Recent surveys indicate 318-acre Shabbona Lake in Dekalb County holds a few walleyes that could put you in the record books. This north-central Illinois lake is definitely one of our best.

Look at the cover one more time. That’s not you holding a walleye. It’s the month of May. Those big female walleyes have already lost a third of their weight dumping eggs in the spawn last month. Your next shot at stardom comes in late fall or early winter when walleyes are heaviest.

The Big Gal will probably hit at night. She didn’t get that big being stupid. She straps on the feedbag when the sun goes down. Unfortunately, Shabbona Lake State Park that surrounds the lake is essentially closed under a winter moon.

What about a state-record sauger? The Illinois River is definitely the place to go, but you’ll have to wait until next fall to boat a heavyweight with the shortest odds probably centering around Senachwine Lake.

Saugeyes? OK. We don’t have to make a complete return to reality just yet. Although the best chance for breaking the walleye/sauger hybrid record in a big way comes late this fall or next spring when fish are heaviest. Many saugeyes heavier than 9 pounds, 11 ounces are swimming in Evergreen Lake right now.

The state record is just a small minnow shy of that mark, which this 1,000-acre county park lake north of Bloomington surrendered back in 2001. DNR fisheries supervisor Steve Pallo has Stizostedium fever as bad as you.

“I’ve held saugeyes over 10 pounds in my hands on Evergreen Lake,” Pallo howled. “In my hands! There is no doubt that Evergreen has the greatest potential for producing a walleye-family state record of any lake in Illinois in 2008.”

The IDNR began annually stocking this hybrid of a female walleye and male sauger in 1992, and according to IDNR status reports, anglers really started catching saugeyes in Evergreen in 1998.

With Mother’s Day approaching, southern Illinois is already on the verge of serious summer. Even accidental walleyes will be rare until fish begin turning up on muskie anglers’ jerkbaits this fall.

Check the kicker motor on your big deep-V walleye boat before you pack a clean shirt and digital camera on a record quest. There’s a 10-horsepower outboard limit on Evergreen Lake. And you’ll need to purchase a lake use sticker from the county that is available at the two boat ramps on the lake at the park visitor’s center or by calling (309) 726-2022.

The 10-horsepower limit is also enforced on Shabbona Lake that continues to be a top walleye producer. Shabbona has greater fish carrying capacity than other 300-acre lakes because of considerable structure left behind when the lake filled in 1974 and introduction of countless rockpiles and fish cribs since.

A detailed map of this structure is available and is a good investment, but many anglers find consistent success by working visible habitat like flooded timber, outside weed edges and riprapped areas along the dam.

The considerable structure does a wonderful job of sheltering the lake’s diverse forage base. With so much food in the water, there is little need for Shabbona’s walleyes to chase down your crankbait.

Use the map and your electronics to key on structure. Anchor and soak a jumbo leech under a slip-bobber. Leave the cooler full of Red Bull and those headbanger, heavy metal CDs at home. The only time you want to move quickly for these fish is when it’s time to dive for the landing net.