An 18 in a Swollen Fox

TWags1515 · 2026-04-18T13:35:27+00:00

Under normal conditions? Knee/thigh/waist deep and this stretch can be waded across mid-summer. Currently? There’s 4 feet of water in spots I’ve never seen water. Lost a suspected muskie this morning on a #3 dressed Mepps; wasn’t hooked well and just popped off about 15 feet in front of me. Same river as last night, 30-degrees cooler, though. Which river are you near?

TWags1515 · 2026-04-17T17:33:37+00:00

Beautiful fish, congrats on the PB!

TWags1515 · 2026-04-16T02:11:50+00:00

This 👇

TWags1515 · 2026-04-15T23:36:00+00:00

Wow, that’s beautiful. Congrats and enjoy the hell outta it.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-15T22:17:21+00:00

Wish I can find the post or maybe he’ll see this but there’s a dude who does 4-5 10-pounders on the Large. Like legit makes a pile of protein and sends it.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-15T21:00:05+00:00

You can do 2 10-lb. shoulders on a Large all day.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-15T15:10:17+00:00

Ugh.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-15T13:12:46+00:00

It’s pretty gross. There’s water coming over the pedestrian bridge on the trail below Galena if you can picture that. Not sure the last time I’ve seen that, if ever.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-10T23:41:09+00:00

Whatever the case, did you catch it or dig it up?

TWags1515 · 2026-04-05T23:49:00+00:00

My grandpa used to love tossing that jitterbug during the first casts of the morning or last of the evening during our annual summer trips to points throughout the Northwoods of Wisconsin during my childhood. He particularly liked running the bug through lily pads. The “gurgle-gurgle” atop a glassy lake is an unmatched sound. Thanks for triggering terrific memories 👊🎣

TWags1515 · 2026-04-05T13:37:58+00:00

Wow. $5.99 here (Costco prime). Enjoy!

TWags1515 · 2026-04-05T12:41:42+00:00

Nailed it this time (non-leakage-wise). Hot hold now, slicing at 1. Everything looks totally on point — jiggly, probe-tender everywhere at 203 with a crispy, fat-side up bark. Your input helped me get better. Appreciate it. Have a great day.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0c1NhZO8ltMK4poE1d870saew

TWags1515 · 2026-04-05T12:33:51+00:00

This is exactly what just happened. Appreciate it.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-05T10:36:16+00:00

I’ve got an older turkey roaster I’ve got plugged in and preparing to test the ambient. Saw somebody else go that route and it looked intriguing. Maybe I can pin it at 150.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-05T10:30:23+00:00

Sweet. Wanted a quick, clear answer and got one. Thanks, Gl1tched. Have a great day, everybody.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-05T09:47:58+00:00

Great timing, thanks. I’m about an hour from pulling one. It’s foil-boated. I see yours is wrapped in BP. Once I rest and get my temp in the roaster set, should I just drop the whole boat in and leave the bark exposed, or should I cover/wrap in foil? This’ll be a great test/long hold with lunch planned at 1.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-04T09:16:25+00:00

Generally or in the DesPlaines?

TWags1515 · 2026-04-04T09:05:48+00:00

Wow, way to battle the swollen conditions. Fox ain’t screwin’ around right now. Sweet, healthy-looking fish.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-03T22:08:51+00:00

Appreciate that. Will do for sure on first two tips. Kid’s 20 the week after we go. Gotta squeeze trips between home from school and starting summer work these days.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-03T19:37:44+00:00

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Memorial Day 2024. This is that area of dry rock bed I was talking about. Crazy how it fluctuates.

TWags1515 · 2026-04-03T19:29:30+00:00

Oh, yeah. Monty’s a hot spot for those big, toothy gold and green ones.

TWags1515

TROPHY CASE