Contact: Neff's Bait Shop, (217) 833-2178.

EAST FORK LAKE
Because of exceptional clarity, this 935-acre lake near Olney in southeastern Illinois can be a challenge to fish. Timing can be everything, and the best time to be on the water here is during periods of low light.

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."

DNR surveys indicate both size and numbers of walleyes present, with the larger fish weighing in the double digits. There are two dominant year-classes that are nearly the ideal size for the frying pan -- 14 to 18 inches -- with several other year-classes of adult fish in between "eater" and "trophy" dimensions.

East Fork is about as close as any Illinois lake comes to being called classic walleye water. The obvious place to start probing is close to steeply breaking main-lake points, especially windblown points after a couple of days of prevailing wind. One productive method is anchoring up a long cast offshore at night with a jumbo leech or half-crawler on a black 1/8- to 3/16-ounce jighead, or a Lindy Rig with a 3/8-ounce walking sinker and 40-inch leader and pitching it toward the steep banks and dragging it back toward deeper water. With daylight periods getting longer, it could be 10 p.m. before the fish get active. But when they do decide to bite, that telltale tap can come within a couple feet of shore.

Preparation for this night action begins hours earlier when city hall is open. This is a city lake, and Olney requires a decal before using the boat launches. Cost is based upon horsepower. For more information, call (618) 395-7302. For travel and lodging info, call (618) 392-2241.

EVERGREEN LAKE
Record-breaking saugeyes are the draw at this 1,000-acre county park lake just north of Bloomington -- at least for walleye chasers. Most anglers who visit here chase catfish, muskies or crappies. This has allowed several year-classes of walleye/sauger hybrids to continue growth with little hook-related education.

It will take you at least a couple of solid days on the water to get a handle on these fish because few folks have taken time to figure out patterns. In addition, the 10-horsepower limit in place slows your ability to move from spot to spot.

Saugeyes behave more like walleyes than saugers. Until serious summer arrives, you may want to target riprap near the spillways and structure located in a couple of places just offshore. Don't overlook stumps and downed wood around the mostly undeveloped shoreline.