This is cool to watch ,around 35 years ago My Dad , myself and about 8 other guys started the M.I chapter S.O.B.'s ( we got tired of driving to northern Wi,) , Stocked the chain with the help of N.I.C.C. , Muskie alliance , M.I. of course, and local businesses ,,So nice it turned into a great fishery,
Hi Ray! Our apologies for the late reply! Somehow this comment fell through the cracks on us. We were going through videos today and seeing what comments we missed. Sincerely, thank you for all the hard work to make the Chain the fishery it has become. Tony has been fishing the Chain for Muskies since 1995 and to watch the fishery grow as it has even from just 1995 is absolutely amazing! Thanks for watching and thank you again for all you do!
@@tonysspotonfishing My Dad was also inducted into the muskie hall of fame in Kentucky before he passed away for all the work he did , also up here in Hayward
Team TBQ5 Yeah that’s been Heidecke Muskies for quite a few years now. Smaller forage bases, kind of like Shabbona, most Muskie catches are on those smaller baits. Years back, oh at least 18 years ago if not more, the only “Muskie” bait that would get them going consistently at Heidecke was a 6in solid black Reef Hawg from Fudally. Lot of guys have been able to take fish on Bucktails out there. Those double 10’s can look like small bait balls which is nice. Good job sticking some skis on the big H! She can be a grind some days. Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting!
Spot on Fishing for sure! I have lots of buddies who musky fish and catch 48” inches like it’s nothing and the biologists came out their this year and said it was the best spawn of muskies they’ve seen in a while so I think heidecke is gonna be amazing muskies
Team TBQ5 Absolutely, the work the ILDNR has done out there is unbelievable. The Walleyes have been thriving for so many years now. They’re building the Smallmouth fishery beautifully. Heidecke back in the day was a decent Tiger Muskie fishery and now the focus is on the pure bread Muskie. The present and the future is very bright.
Spot on Fishing another question I had was have you tried the Illinois river or the Dresden dam? I’ve been wanting to try smallie fishing the river in Morris but don’t know if it’s any good
Team TBQ5 When it comes to the Illinois River, I’ve only fished it for Sauger. Either running way down to the Clam Beds or fishing Starved Rock. I have a couple of friends who do fish the Illinois for both Largemouth and Smallmouth. They compare it to the DesPlaines bass fishery. Squarebill crankbaits, Finesse Jigs, and Shakey Head Jigs with a Cut Worm from Yamamoto.
Phil Carlson Hopefully the rain coming in over the next couple of days will cool water temps on the Chain. As of yesterday it was well over 80 degree water temp. Far to dangerous for fish safety for the Muskies. We need that water temp to drop below 80 for it to be safe to fish them. Here’s hoping Mother Nature will help us out. The best Muskie Lakes on the Chain are the 4 northern lakes, Catherine, Channel, Marie and Bluff. Bucktails, Topwaters, and Sub Surface Gliders will catch them. Thanks so much for watching and good luck.
My father in law lives right on the river. Just south west of Pistakee Lake, near the Chapel Hill Rd. Bridge. I’m going to go up there in a few weeks and fish from the bank, any advice or tips? By the way you are my new favorite channel, because I can actually fish the same places you do! Very applicable to me! I’d love to see some pond videos sometime from you.
DrFrankensteam Thanks, we are very happy to hear how much you enjoy the shows. We’ve done a few pond shows over the years. We’ve fished some ponds in Aurora and Plainfield. Most anglers don’t realize the type of fish they have right in their own backyards. Fishing the river up there, you should do pretty well throwing some squarebills and even dragging some football heads for some bass. If you’re in a section that has some weed flats, a spinnerbait will get the job done. If you’re fishing Muskies, Bucktails and topwaters, like a Top Raider would be awesome in the morning and evening. Good luck and let us know how you do. Thanks again for watching!
Kurt Riedmuller Glad you liked it. The Chain is wide open to boating now. Water levels have come down. Unless they flood again with tomorrow’s storms. Muskies are on. We were out on Sat and boated 2. A 32 and a 40. Seen half a dozen others and hooked and lost one. They’re on. Go get em! Good luck and let us know how you do.
Bluff lake is a pond , chains problem is they built wat too many houses and too many marinas ,it's like a circus with all the drunken boaters harassing fisherman. Channel and Catherine would be good if they were 10,000 acres .Terrible pic of the fish, no offense meant
The bars, high powered boats, large boats (too big for the Chain) jet skies and water skiers on top of the fishing boats, makes it a very dangerous waterway especially on weekends. Weekdays can still be a little crazy but it is much more tolerable then a weekend trip. If you go on a weekend your day may be done by 9:30/10am due to the heavy boat traffic. Add in all the bars on the Chain and sadly, it is a recipe for disaster. It’s a shame because of how great a fishery the Chain is, not just for Muskies but Bass, Walleyes and White Bass with a great Panfish population too!
I live on the chain for 30 years. The best fishing is every morning before noon and every day during the week it is basically empty until the Chicago weekend warriors get here Saturday afternoon. Love it here all year long. My favorite place to live
My baby sister caught a huge channel bass, ,us boys were kinda jealous
I belief our DNR didn't pay attention to the strain of muskie they selected. We should have had more 50 inch fish by now
This is cool to watch ,around 35 years ago My Dad , myself and about 8 other guys started the M.I chapter S.O.B.'s ( we got tired of driving to northern Wi,) , Stocked the chain with the help of N.I.C.C. , Muskie alliance , M.I. of course, and local businesses ,,So nice it turned into a great fishery,
Hi Ray! Our apologies for the late reply! Somehow this comment fell through the cracks on us. We were going through videos today and seeing what comments we missed. Sincerely, thank you for all the hard work to make the Chain the fishery it has become. Tony has been fishing the Chain for Muskies since 1995 and to watch the fishery grow as it has even from just 1995 is absolutely amazing! Thanks for watching and thank you again for all you do!
@@tonysspotonfishing My Dad was also inducted into the muskie hall of fame in Kentucky before he passed away for all the work he did , also up here in Hayward
ray curbee very well deserved honor. Our condolences to you and your family over the loss of your father.
Nice we have been catching monster muskies at heidecke just trolling for walleyes it’s a halst
Team TBQ5 Yeah that’s been Heidecke Muskies for quite a few years now. Smaller forage bases, kind of like Shabbona, most Muskie catches are on those smaller baits. Years back, oh at least 18 years ago if not more, the only “Muskie” bait that would get them going consistently at Heidecke was a 6in solid black Reef Hawg from Fudally. Lot of guys have been able to take fish on Bucktails out there. Those double 10’s can look like small bait balls which is nice. Good job sticking some skis on the big H! She can be a grind some days. Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting!
Spot on Fishing for sure! I have lots of buddies who musky fish and catch 48” inches like it’s nothing and the biologists came out their this year and said it was the best spawn of muskies they’ve seen in a while so I think heidecke is gonna be amazing muskies
Team TBQ5 Absolutely, the work the ILDNR has done out there is unbelievable. The Walleyes have been thriving for so many years now. They’re building the Smallmouth fishery beautifully. Heidecke back in the day was a decent Tiger Muskie fishery and now the focus is on the pure bread Muskie. The present and the future is very bright.
Spot on Fishing another question I had was have you tried the Illinois river or the Dresden dam? I’ve been wanting to try smallie fishing the river in Morris but don’t know if it’s any good
Team TBQ5 When it comes to the Illinois River, I’ve only fished it for Sauger. Either running way down to the Clam Beds or fishing Starved Rock. I have a couple of friends who do fish the Illinois for both Largemouth and Smallmouth. They compare it to the DesPlaines bass fishery. Squarebill crankbaits, Finesse Jigs, and Shakey Head Jigs with a Cut Worm from Yamamoto.
nice catch congrat
pesca CON chuchin Thanks and thank you for watching!
Coming Saturday September 1st. Best musky lake on the chain?
Phil Carlson Hopefully the rain coming in over the next couple of days will cool water temps on the Chain. As of yesterday it was well over 80 degree water temp. Far to dangerous for fish safety for the Muskies. We need that water temp to drop below 80 for it to be safe to fish them. Here’s hoping Mother Nature will help us out. The best Muskie Lakes on the Chain are the 4 northern lakes, Catherine, Channel, Marie and Bluff. Bucktails, Topwaters, and Sub Surface Gliders will catch them. Thanks so much for watching and good luck.
My father in law lives right on the river. Just south west of Pistakee Lake, near the Chapel Hill Rd. Bridge. I’m going to go up there in a few weeks and fish from the bank, any advice or tips? By the way you are my new favorite channel, because I can actually fish the same places you do! Very applicable to me! I’d love to see some pond videos sometime from you.
DrFrankensteam Thanks, we are very happy to hear how much you enjoy the shows. We’ve done a few pond shows over the years. We’ve fished some ponds in Aurora and Plainfield. Most anglers don’t realize the type of fish they have right in their own backyards. Fishing the river up there, you should do pretty well throwing some squarebills and even dragging some football heads for some bass. If you’re in a section that has some weed flats, a spinnerbait will get the job done. If you’re fishing Muskies, Bucktails and topwaters, like a Top Raider would be awesome in the morning and evening. Good luck and let us know how you do. Thanks again for watching!
nice catch guys
Addicted Angler Thanks! We love Muskies. Even on rough days, that one fish makes it all worth it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Awesome!
bobfishnut Thanks! It made for a long day, but that’s Muskies sometimes.
I remember when the chain was no wake it sucked
Oh yeah. But if it means no jets skies and water skiers, I’ll take it.
Nice
patio87 Thanks, got to love Muskies!
Tony great video thanks I'm going to go up there this week
Kurt Riedmuller Glad you liked it. The Chain is wide open to boating now. Water levels have come down. Unless they flood again with tomorrow’s storms. Muskies are on. We were out on Sat and boated 2. A 32 and a 40. Seen half a dozen others and hooked and lost one. They’re on. Go get em! Good luck and let us know how you do.
Bluff lake is a pond , chains problem is they built wat too many houses and too many marinas ,it's like a circus with all the drunken boaters harassing fisherman. Channel and Catherine would be good if they were 10,000 acres .Terrible pic of the fish, no offense meant
The bars, high powered boats, large boats (too big for the Chain) jet skies and water skiers on top of the fishing boats, makes it a very dangerous waterway especially on weekends. Weekdays can still be a little crazy but it is much more tolerable then a weekend trip. If you go on a weekend your day may be done by 9:30/10am due to the heavy boat traffic. Add in all the bars on the Chain and sadly, it is a recipe for disaster. It’s a shame because of how great a fishery the Chain is, not just for Muskies but Bass, Walleyes and White Bass with a great Panfish population too!
I live on the chain for 30 years. The best fishing is every morning before noon and every day during the week it is basically empty until the Chicago weekend warriors get here Saturday afternoon. Love it here all year long. My favorite place to live
I actually love bluff.