The experts agree that bluegills are No. 1 in Illinois. The humble bluegill has passed the largemouth bass in the number of fish being caught here in the Land of Lincoln.

Jeffrey Stein, statewide creel program research director at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), should know. The INHS has conducted creel surveys since 1989. They have interviewed tens of thousands of anglers across our state. The information they've collected has been used by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to help manage the state's fisheries.

Researchers at the INHS are specifically focusing on this fish in The Bluegill Research Project. Their goal is to determine the factors influencing or driving bluegill size structure in impoundments. The project studies 60 lakes with quality (most adult bluegills greater than 7 inches), stunted (most adults less than 6 inches) and intermediate (a mixture of adult sizes) populations. Research is currently under way and the project is scheduled to be completed in 2007.

Joe Ferencak, impoundment program manager of the Division of Fisheries, oversees the management of all Illinois lakes. His biologists use the information from the creel surveys and The Bluegill Project to help improve the fish population for anglers. Here are some of the waters Ferencak recommends for bluegill fishing in 2005.

HENNEPIN CANAL
The historic Hennepin Canal encompasses 926 acres in Bureau, Henry and Whiteside counties.

"It provides exceptional shoreline access via the trail that parallels most of the canal," said Ferencak. "Target brush and weeds. Bluegills should average about 1/3-pound. Much of the isolated stretches of the canal are not fished very often. It receives regular stocking."

There are no horsepower limits for boats between Bridge 37 and Lock 24, but elsewhere it's 10 horsepower. There are boat ramps at the Visitor Center complex, Locks 21, 22 and 24, Route 82 north of Geneseo, Route 92, Route 78 north of Annawan, Bridge 39, Bridge 28 and Bridge 45.

For more information, call (815) 454-2328. Trail and access maps are available online at www.chicagofishing.org or www.chicagopaddling.org

LA SALLE LAKE
The La Salle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is located south of Interstate 80 and west of Illinois Route 170 near Seneca. La Salle, at 2,305 acres, is a perched lake that is used for cooling the La Salle Nuclear Power Plant. It is set in such a way to maximize wind in the Illinois River Valley, which makes it unsafe for non-powered boats.

"This cooling lake offers good shoreline access for fishing the riprap," said Ferencak. "Fish should average about 1/3-pound."

With its riprapped shoreline, La Salle has no natural shoreline for beaching boats. Boaters must allow ample time to boat from the lake's northern shores to the boat ramp area on the southwestern corner.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at La Salle Lake. From April 1 through Sept. 30, La Salle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to dusk. For more information, contact the park at (815) 357-1608. Online fishing maps are available at http://pages.ripco.net/~jwn/lasalle.html. Call the Tackle Shack and Bait Shop in Marseilles at (815) 795-6200 for the latest fishing conditions.