The future of Illinois walleye fishing -- and perhaps the next state record -- could be in your hands. The following is a look at some of the top walleye lakes in the Land of Lincoln.

KINKAID LAKE
Getting back to Kinkaid, precious little tactical information exists on chasing walleyes here. Do you want to be the tip of the walleye spear, or just another boat in the pack? Every time I head down to Kinkaid on a walleye fishin' mission, the allure of the legendary muskies tends to take my Lund on another tangent.

"We see essentially zero walleye fishing pressure on Kinkaid Lake," said DNR fisheries biologist Shawn Hirst. "A couple of whoppers get caught every year by bass or muskie anglers, but after a 'gee-whiz' moment, the anglers go back to chasing bass or muskies."

DNR survey data indicates concentrations of walleyes in the deep, clear water near the dam and near tributaries at the north end of Kinkaid. But before breaking out the jig box or planer boards and heading for either location, you should know the DNR surveys are conducted in the early spring. Since walleyes aren't tied up, they could be anywhere right now. But know this: Wanda didn't jump in a VW microbus with rainbow decals and move to Makanda to sell candles. She and her kin are still swimming in the lake.

Fishing HotSpots puts out a good topographic map of Kinkaid Lake. All you need to hook up here is a map, graph, walleye fishing passion and time on the water.

Contact: Top of the Hill Bait Shop, (618) 684-2923.

PITTSFIELD CITY LAKE
One drawback about an exploratory adventure on 2,335-acre Kinkaid is the daunting amount of water that big walleyes can hide in. Pittsfield City Lake -- also called Lake Pittsfield on some maps -- is almost 10 times smaller at just 241 acres, with DNR survey data indicating an incredible population of walleyes bigger than 25 inches swimming in this Pike County fishery.

If you purchased one of those gravel skirts to minimize rock-chip scars on your boat, leave them on if you're headed for Pittsfield. Check the 10-horsepower "kicker" motor before leaving home, too, because this is the maximum outboard horsepower permitted after your trek down a long gravel road to get to the lake. Things begin to look up after you put the boat in at one of the two adequate launches off County 3275E on the east side of the lake or County 1700N on the north side.

Pittsfield isn't tough to figure out. There are photos at Neff's Bait Shop in Griggsville of walleyes over 12 pounds that came from Pittsfield -- tucked amongst other Kodaks of whopping big bass, catfish and hybrid stripers coming from this same fishery. Ten-pound walleyes are caught here every year, and 5-pounders don't even get the recognition of being called a "nice fish."

Have you ever heard the old saying, "You can't get to there from here"? Word on the street is this phrase was in reference to reaching Pittsfield City Lake. And bring your tent, because there are basic camping amenities on site, and you may not want to leave.