Panfish perfection on the Chain

There's never a dull moment on the Fox Chain. In fact, there's always something going on with any number of different species of fish. But before I share my latest outing with you, I must vent.

I have pictures of my late father and I holding massive stringers of crappie, white bass and chunky bluegills. We always had a great time on Pistakee and Channel Lakes. But my father always called the Chain a mud hole that just happened to have fish.

That statement was made by Irv back in the early 50s. And you know what? I agree with him.

It is a mud hole - but a mud hole that serves as home to trophy muskies and walleyes, as well as jumbo crappies and catfish. Unfortunately it's also a playground for the big cruisers mixed in with jet skis, and a battalion of drunken boat operators.

And despite all that negativism, I still spend a lot of time there fishing with friend and guide Darrell Baker.

There aren't that many things or happenings these days that cause noted local angler Spence Petros to flap his gums. But Baker was able to prompt Petros to call him a "pure, natural angler." Ever since those first Spencer utterances and trips in Baker's trusty Viking Canoe (semi-v jon boat), both Petros and I have spent countless hours watching Baker do his usual fish-catching routine on the Chain's various lakes.

A recent outing found us plumbing the sand bars and flats area of Lake Marie. Roger Pulkka was along for the day and he wound up mesmerized as Baker worked his magic.

"You watch, as soon a slight breeze comes up we'll get into the bigger crappies," Baker declared.

A slight puff rolled in from the west, pushing Darrell's new, luxurious 20-foot fishing rig into a slow drift. Four rods twitched and we were into the fish. The hot action continued for the next two hours. We were after big bluegills and crappies and Baker delivered the goods once again.

Baker guides seven days a week, and more than three quarters of his business comes from repeat customers. And the reason for his success is because his customers catch lots of fish. For example, this year Baker's boat caught 2,649 walleyes, about 15,000 panfish, 1,000 largemouth and smallmouth bass. Baker also boated 37 muskies, the latest weighing in at 25 pounds, along with countless channel and flathead catfish.

Aside from the outstanding fishing Petros and I experience when we're with Baker, the on-water show never ceases as Spence and I go into a non-stop, chops-busting mode with our teasing of Baker.

But on a serious note: This is the guy who will teach your entire family how to catch fish. This is also the kind of guide who always puts his customers first and never hogs a prime fishing spot for his own. You've got to experience a day on the water with him yourself - then you too will have a panfish perfect outing, with perhaps a few big boys thrown in for good measure. You can reach Baker at (847) 337-5559.

angler@mikejacksonoutdoors.com