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Feature Travel Tips From In-Fishermam Staff and Friends
1. Apache Lake, Arizona--A strong population of walleyes weighing around 5 pounds, plus fish to 10 pounds (Apache Lake Marina, 520/467-2511; Guide Eric Anderson, 602/375-9928).
2. Conchas Reservoir, New Mexico--A good population up to 3 pounds (Conchas North Dock Marina, 505/868-2251; High Plains Guide Service, 505/461-2809).
3. Devils Lake, North Dakota--A late-season ice option with jumbo perch, too (Ed's Bait Shop, 701/662-4903).
4. Lake Meredith, Texas--The best fishing in decades (Guide Mell Stovall, 806/857-3295; Guide Hank McWilliams Jr., 806/857-2796).
5. Illinois River, Illinois--The portion of the river 1 1/2 hours southwest of Chicago (near Spring Valley) provides good sauger fishing, plus the occasional nice walleye (Big Knobs' Bait, 815/667-4074).
6. Saginaw Bay, Michigan--On the inner portion of the bay look for good ice-fishing until about the end of February (Frank's Bait and Tackle, Linwood, 517/697-5341; Outdoorsman's Edge, Bay City, 517/892-8190).
7. Sacandaga Reservoir, New York--The drop-off near McMurry Bay gets hot as spring approaches (Ross' Bait, 518/842-3819; Wiggly Worm Bait Supply, 518/399-4524).
8. Western Basin of Lake Erie, Ohio--Big fish as long as the ice lasts (Guide Pat Chrysler, 419/285-4631).
9. Pickwick Lake Tailwaters, Tennessee--Through March, some of the hottest sauger fishing in the South (Soc Clay, 606/932-4126).
10. Ohio River, Ohio-Kentucky--Sauger stack below numerous power dams along the Ohio-Kentucky border within 100 miles either direction from Cincinnati, Ohio (Rick Markesbery, Hebron, Kentucky, 606/342-5553).
11. Bay of Quinte, Ontario--Through February, still perhaps the best spot in North America for fish above 10 pounds (No Chills Ice Fishing, Belleville, 800/463-4746; Dave Chatterton, Fish Finder Charters, 613/392-7472; Moon's Bait, 613/396-2208).
12. Last Mountain Lake, Saskatch- ewan--Ice-fishing for lots of fish into the 5- and 6-pound range (Pokey's Tackle, 306/659-1910).
13. Dauphin Lake, Manitoba--Last-ice is prime time (Bob Kirkpatrick, 306/587-2603; Larry Bosiak, 204/638-9293).
Dave Csanda
