SANGCHRIS LAKE
This cooling lake, a short hop from the state capitol, isn’t much more than a three-hour drive from any point in the state, making it an outstanding destination for an early-season bass trip. Because water temperature dictates fish location, you’ll want to target visible cover in the warm center arm of the lake through the end of April.

A 25-horsepower limit is in place along with a 15-inch minimum, three-bass daily limit.

Sangchris is home to both huge stripers and the state’s biggest crappies. Want bass? No problem -- shad-patterned hard baits and plastic worms, pitched close to cover. Get the net!

For more information, call (217) 498-9208.

EAST FORK LAKE
This eastern Illinois lake owned by the city of Olney is a great place to catch plenty of bass and get a shot at a 6-pound-plus trophy. There are several productive points on this 973-acre fishery that become fish magnets once water temperatures warm to 50 degrees.

Twitching stick baits in clown or Nashiki patterns and allowing the lures to hover for up to a minute in place may produce solid “deadstick” strikes. One pattern, an orange Rat-L-Trap, is effective on the East Fork from early April until the water temperature reaches 43 degrees in coves with northern exposures. After water temperatures reach 48, you must slow the retrieve considerably. But hit that 43- to 48-degree window and you may be on the way to a taxidermist. For more information, call (618) 395-4787.

GILLESPIE NEW CITY
RESERVOIR
Bassers on the western side of the state find exceptional action on the 272-acre Gillespie New City Reservoir. This is primarily a numbers lake, but you always have a shot at a much bigger fish.

Fishing picks up in mid-April and remains good until summer arrives. Riprap along the dam is always worth a few casts. The most productive pattern is a spinnerbait worked over submergent milfoil, especially along inside and outside turn contours.

As is the case with many reservoirs, you must purchase an access sticker. While you have your wallet out, head over to the 84-acre Staunton City Reservoir in Macoupin County.

Water clarity is exceptional and requires a finesse approach with smaller lures to entice larger fish. Recent DNR fisheries surveys indicated that nearly 40 percent of bass biomass exceeds 3 pounds, so an honest shot at an 8-pounder is possible.

For more information about Gillespie reservoir, call (618) 362-6363 or (618) 635-8356 for information about Staunton.

MILL CREEK LAKE
Ten bucks is a lot to pay for a lottery ticket. But it will get you on the water at Clark County’s Mill Creek Lake, one of the best big-bass fisheries in the state.

This 811-acre water body is located in Mill Creek County Park and offers camping, boat rental and other amenities.

Fishing picks up in late April. Target the backs of coves first. A real killer lure is a 4-inch ringworm in red shad pattern or black and blue.

There are plenty of nooks and crannies in this lake’s 37 miles of shoreline. Electronics is a major key to success here for most of the fishing year. Numerous fish cribs and bundled Christmas trees have been placed around the lake in deeper water to hold fish now and after the spawn.

For more information, call (217) 826-2034.