moines IA
I know the water is high, but has anybody heard if there is a no wake in effect for the chain yet? The waterway website hasn't been updated from "winter" status yet.
MuskieTom
Posted 3/29/2011 6:43 PM (#489677 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 146


Location: where the fish are...
not that Im aware of, I was out blasting around for a few hours. Water temps are still cold and water clarity is no good.
BigDaddyIL
Posted 4/1/2011 11:44 AM (#490141 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL


Check the Fox Water Way Agency website for information. Good Luck... Tough bite, waters still pretty cold as of early this week 39-40....
MuskieMike
Posted 4/1/2011 12:26 PM (#490145 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: RE: Fox Chain , IL





Location: Des Moines IA
They just updated the website yesterday. No Restrictions as of now. I'll probably hit the northern lakes next weekend.
unplugged
Posted 4/6/2011 9:46 AM (#490994 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: RE: Fox Chain , IL


Anyone been out lately? Water temps on the northern lakes still 40 ish?
MuskieTom
Posted 4/6/2011 10:53 AM (#491017 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 146


Location: where the fish are...
still low 40's as of yesterday with some areas pushing 47 but very few that warm.
3stripe
Posted 4/6/2011 9:18 PM (#491159 - in reply to #491017)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 114


I was out with my high school bass team yesterday afternoon. Did hit 50 in the very shallow channels we were in but the main lakes still 45-46.
Lightning
Posted 4/11/2011 9:30 AM (#492097 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 485


Location: On my favorite lake!
I was out Sat and Sunday and only saw one fish and it came in slow. Water temps 47 most main lakes -Highest was 51 in shallows.
esoxjake
Posted 4/11/2011 8:09 PM (#492315 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 108


Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014
Really tough bite right now...no pattern.
Had a few up during the week but temps and weather are playing tricks on these fish.
Be out again soon enough

ffdonnie
Posted 4/15/2011 11:09 AM (#493111 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 179


Location: Wisconsin
I'm going to fish the upper chain this Sunday. Any suggestions for baits to use and colors?
Slamr
Posted 4/15/2011 11:35 AM (#493116 - in reply to #493111)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 7088


Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs
ffdonnie - 4/15/2011 11:09 AM

I'm going to fish the upper chain this Sunday. Any suggestions for baits to use and colors?


heading out there for the first time this year tomorrow. planning on going shallow, throwing small twitches and jerks (perchie, suckerie, and hot colors). If that doesnt work, we'll go super shallow (up against the sea walls) and if that doesnt work, we'll ply the breaks with medium dawgs and small cranks. Or, maybe we'll start deep and go shallow....

If none of that works, we'll be the Thirsty Turtle for an early lunch.
MuskieTom
Posted 4/15/2011 11:37 AM (#493117 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 146


Location: where the fish are...
Good luck supposed to be 30mph gusts tomorrow again, I havent been on the chain in over a week now and wont get back out there till middle of next week if this wind keeps up.
esoxjake
Posted 4/16/2011 4:56 AM (#493303 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 108


Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014
Almost impossible to fish with NE/E 30-40+ winds.
Cold front is really cold this time around! lol
Like a fool I tried Thursday,Fri.
Talked to DNR about netting walleye/muskies etc...
Upper Main lakes by noon were back to 47.5/48. going backwards never a good
sign.

ugh...

Edited by esoxjake 4/16/2011 4:58 AM
gregk9
Posted 4/16/2011 9:38 AM (#493338 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 795


Location: North Central IL USA
Well now I don't feel bad that my boat's in the shop. Looking forward to some consistent warm weather!!
MuskieTom
Posted 4/16/2011 11:59 AM (#493368 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 146


Location: where the fish are...
tough weather until middle of next week and even then the temps look up and down....
esoxjake
Posted 4/18/2011 5:17 AM (#493651 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 108


Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014
Yikes. I was just out at the end of the week, main lake temps were repressed at 47-48.
That was mid day. Creeks only 52.
By Friday friend told me they were steady on Upper chain at 48.
Not sure we want temps going down for 4 days, better up then down lol
That sucks...so does this weather..Forecast is embarrassing for 7 days!
Gonna go to Banner Marsh,Storey try some different waters...N IL really is a downer right now

GO Tribe!
Dale
Slamr
Posted 4/18/2011 9:08 AM (#493668 - in reply to #493651)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 7088


Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs
Went out for 4 hours on Saturday. Didnt move a fish. Tried shallow, deep and somewhere in between. At least we didnt break anything.
Guest
Posted 4/27/2011 4:49 PM (#495524 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: RE: Fox Chain , IL


Fox chain is no wake and will be no wake for FRV tourney this weekend. 49 degrees for most main lakes
MuskyMATT7
Posted 5/1/2011 6:33 PM (#496273 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 553


Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid
So the fish are not even spawning yet?
tuffy1
Posted 5/1/2011 9:19 PM (#496305 - in reply to #496273)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 3242


Location: Racine, Wi
I think some have spawned already and some are in the process of spawning based on what we saw yesterday. H2O temps were up to 54 by the afternoon.
esoxjake
Posted 5/2/2011 5:57 AM (#496327 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 108


Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014
One day you see 12+fish boat ,3 or 4, then 2 days of nothing....mother nature is a bad girl..even the nightime lows are 30s for the week.
Ill be out all week, Between Pierce and Fox Chain.

good luck guys
EJ
MuskieTom
Posted 5/16/2011 10:01 PM (#498694 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 146


Location: where the fish are...
Well the musky gods have finally smiled upon me today. I was gonna either be very smart or very foolish today with the 20mph sustained winds and 35mph gusts we had on the water today and I came out on top. After countless hours fishing this body of water and countless follows and sightings of fish I was finally rewarded. On the craziest shore we could find on a bomb cast a beat up looking 40" ski finally hit the net!!! Boy was I relieved, the hours I have put in this year have finally caught up to me and I have been feeling disheartend after so many times raising fish only to see them slowly dissaper. I will try to get a pic or two up this week but for now, I will be hitting the bed to get back out at them tomorrow.
gregk9
Posted 5/16/2011 10:24 PM (#498700 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 795


Location: North Central IL USA
Congrats on finally getting one out there. I may be going Wednesday.
MuskieTom
Posted 5/16/2011 10:31 PM (#498703 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 146


Location: where the fish are...
thanks, its just honestly been a long spring and every fish i have seen has had lock jaw.
MuskieTom
Posted 5/17/2011 7:01 PM (#498877 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 146


Location: where the fish are...
Another decent day out, had a few up and got another to eat, she measured 30". Hope this lasts...
gregk9
Posted 5/17/2011 9:31 PM (#498920 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 795


Location: North Central IL USA
I hope it lasts too. Are you fishing the northern lakes?
zofkbj
Posted 5/18/2011 10:03 AM (#498967 - in reply to #498920)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 70


5/16 Report: Two men, 9 hrs casting, one lazy follow. Muskie Tom, nice meeting you yesterday
gregk9
Posted 5/18/2011 11:20 AM (#498973 - in reply to #498967)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 795


Location: North Central IL USA
zofkbj - 5/18/2011 10:03 AM

5/16 Report: Two men, 9 hrs casting, one lazy follow.


UGH!!! Think I'll be bringing my bass tackle too.
esoxjake
Posted 5/19/2011 7:27 AM (#499081 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 108


Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014
2 days out.. 1 lazy follow ...bring walleye rods/tackle. Muskies are completely backwards right now and have been. 61 to 55 water temps tues..ass backwards.lol
Feels like I should of had 10 in the boat by now last yr.
Walleyes chasing baits by armpit on cathy..
Hope this "so called" warmth helps, getting old quick.

Edited by esoxjake 5/19/2011 7:29 AM
gregk9
Posted 5/20/2011 10:25 PM (#499273 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 795


Location: North Central IL USA
Well I didn't see a bass or a muskie yesterday. Fished Marie and Bluff.
fishandscuba
Posted 6/17/2011 6:10 AM (#503279 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL




Posts: 15


The warm up yesterday made things turn around pretty quickly, and we boated 2 nice fish and a small one. If we stayed out a little longer, we could have caught more I bet, but there were some drunk idiots driving their boats right in front of our casts, and it made for a dangerous situation.

Edited by fishandscuba 6/17/2011 6:21 AM
gregk9
Posted 6/17/2011 10:11 AM (#503307 - in reply to #489641)
Subject: Re: Fox Chain , IL





Posts: 795


Location: North Central IL USA
Nice!

Too bad about the idiots.