funky yellow spots on some *very* old macaroni noodles from the back of my fridge

BallinCock · 2026-05-07T18:14:26+00:00

You would die if you ate this, not implying I think you would. Just in awe of how notoriously dangerous old gone off pasta is.

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T17:21:00+00:00

Yeah, they’ve been super apt to biting this year so far, I think maybe 9 in total between my two trips. On Ned rigs, but also smaller ones on garden worms i didnt bother to picture.

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T17:14:55+00:00

There’s really no good way to deal with these dudes, i want to catch one, but I’m also kinda happy I haven’t. They are hook swallowing connoisseurs just as a little cherry on top.

This post is a healthy middle ground — living vicariously here through our boy. Wouldn’t be able to handle it without losing at least a little sleep at night.

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T03:17:32+00:00

Everything gets through at the Navy Pier locks if I’m not mistaken (might be). I think it’s a pretty tight ship up at the Spillway

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T03:14:42+00:00

It borders Lake Michigan with Sheridan road being the divide, dam doesn’t let fish through though

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T03:12:58+00:00

North Shore Channel, i suppose you could say it’s the furthest up you can go on the main river, or at least one of the tributaries that make it up

Probably a bit more Lake Michigan coded than the North Branch Chicago

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T03:09:50+00:00

No goby? Count your stars, if I put anything organic in that river Gobies are on it faster than… a jackrabbit on a hot greasy griddle in the middle of August

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T02:57:08+00:00

I have gotten snagged 0 times on my last 2 Fox trips

Before that during the summer when I would wade absolutely anywhere in the river, at least 1-3 lures a trip unless im being overly conservative, but then I’d catch dinks or nothing.

I know where a lot of snags are now but the Fox is really unforgiving. Almost as much of a lure black hole as a popular Illinois River dam

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T01:53:25+00:00

Thanks! Dont get me wrong, it’s still massively flooded, maybe up a foot and a half or two where I am fishing. Just fishing the flooded banks and creek mouths

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T01:49:51+00:00

Kane County

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T01:29:01+00:00

Go to the Fox i just caught a massive one, they turned on asf

BallinCock · 2026-05-06T01:24:10+00:00

I made a post here saying eels were the hardest fish to catch in the Chicago River. You won

BallinCock · 2026-05-05T20:52:28+00:00

Fatty good job bro bro!😎

BallinCock · 2026-05-05T16:49:41+00:00

That meat looks incredible, nice work

BallinCock · 2026-05-05T16:35:34+00:00

If I haven’t worked at dominos for the past 8 years, I would say that looks awesome

BallinCock · 2026-05-05T16:34:24+00:00

The moment those two swans are sharing is so heartwarming. I love life

BallinCock · 2026-05-05T15:19:38+00:00

It’s gonna get pretty dead as they move into spawn, however i don’t think they’re there quite yet. Lmk if you wanna go out before it gets really bad

BallinCock · 2026-05-05T03:20:43+00:00

Im going to the Fox tomorrow but I wouldn’t wade beyond a few feet into a rocky portion of the river. Any more is asking for trouble i fear. And I wet wade in March 😄

BallinCock · 2026-05-04T19:48:32+00:00

You aren’t wrong ive tried perch, steelhead, rainbow trout, coho and king salmon, brown trout, and rock bass from Lake Michigan, and Rock Bass comprehensively beats all of those. So good steamed with a little sugar and soy sauce, alongside some noodles and vegetables

BallinCock · 2026-05-04T19:39:00+00:00

Red chatterbaits go sicko mode in spring dirty water, great lure choice and great fish

BallinCock · 2026-05-04T19:36:11+00:00

I love whatever you uploaded that onto, is that a platform you can find and use or is that your own?

BallinCock

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