Heat stress has killed more muskies than we know, Nutty said. They may swim away from the boat but not last long.

Nutty recommends casting to the main lake weedbeds with bucktails, topwaters and crankbaits. Troll the deeper flats with Jakes and Believers and the SS Shad along the shallow weed edges.

Kinkaid Lake covers 2,750 acres in the Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Jackson County and lies three miles northwest of Murphysboro. Four ramps provide access to the lake.

For more information, contact Region II at (847) 608-3100, Al Nutty at (618) 694-4897, the wildlife area at (618) 684-2867 or the Top of the Hill Bait Shop in Murphysboro at (618) 684-2923.

LAKE SHELBYVILLE
According to Serck, this lake and its tailwaters are probably the best-known muskie waters in Illinois. There are 11,000 acres of productive water and trophy-class fish are taken every year.

The tailwaters below the dam have as good or better fishing than in the lake, according to Serck. Though this is usually the case, fishing below the spillway was poor last summer. Biologists believe the stress of an extended spawn hurt angling in both the lake and river with an extensive fish kill below the spillway.

However, the story isn't over. Big muskies were caught last fall and the lake's potential is bringing the fishery back. In the fall of last year, several fish more than 40 inches were taken in tournaments. Every year, fish longer than 50 inches are taken.

Landmeier recommends trolling your way to success on Shelbyville. When the water is warm, try locating suspended fish in open water.

The next approach should be a topwater one on the points. Try coves and areas where the creeks and springs are located to find muskies taking advantage of cooler water temperatures. Shade is an important factor that's usually overlooked. Cast a bait so that it lands on the other side of the shaded area to avoid spooking the fish.

Lake Shelbyville lies in Moultrie and Shelby counties. There are more than 170 miles of shoreline and more than a dozen ramps on the lake.

A one-fish, 48-inch minimum length limit is in effect from the headwaters up to the U.S. Corps of Engineers project boundary and extends below the dam downstream to the State Route 128 bridge near Cowden.

Call Region II at (847) 608-3100, Duane Landmeier at (815) 286-7170, the Sullivan Marina at (888) 728-7338 or the Shelbyville Hotline at (217) 774-2020 for additional information.