Sauk Trail's 2008 fishery study showed five to six solid year-classes present. Prime bass-fishing areas include the edges of weedbeds, brushpiles and sunken trees. Most trophy bass are caught in the spring and late fall. Weedless baits and topwater-running baits are best. Boat rentals and camping are available, but outboard motors aren't allowed, not even electric.

TOP TWO MID-STATE PICKS
Banner Marsh
A 2007 fall survey of this Peoria-Fulton County multiplex of small- and medium-sized lakes indicated the slot length limit was having a positive effect on the bass population. Creel possession outside the slot limit is three fish. The 350-acre Wheel Lake at normal pool is composed of a large series of deep-cut, strip-mined areas, some 60 feet deep and containing a maze of rocky points, islands, flooded brush and diverse aquatic vegetation. The lake's water clarity averages one foot and has the least rooted aquatic plants of any lake at the site.

Bells Landing access at Shovel Lake was enlarged to more than 200 acres in 2000. It has a maximum depth of 65 feet and offers about 100 acres of aquatic plant zone surrounding deep-water pockets. Shovel Lake has better water clarity than Wheel Lake, so fishing can be tougher on sunny days. The fall 2007 survey showed a strong bass population from 7 inches to 19 inches.

Johnson Lake is a 600-acre network of deep strip mine water connected to shallow flats of flooded trees. It has a water clarity average of 4 feet and good rooted aquatic plant growth. The fall 2007 survey revealed a strong bass population from 8 to 18 inches.

This complex of lakes is Pallo's favorite in central Illinois. It's also the pick of Pekin bass angler Terry Norman who fishes with spinnerbaits parallel to heavy vegetation and weedless lures over weedbeds.

"Scum Frogs or any hollow-rubber, weedless rat or frog bait works great, especially near sundown," Norman said.

For more information, call Presley's Worm Ranch in Bartonville at (309) 637-3030 to learn which lakes are hot and which are not.

Siloam Spring Lake
This deep, clear 58-acre lake in Adams County near Quincy has always maintained a strong largemouth bass population. Though it is comprised mainly of smaller bass 1.5 to 2 pounds, it annually produces many hawgs for anglers who know how to fish Siloam. Visibility ranges from 12 to 15 feet, which causes larger bass to suspend. In spring under turbid conditions during pre-spawn, many adults in the 6- to 8-pound range are caught. There is a 12- to 15-inch slot limit with a three-fish-per-day creel limit.

I can walk to this lake from my house. It's probably one of the most underrated bass lakes in the state. The annual trout stockings in Siloam are one reason bass reach such super size. Adult bass lap up the hatchery trout like candy when they're first dumped in the lake. More than one bass pushing the 10-pound mark has been hooked and landed after the April trout dump. Best springtime baits are trout-colored spinners and lighter-colored pig-and-jig rigs. There is a bait shop on-site, (217) 894-6205. (Boat ramp, boat rentals, campground and electric motors only.)

TOP TWO DOWNSTATE PICKS
Pinckneyville City Lake
This 165-acre lake is located three miles northwest of Pinckneyville off of Route 127 West. It has an 18-inch minimum, one-fish-per-day creel limit, which has resulted in excellent bass fishing over the past few years. Of the 117 bass collected during the 2007 fall survey, 24 percent were longer than 15 inches and 9 percent exceeded 18 inches. The number of bass collected was the fourth highest number on record in the lake. Pinckneyville has always been considered one of the best downstate bass lakes.