Photo by Pete Maina

Once dubbed the fish of 10,000 casts, the elusive muskie was once reserved for tales of the northwoods and the Canadian Shield lakes. But over the last 20 years, Illinois has come into its own as a muskie fishing destination.

Today, toothy Esox enthusiasts are heading to our waters not only to do battle with a bunch of fish, but also to find that once-in-a-lifetime muskie of trophy proportions. If you think it takes 10,000 casts to catch a muskie, then think again. Give some of the following waters a try and you'll agree that the elusive muskie of past lore is not so difficult to find in the Prairie State.

FOX CHAIN-O-LAKES
Perhaps the best muskie fishing in Illinois comes from our most popular lake. Lake and McHenry counties' Fox Chain-O-Lakes is not more than a 50-mile drive from Chicago's Loop, and with 7,500 acres of interconnected lakes, it's not uncommon to have in excess of 50,000 people visit the lake in an average weekend. Regardless of the consensus of visitors, the muskie fishery has thrived in recent years. Dave Kanz of Dave's Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy said The Chain is littered with muskies.

"I fish bass tournaments and don't seriously fish for muskies," said Kanz, "But since 1995 I have caught 58 muskies specifically during bass tournaments."

Kanz only fishes four to six contests a year, so when you do the math, that translates to an incredible catch rate for someone not targeting muskies.

"These fish have ranged in size from 36 to 45 inches, and some days I've caught two or three fish in one outing. We'll go out fishing and see muskies jumping and surfacing all over the place. It's obvious that there are lots of muskies in The Chain."

A 2003 sampling indicated population indices were at their highest since the inception of muskies in 1982. Two fish over 48 inches were collected, with the largest specimen topping 49.5 inches. The Chain will definitely be a contender for the next state record.

Kanz said lures ranging from buzzbaits and spinnerbaits to topwaters and crankbaits contribute to his serendipitous muskie record, but guys who specifically target muskies prefer to throw anything from bucktails to Suicks to large crankbaits. Shallow water with a murky tint dictates the use of a bright lure color to appeal to sight-disadvantaged fish.

Target areas such as deep channels that connect the various lakes, breaklines or even try running shallow lures over the extensive shallow flat areas signature of The Chain. Although Kanz said muskies are available throughout The Chain, some of the better waters include Bluff Lake, Spring Lake, Nippersink Lake and Pistakee Lake around Pistakee Bay.

Chain-O-Lakes State Park in Spring Grove offers a free public launch, bank-fishing, boat rental, picnicking facilities and camping. For more information, call Chain-O-Lakes State Park at (847) 587-5512. Traveling anglers should contact the Antioch Chamber of Commerce at (847) 395-2233.

EVERGREEN LAKE
Just north of Normal on the border between McLean and Woodford counties lies Evergreen Lake. Managed by the city of Bloomington, Evergreen has been marked as a lake with the potential to produce the next state-record muskie.

"Evergreen is a great place to catch a few fish in a day," said guide Duane Landmeier of Mainly Muskie Fishing, (815) 286-7170. "In a day's effort, it's possible to catch three or more fish."

In 2003, 95 muskies were captured during the spring survey. Of that total, 18 percent were over 30 inches, and 3 percent were over 42 inches. Numerous fish over 40 inches are present, and the lake has a number of specimens approaching 50 inches.

Landmeier suggested focusing your efforts on topographical excursions such as timbered points that protrude from coves, breaklines, gently sloping flats and comparable structures. He also noted that trolling Jake Baits and similar crankbaits can isolate potential hotspots and eliminate unproductive water quickly.