The Jake Wolf Hatchery facility has enabled Illinois to develop into a muskie destination of national merit in an evolution that has scarcely been 30 years in the making. We've come a long way since muskie stocking was a process of carrying five-gallon buckets containing 9-inch fingerlings from a rearing pond at Lake Carlton up over a dike and dumping them into the lake -- and dumping other buckets into a horse tank in the back of a flatbed truck with a jury-rigged oxygen tank for rapid transport to other northern Illinois waters. I'll never forget the late fisheries biologist Mike Sule standing there wet beyond his waders and covered in mud while holding up one such fish and proclaiming, "Here is the future of Illinois fishing!" before placing the little muskie in a bucket. Retired DNR biologist Al Pulley took about six steps toward the waiting truck with this pail before he stumbled and fell, producing a gut-busting fit of laughter from all forgathered.

Gut-busting is still part of the Illinois muskie picture in 2006, but the character of laughter has changed, because you gotta get her back in the water after a quick photo. With catch-and-release in mind, here's a look at your shortest odds for a Kodak moment in the months ahead.

KINKAID LAKE
Creel survey data indicates this 2,750-acre lake near Murphysboro on the fringe of the Shawnee National Forest may be our state's premier muskie water.

Kinkaid is tied with the Fox Chain-O-Lakes in northeastern Illinois for the greatest number of muskies caught over 48 inches with 11 fish. This incredibly scenic lake has also produced more muskies since 1987, according to survey data, with 1,334 fish of all sizes. The Chain was second in this category with 1,064. These lakes were the only two waters with four-digit catches.

As noted earlier, fishing is better here and on other downstate waters like Shelbyville and Otter Lake earlier and again later in the year than on northern waters. However, Kinkaid differs from the other top six lakes in the state in that lures with white colors outfish black ones here. But the color and character of Kinkaid changes considerably between its upper reaches and the dam. Waters in the upper arms and bays of this lake are more discolored. Statistics indicate casting a bait with more color, as it will work better here. Statewide, 47 percent of all muskies were caught by casting lures with more than basic colors.

Of course, muskies could care less about statistics. But if you want to talk short odds, try speed-trolling big shallow ShadRaps in firetiger and metallic carp patterns on short lines in November and early April in the upper end of the lake close to the shoreline.

Another solid pattern is casting Jake lures and big tandem spinnerbaits in the bays and points down by the marina. On a good day, the 11-hour average it takes to hook up goes right out the window, especially up in the Johnson Creek arm or down by the spillway.