"Fishing is really good," Long said. "We've been seeing lots of bigger bass lately. It's not unusual to see a 6- or 7-pounder, and we catch lots of 4- and 5-pound fish."

Long alluded that there are no true hotspots on Borah. "We'll fish the banks and coves," he said. "We target brush and weeds with plastic worms, Rat-L-Traps and jigs."

A city permit is required for all boats. For more information, call (618) 395-7302. For travel and lodging information, call the "Home of the White Squirrels" Chamber of Commerce at (618) 392-2241.

HARRISBURG RESERVOIR
If you're looking to escape the fanfare associated with the well-known bass factories in southern Illinois, DNR biologist Kurt Daine said it would be wise for you to check out 200-acre Harrisburg Reservoir in Saline County, one mile east of Galatia.

"Harrisburg has good cover and a very strong population of 2- to 3-pound largemouths," Daine said. "But trophies are available. We took fish up to 6.75 pounds in our fall survey."

Early in the summer, bright spinnerbaits and crankbaits catch the most bass. Flipping and pitching laydowns and stumps can likewise be effective. Later, bass move onto main-lake points and into weedbeds. Texas- and Carolina-rigged worms, tube jigs and shallow-diving crankbaits fished quickly over the top of the weeds produce well.

For more info, contact DNR Region 5 Fisheries at (618) 435-8138. For travel and lodging information, call the Saline County Chamber of Commerce at (618) 252-4192.

GLEN JONES LAKE
Anglers interested in catching a bunch of largemouths should check out 105-acre Glen Jones Lake in the Saline County Conservation Area because this little impoundment has a high density of bass.

"Jones Lake has a strong bass population, but a majority of fish are 14 inches and under," biologist Daine said. "I imposed a 14- to 18-inch slot limit with a creel limit of one fish over 18 inches and five fish under 14 inches to encourage anglers to harvest some of the stockpiled bass."

Early in the summer, concentrate your efforts to the stumpy coves of the upper third of the lake where small spinnerbaits and crankbaits take aggressive fish. Later when temperatures rise, the deep southern shoreline by the dam concentrates fish. Plastic worms, jigs and tubes will find enough largemouths to put a smile on anyone's face.

For more information, call the Saline County Conservation Area at (618) 276-4405. For travel and lodging information, contact the Saline County Chamber of Commerce at (618) 252-4192.