At 77 acres in size, little Carlton is not much more than a pond, but because of its size, it supports the highest density of muskies of any lake in Illinois. Muskies here range in size from small 30-inchers up to 45-inch behemoths. Carlton produced a 50-incher recently, and has a number of near-50-inch fish prowling its waters, according to the DNR. Breaklines from deep to shallow around the contour of the lake a good place to look for fish, as are weedlines, points and the deep riprapped face of the spillway.

As for presentation, bucktails, big spinnerbaits, glide baits and shad-imitating crankbaits will all find fish at Carlton.

Morrison Rockwood State Park has excellent launching, picnicking and camping facilities, and an on-premise concession and bait shop. For more information, call the park office at (815) 772-4708. Traveling anglers should call the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce at (815) 625-4500.

LAKE SHELBYVILLE
Over the past decade, 11,000-acre Lake Shelbyville has transformed into quite possibly the state's premier destination. Region 3 fish biologist Mike Mounce said there are some big fish in Shelbyville.

"Every year we're seeing more 50-inchers coming out of the lake," said Mounce. "Recently there was a 53-inch monster caught. And the overall population of muskies at Shelbyville is as good I could have ever dreamed."

Even more indicative of the high density of fish are the scores of anglers who turned into muskie enthusiasts.

"I know of a lot of bass anglers who have been converted to muskie fishermen because of the fantastic muskie fishing available here," Mounce commented.

Shelbyville has also gained the attention of professional organizations such as the Professional Muskie Tournament Trail that has broken affiliation records for the most fish caught in a tournament and the most anglers catching fish in a single tournament.

Much of the muskie population is between 32 and 40 inches, and the potential to land a lunker is very high. Most serious muskie hunters target points and breaking contours in search of larger specimens, but flooded timber, islands, weedlines and submerged structure such as creek channels, humps and saddles are good focus points.

Boat launches are available throughout the lake. Some private launches require a fee, but the ramps at both Wolf Creek and Eagle Creek state parks are for public use. For more information, contact Eagle Creek State Park at (217) 756-8260 or Wolf Creek State Park at (217) 459-2831. The Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (217) 774-2221.

KASKASKIA RIVER
Finding a lake with a substantial muskie population is, of course, the first step to catching a toothy critter, but finding an area where a substantial population of fish is constricted into a small area, well that's another thing.

This is just what you'll find at the base of the Shelbyville Dam in the Kaskaskia River. According to stream biologist Trent Thomas, Lake Shelbyville muskies that escape over the spillway have now made a home at the base of the spillway, and they tend to be tightly packed.

"Some guys fishing below the dam report days where they'll catch 30 fish or more," said Thomas. "And some of these fish are big, too."

The current Illinois state record of 38 pounds, 8 ounces came from the waters just below the spillway in 2002, but Thomas said anglers report finding large fish as far downstream as 20 or more miles.