Hungry fish and cold water make for a great catch

There are two schools of thought when it comes to the reporting what happens on the Fox Chain O' Lakes.

There are the skeptics and the doubters vs. the true believers and catchers.

Each element argues about its individual belief. The conversations often take place in a Fox Lake tavern or pizza joint.

It has been a generations-long choosing of sides for the hardworking fishermen crowd and the jet ski operators who have embraced the notion that this waterway belongs to them and fishermen better get out of the way.

Reckless behavior displayed by the jet skiers and big engine boaters have become the norm out there. I have personally been the target of goofy jet ski operators, many who have invaded the no-wake zones in an effort to pump up their own testosterone levels while making my fellow anglers sit in their boats seething.

Even with colorful no-wake zone buoys stationed on nearly every one of the lakes in the winding channels connecting each watery playground, the goofballs are eager to invade the solitude of peace and stationary angling.

Of course, there is never enough law enforcement personnel to rein in the violators as they tear through the lakes while tossing beer bottles and cans overboard.

But there is a bright side to the madness.

The once-great walleye population is swimming its way back into conversations with reported catches of some beasts well over 7-8 pounds.

But the real focus appears to be on the Chain's fabulous "wolf pack" of muskies.

Guide Chris Taurisano, along with his associates in T-Bone Guide Service, has been racking up impressive counts with every species found on the Chain. But the most startling news is about the number of muskies Chris and his clients recently encountered.

Would you say 10 muskies in a single day with the longest measuring 40 inches is a remarkable feat?

And Chris's total number for the year (muskies) also is another remarkable mark.

I have seen dozens of members belonging to the skeptic club pounding shorelines without nary a single hit. They come off the lakes complaining the Chain is devoid of catchable fish.

I have have seen poachers "vacuum" Petite Lake of big walleyes caught on 50 or more tip-ups set out on the ice. The same was true with northern pike and monster crappie ambushed on Pistakee Lake and the T-Channels.

So Taurisano digests all that nonsense and goes about his full-time guide job with determination.

While I am part of a school of fishermen who enjoy casting rather than trolling, Taurisano's method is trolling, and it usually pays off.

If you'd like some action with the toothy critters in the Chain's waters, I suggest you contact Chris Taurisano by phone at (630) 330-9090 or at tboneguideservice.com or you can reach him via email at chris@tboneguideservice.com.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.