There are good boat launches on the east side after it branches off of County 3275E and on the north end of the lake off of County 1700N.

A 10-horsepower limit is in place and vigorously enforced. Statewide walleye bag limits apply. Walleye fishing pressure here is almost non-existent! Why? Three reasons. There's the 10-horsepower limit in place. Plus it's a remote location, just down the gravel road past the really rural part of the Boonies. But most notably, most who venture here chase largemouth bass that can be in excess of 10 pounds, hybrid stripers or channel catfish.

There are basic camping facilities and pit toilets in place on this project. The boat launches are gravel and somewhat shallow, but accessible. If gravel is the closest you've ever been to off-roading in that fancy new SUV, rent a DVD of "Deliverance" for the built-in player and head on down to the wilds of Pike County's Pittsfield Lake. You could catch a trophy walleye that will make you squeal when you get the pig in the net.

Contact: Neff's Bait & Tackle, Griggsville, (217) 833-2178.

OTHER WORTHY WATERS
Although private lake developments offer the best potential for catching walleyes in Illinois, biologists regularly stock these fish on a put-and-take basis in a number of public waters across our state as a "bonus" species, with state harvest guidelines typically in place. Most of these lakes are smaller than 250 acres and are focal points in state parks or other recreational areas.

Pierce and Olson lakes in the Rock Cut State Park complex on the north side of Rockford both hold catchable populations of eater-sized walleyes, with a few larger fish available. There is a "no wake" rule for boats hanging more than a 10-horsepower motor, but larger boats have not proven to be a problem, according to park officials, thus illustrating the lunacy of this kind of restriction on other state- and county-managed lakes.

Lake Carlton in Morrison-Rockwood State Park in Whiteside County still has the 10-horsepower restriction in place, too. It could be argued that an electric trolling motor is sufficient propulsion to navigate these 77 acres with a solid saugeye population. But the "no wake" management plan could be argued for as well.

Forbes Lake, northeast of Salem in Marion County, has walleyes but very little species-specific fishing pressure, according to the DNR.

The same scenario exists on Dawson Lake, located in Moraine View State Park southeast of Bloomington.

There are a lot of hooks in the water every year on Tampier Lake in southwest Cook County near Orland Park, with DNR surveys indicating a large part of the lake's biomass in excess of 16 inches. However, walleye catches are only incidental to fishing for other species.

Lake-born walleyes are an untapped resource across much of Illinois. Why? A look at recreational boat sales may provide a clue.

John Millard, vice president of Princecraft Boats, summarizes a recent National Marine Manufacturer's Association survey with the observation, "Illinois is right on the cusp with a clear but invisible line running somewhere just south of Rockford. North of this line, most fishing boat sales are deep-Vs preferred by walleye anglers. To the south, most boats sold are of the bass-boat variety." Of course, most fishing boats have trailers under them when it's time to go fishin'. And a walleye doesn't really care what kind of boat you are fishing from. So no matter what type of boat you own, there's no reason for you not to get out there and enjoy the great walleye fishing in Illinois.