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| I would have to say there is a period from July to the end of August that I get sick of the Chain. I get out only during the week when you would figure there are not many people, but you get these guys that come full throttle right in front of your path, then drop the anchor with the chain on an aluminum boat and scare the fish out of the lake. It's just one of those things you have to deal with. But then there are those multiple fish days and days when it seems to be the best. But I do agree with you guys, it's not a system that consistently produces fish (especially for casters), and nothing large comes out except for rare occasions. But funny enough you'll find me there most of the time.
-Phil Cali |
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| Dipped the Tuffy at 12:30, went hard 'till 7:30. Worked the wind hammered north, and north east shore lines from a stellar SW wind. Bounced a few off the rocks...not good for the lexan lips...fished real shallow with no action.
Started at CJ's launch and worked Bluff, Marie, Channel and Catherine. All 4 lakes were very stained.
Talked with a couple other Muskie hunters and they had the same results.
Stopped at Mr. G's for Gyro's and fries in Antioch with my 11 year old...it was his birthday.
A great day on the water.
Later;
Thanks Jason for the info...love that boat Steve!
BigO
daveolson |
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| I think the chain would be much better if the clarity was better. Not that long ago you could see down 4 or 5 feet on channel and catherine and in my view that makes for better fishing. Back then guys like Saric fished it. Last year in the late fall we had 2 feet of visibility and most of the year was a foot or less. They are not going to get rid of the millfoil so they should just leave it alone, I think that would help.
Like I said before, I like the chain. I much prefer being on a natural lake than a manmade one. They can make it better. |
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| Dave, I don't believe you!!
Those were carp that the DNR painted vertical lines on. Until I see one out there for myself, I won't believe you. Now that I'm not fishing it anymore, I don't have much of a chance.
33 reports in this thread, and only one fish caught. WOW!!
Oh well, I know where some muskies live in Illinois. |
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| Setme31
There is a tournament coming. People aren't talking. No matter how much you think people will share, they won't. There is fish being caught. I have caught one and lost two others in the last two weeks. I know of two others being caught. Fishing not great but, They are being caught. |
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| setme31, make that 2 fish caught,, or at least admitted too,, )(nothing to get to excided about) but I'm not in any tournament. I also ran into the fisheries boat and they said they netted 21 yesterday and had 7 today,,, he acted like that was a lot of fish,,,,, I have to remember this is the Chain we're talking about. [:blackeye:] |
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| Backlash,
Looks like that was your first post on the board. Welcome.
While I have heard of some fish being caught and had some to the boat (not me my partner) fishing on the Chain has been slow. But with the tourny coming up, people are probably a little more tight lipped than usual.
Dave |
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| A little person told me.....after this nice weather we have been having..these fish will start showing up in droves.
I hope so![:bigsmile:] |
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| Jason were you looking in the mirror[:devil:] , Just kidding.
Actually an oldtimer once told me that fish will not start biting in the srping until after the first one or two thunder storms as I remember he said it had something to do with the lightning. Anjy one else have thoughts on this? |
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| The Ol’ timer makes sense to me. The first couple of big boomers come right after the first couple of warming trends. I’d say the fish bite relates more to water temp more than lightning though. I would almost be so bold to say it looks like good conditions for the tourney, but then that would jinx us. Weather forecast looks good for next weekend.
[:sun:] |
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| Yesterday was one ugly day on the Chain. It was the first time my partner could fish with me. We fished the tournament hours. We boated two muskies. A nice 40 incher and a skinny 30. I hope the weather gets better. Only talk to one other boat and they told us they had a follow from a lower 30s fish. |
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| Was very yucky out there yesterday.. I fished for there hours in the morning and saw on mid thirtys, otherwise spent more time checking out spots.
water temp 54 |
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| I was out for a few hours at the end of the day Tuesday. Water temps were 53-54. Walleye jerkers were having success off both mid lake points on Marie. Weeds in the well known spots still look like crap. Water level is back to normal pool or slightly above. As usual, I saw nothing, caught nothing. One of my friends caught a nice fat smallie while pre-fishing. I didn't know those little guys were in the chain, especially not in the northern lakes. |
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| Worked Marie and Bluff from noon 'till 7:00pm. I had 2 follows within 10 minutes of each other around 3:30 on the North/East shore of Marie. Half hour later a Walleye fisherman hooked a nice upper 30 Muskie on a leech and jig. He didn't have a net big enough, so I went over to help just in time to see him loose the fish in his trolling motor. He did a nice job with 7 lb test 'till then...
The action I had was on a small Crane
BigO
daveolson |
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| Been trying Lake Marie last few weekends (and Thursday nights)with no luck on Muskie. I see somebody caught a smallmouth - geez, I read that there are some in the area but never saw anybody catch one! Largemouth seem to be the king on this lake.
Temps were 55 last weekend 5/11 (I would have been skinned alive if I tried to sneak out on Mother's Day - so first Sunday I've missed in a while).
Strange thing on Saturday before the storm came, not a single fish on fishfinder in the channel between grass lake and lake marie - what is the deal with that? I thought maybe my transducer came off, but as soon as we got back in the lake we got fish on screen again! |
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| Out today(5/21), fished 8.5 hours. Pops had a mid 30" follow and go through one turn on the ol' 8 and then just go away. Saw one just sitting on the weeds with no interest in the world of my bait. I nailed a 3.5-4lb LMB twitching a crane. Water temps were 57-58 and 61 in the bays.
-Phil Cali |
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| http://www.muskyu.com/reports.htm |
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| I was on the Chain 5-30 and had 4 follows, 1 lost, and 2 undersized in the boat. The warmup really turned 'em on! |
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| With all of the rain in the forecast, here is a good link for you to check out the current conditions on the Chain:
http://www.foxwaterway.state.il.us/
I would love to see it go 'no wake' for a while. I know I know - selfish SOB.............. |
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| Anyone know the water temps on the Chain currently? |
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| I was out last Thursday (6/27) and the water was up to 79 degrees. |
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