Monona probably holds the largest muskies on the chain, with weeds again an important part of the matrix when warmer weather arrives. Weed edges in Monona Bay and the long weedbed out from the Yahara River entry point are popular. Right now, water temperature is a driving force in fish location. Two years ago, we had an exceptionally cold spring. Literally dozens of adult muskies were cruising near the warmwater discharge off John Nolan Drive.

At almost 10,000 acres, Lake Mendota has it all -- weeds, springs, humps, transition zones, forage base and good numbers of eager muskies. Warmer water temperature and developing weed edges are attractive to many fish now, with drops off main-lake points like Governor's Island holding several species of game fish, especially at transition zones in weed species and bottom composition from smaller to larger rocks.

Dunn's Bar off the tip of Governor's Island always holds a couple of good fish. Big toothers also locate off the hump off Second Point, the shoreline out from Picnic Point and popular "community" spots like Commodore Bar. Because there is so much structure, orienting your boat for the optimum angle with a casting presentation can make a world of difference.

Kegonsa and Waubesa on the south end of the chain warm quicker and are more fertile than Mendota and Monona. Tiny Lake Wingra has plenty of muskies and probably sees more fishing pressure per surface acre for Esox than the other lakes combined.

The Madison Chain is also known as the Yahara Chain because the Yahara River flows between these waters. On an acre-per-acre basis, more fish probably swim in this river than in the lakes proper when water temperatures are below 62 degrees. Please make a note of it.

Contact: Madison Chamber of Commerce, (608) 256-8756.

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Crappies will be moving into the shallows to spawn across southern Wisconsin about mid-May, with bluegills scraping out shallow moon-crater nests in the weeds about Memorial Day. Between now and June, the best muskie locator is a pair of polarized sunglasses to spot panfish spawning nests -- or boats with successful panfishers. If you're a muskie angler, keep a respectful distance away from other anglers. If you're a panfish angler, keep a muskie rod rigged with a big lizard or plastic tube, because when opportunity meets preparedness, the muskie is a fish of just 10 casts, not 10,000.