Both lakes show great promise as saugeye fisheries. According to a 2007 IDNR white paper, 96 percent of the saugeyes sampled on 525-acre Forbes Lake were at or beyond the state 14-inch minimum size and several 23-inch saugeyes sampled.

Dawson Lake management efforts switched focus from walleyes to saugeyes in 2003. During the 2006 survey, IDNR personnel cranked up an impressive 61 walleyes and saugeyes per hour using electro-shocking gear.

Saugeyes are clearly the wave of the future on many of Illinois’ smaller lakes. They are truly beautiful fish, with the walleye’s trademark white spot on the tail and a sauger’s desert camo pattern color scheme tinged with green and gold along the flanks.

The IDNR tells us the walleye clan is the most sought-after game fish in Illinois waters, due in part to Stizostedium’s well-deserved reputation as table fare. Walleyes, sauger and saugeye hybrids also share a reputation for being fairly tough to catch.

These fish don’t grow to tremendous size or deserve a prize for fighting ability, but there is something undeniably special about the walleye. She is a fish of dreams and the only way to realize these dreams is to keep your line in the water. Somebody has to catch the next state record and it might as well be you. The cover of Illinois Game & Fish is waiting for you.