Each year, we're asked to come up with the top largemouth bass fishing lakes in Illinois, and every year the assignment gets harder and harder. It's not that it's hard to find a dozen good lakes. It's hard because we have to narrow the list down to 12 waters.

Fisheries biologists have more tools to manage lakes than ever before, plus increased catch-and-release fishing ensures that fish in their prime continue to provide fishing action for other anglers.

"Our goal is to use the tools available to us to make every lake into good fishing waters," said Scott Stuewe, acting Fisheries Division chief for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "We want to spread the wealth, so to speak, so every Illinois angler has a good fishing lake nearby."

Biologists use stockings from the hatcheries and on-site nursery ponds to supplement bass production at lakes. The DNR also uses restrictive harvest regulations to protect some populations of fish.

"We have large numbers of anglers in Illinois, so we're lucky that catch-and-release fishing is popular here," Stuewe said. "There is a strong drive among Illinois anglers to return their bass to the water. That's a good thing. But it's okay for anglers to take fish home and eat them, too."

We've picked a dozen lakes -- four from northern Illinois, four from central Illinois and four from southern Illinois -- that we believe will have the best bass fishing this year. We looked for lakes that provide a good cross between quantity and quality -- both good populations with some nice trophies there, too. We also have a "sleeper" lake for each region, a lake that might not get the accolades other lakes do but has the possibility of becoming one of the top bass fishing waters in the state. These are lakes that are definitely worth checking out, from north to south.

FOX CHAIN-O-LAKES
Located 30 miles northwest of Chicago, these Lake County and McHenry County lakes have a lot of boating, skiing and everything else that can ruin your fishing trip. But go midweek and you'll find relatively quiet lakes and big bass.

The bass population was almost nil in The Chain in the late 1980s. Then the DNR began supplemental stocking. The result is a good to excellent bass population, with a catch rate that gets better each year. Reproduction is taking place, too, so fishing should continue to be good. This trend is for all the lakes in The Chain. In addition, the number of trophy fish continues to grow. Catherine and Bluff lakes have the best bass fishing. Anglers should work the channels, weedbeds, brushy areas and docks. The average catch will be 1 to 2 pounds, but 4- and 5-pound fish are not uncommon. There is a 14-inch minimum and six-bass-per-day limit.

BRAIDWOOD LAKE
This popular Will County lake attracts more crappie anglers than bass fanatics. The 2,308-acre cooling lake can have water temperatures in the high 90s during the summer months, and while fishing is best in the spring and fall, the largemouth bass apparently have grown accustomed to the warm water, so don't hesitate to fish there during the hot months.

Despite these conditions, the lake has a great bass population that continues to improve each year. The lake shows good reproduction each year. The average catch will be 1 to 2 pounds, but 4-pounders are plentiful, and 6-pounders aren't uncommon. Best fishing is off the points and near current breaks.

The lake opens March 1. Bass have to be 15 inches minimum. There is a three-fish-per-day limit. There are boat launching facilities at each end of the lake. Boaters are required to have a gasoline-powered motor.