Hudson Bay

Fishing has been super tough lately. Got hit with a cold front these past few days. Multiple skunks. Managed this decent one on a Spinnerbait the day before the cold front hit. It’s slowly moving out and it’ll be warmer this weekend

Rustled up a couple good bois on the articulated fly. Fishing a muddy deep ledge just outside a Pike spawning area, popping the fly along the bottom a few feet every 20 seconds, crazy slow. Tried for the "Des Plaines River Trifecta", but couldn't find any willing Whiskerfish today on lures.

Slow slow day...but we ground it out and it paid big! Took a group effort to pull this beauty in! 6-7 minute fight on a fairly light line for this caliber of a trophy Pike. 40.75 inches with a 19.5 inch girth - easy 22 lbs! My buddy Andrew gets the prize today as it was his rig, but so cool, the boys and I are slowly closing in on Illinois State record class fish. 🐊🐊🐊🐊🔥

Beautiful open water January Smallie. On the jig fly. Happy New Year's gang!

Back on em. Two back to back in 5 min 🔥

Unfortunately I lost a 40" Pike Wednesday night. As a weird funny consolation prize, afterwards, I caught the same exact old beat up Pike that I caught on Saturday right after losing the big girl. It's so rare to encounter the monsters though, that I'm still a bit upset, but it's a teachable moment. On a cool note, it was on this giant "Disco Pike" lure I haven't hooked anything on before. A few mistakes I made: 1. I didn't trust my instincts that big fish would hold at this spot. Which caused me to... 2. Not bring my big net even though it was 15 seconds away in the car, I brought my smaller net, so I could only get 1/2 the fish's body in. I tried to leverage her up the bank with the net but she blasted off again and my lure broke loose on the second attempt to land her. And finally... 3. I didn't go all in. I have dove in the water for far smaller fish, like a big crappie a week or so back even, but this time I stayed on shore. Didn't have my waders, so it caused me to be lazy and not just get wet and muddy and take it on the chin like usual. Lesson: trust your instincts, be prepared, and always go 110%. However...I'll be back for that old girl 👀🐊

Slime Time w/this long, skinny, ancient male croc 🐊🍂🎃 #Piketober

Worked hard for this big girl... She fought like a tank once she got in the current too. Personal Best, on a big s pattern swimbait.