Photo by Ron Sinfelt

Don't tell me that I don't understand the pain and emotional torment of pregnancy. Nine months of physical change, fear and trepidation, you say? Well, how long do you think it has been since I've been able to stumble out on Illinois' ice-covered lakes with a bucket and a couple of short rods? That's right! Nine long months!

Nine months of wondering about 10 fingers and 10 toes. Nine months of wondering if I will leave another power auger on Lake Marie. Wondering if Shabbona Lake will give up the state-record walleye we all know swims there? What about my access to private lakes? Have I supplied friends who own property on these secluded little hotspots with enough homemade black raspberry jam, venison sausage or spirits to ensure access to their lakes again this winter?

You whine about weight gain, but don't even go there. It's only been about two weeks since I tiptoed gingerly out on the Mississippi River backwaters west of Galena while wondering if I was carrying too much weight. Should I have left that Vexilar flasher in the truck? It's just 10 pounds, 10 little pounds.

Can't wait until your water breaks? Been there sister, and it ain't pretty. Floundering and sloshing back to safety, cursing some guy who talked me into this predicament who is now standing safely on the shore bent over in fits of laughter. The only consolation comes when you can shake off the chill on dry land and watch the laughter change to tears when you tell Mr. Goodtime Charlie that it's his. That's right! That little 10-pound bundle of joy he called a Vexilar FL-18 is somewhere on the bottom of the river between the parking lot at the end of West Street and the little island that you have to cross to get to Fishtrap Slough.

Is it worth all the heartache? Of course it is! There isn't much else to do in Illinois between now and March anyway, so you may as well do it three or four times a week!

Illinois is on the fringe when it comes to ice-fishing, with only the northern third of our state assured of having safe ice for more than a month, at best. Too soon it will all be gone, with nothing but pain and emotional torment for nine long months until we can get back on the ice again.

Until then, we want to experience every special moment. That first pike. The cute pitter-patter of bluegill fins slapping on the ice. The pride felt when you walk off the ice with a limit of big slab crappies. Yes, it's time to take on the responsibility of another ice-fishing season. Here's a look at Illinois' best bets for scoring on the hardwater over the next several months.

PRIVATE LAKES
In the 20 years I've been doing this ice-fishing forecast for Illinois Game & Fish, private waters have been pretty much ignored because of limited access. With real estate at such a premium in northern Illinois, there are precious few public waters. But our state sees more small lakes as centerpieces for suburban developments and farm ponds every year.