I have been fishing the chain with little to no success and it seems I'm not the only one. The Fox Chain is weak when it comes to structure and depth, so I'm curious as to what I should be looking for? The more I fish there the more I miss LOTW. We do most of our fishing on Channel and Marie (Channel mostly for casting and Marie for trolling). We are having a tough time locating baitfish so I don't have any confidence in fishing for suspended fish. This may sound stupid but does Illinois make hydro-graphic maps? Maybe this can help me find some spots that aren't labeled on my map. Any help would be appreciated and if you see us out there, stop and say hi we're the ones in the blue skeeter.

thanks,
Jesse

Do you have the new Fishing Hot Spots map of the Fox Chain? If not, get that and you may find it to be of some help. The fishing pressure on the muskies in the northern lakes (Channel,Catherine,Marie) is pretty high. I would maybe try some of the southern lakes, like Fox or Nippersink. In the southern lakes you must take into account that there is some current moving through the lakes, especially in the fall. Maybe look to river mouths, wind blown points, or deep holes (Mineola Bay on Fox Lake) to hold baitfish, and in turn muskies. The pressure on the Southern lake fish can't be nearly as high as that of the northern lake fish. If you don't want to venture to the south try different tactics and fish at different times (very early morning). Just some of my thoughts. Good Luck!

I haven’t heard one good report on the chain ever since the story of someone dumping weed killer chemicals in the water. They all can’t be dead can they?

From what I heard nxtwrlrcd, the chemical spill was contained in one of the channels and the waterway agency was able to get it cleaned up before it caused any significant damage.

I also would recommend a HotSpots map of the northern part of the Chain. Though it doesn't show all the spots, it's at least a good place to start. Also if you launch out of Barnacle Bobs on Marie, they're usually pretty cool and can offer some advice on where they've been hitting and on what.

Now that the boating pressure has died down I was planning on giving Marie and Channel a try Saturday. Look for the guy and the kid in the green Smokercraft...hopefully catching some muskies.

There is alot of structure on the chain. Mostly in the form of drop-offs and weed edges. Tons of fish suspend in all the lakes on the chain so don't hesitate to troll them. They are'nt hard to find. Boat traffic was orendous last weekend with fisherman and pleasureboaters. I hope the cooler weather knocks it down a bit.

There are areas on these lakes that had weeds that now don't. There are alot of good green weeds left however.

I second or third the hot spots map idea. As far as I can tell, the fox chain has really sucked the last month or so. Rich Gallagher (Big Goomba Guide Service) has been sticking some fish on the nothern lakes over the last few weeks. Mid to upper 30's fish. I have not seen a fish in 3 weeks, but will try again this Sunday. Find the green weeds and the drops and you are probably in as good a place as you will find. East and West shorelines on Channel seem to be in pretty good shape.

I will be out in a black and white crestliner Sunday. If you see me stop by and give me an update.

Dave