MAZONIA FWA
Even though the myriad of lakes in this complex straddling the Grundy-Kankakee County line are smaller and more protected than Shabbona, they often freeze over later than most lakes in northern Illinois because of their deep strip-pit nature. These lakes range in size from less than 1/2-acre up to about 150 acres, with water clarity ranging from clear to considerably stained.

Monster Lake falls on the stained side of the visibility spectrum and is generally considered the best fishery in the entire project because two tributaries infuse life into this system all winter long. It isn't like most of the lakes in Mazonia Fish & Wildlife Area because Monster wasn't initially a strip pit. Monster is also the first lake here to support winter anglers. Monster is a great place to ice some very nice crappies, with bass also getting considerable attention from the ice-fishing fraternity.

If you're looking for whopping big redear sunfish, target gin-clear Eagle Lake, a strip pit like most of the other lakes in the Mazonia complex. Redears are notoriously light biters. This tendency is especially true in Eagle Lake where ultra-stealthy tactics are required to consistently get your string stretched. Use 1-pound-test Berkley Ice Line and a single No. 12 hook baited with a lone redworm. Allow the bait to free fall until it is hovering at roughly the same level where electronics indicate fish are holding, and then peg a Thill Mini-Stealth float to the line and wait for it to move just a whisker.

Lakes in Mazonia's South Unit are generally smaller, with three of these little waters offering truly outstanding fishing. Conscience prohibits specific identification of these lakes because the fishery is so fragile. Do your own prospecting, and you'll want to keep the secret, too.

Contact: Mazonia FWA, (815) 237-0063.

FOX CHAIN-O-LAKES
When looked at as a total fishery, this chain of natural lakes in northeast Illinois is our state's best ice-fishery. However, the Fox Chain also gets some of the heaviest angling pressure of any public fishery due to its close proximity to metro Chicago.

The old adage "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" could have been coined with ice-fishing on the Fox Chain in mind. It's almost impossible to get away from a crowd when there is a hot bite going on. The upside is that all the humanity out there makes it easier to get over fish without a great deal of prospecting.

Most of the crowd will be chasing panfish holding in weeds over fairly shallow water all winter long. A major key to success lies in fishing around the fringes of the crowd -- and having a child's toy garden rake tucked away somewhere in the ice tent. Stake out your territory by poking a half-dozen holes close to the ice shanty, then use the rake to clear weeds from the area directly below the hole. In the few minutes it takes the water to clear, tie a couple of black/green Marmooskas or little Genz Fat Boys in blue/glow, red/glow or gold on 1-pound-test monofilament line. Use either a Thill Mini-Stealth or sensitive ballpoint-pen-type spring bobber as a strike indicator.