Beauty in eye of the beholder when it comes to bassin'

Bass fishing locations can be both objective and subjective. Now, with that qualifier stated, I will answer an inquiry from Kenneth, who resides in Elgin.

On the local-area chart I would place Geneva and Delevan Lakes as very good largemouth and smallmouth hot spots. I also give the nod to the upper Fox River for smallie action.

Bangs Lake in Wauconda (if you are able to tolerate the generally rude and obnoxious jet ski crowd), rapidly is regaining its stature as one of the "top dogs."

Visitors to Southern Illinois will swear up and down the largemouth angling there is tremendous on Lake of Egypt and Crab Orchard, with Rend Lake gathering steam every year. Lake Kincaid near Carbondale is my favorite for big bass, especially during an early-morning bite.

Of course, Wisconsin and Minnesota can lay claim to some superior smallmouth bass fishing on lakes such as Mille Lacs north of the Twin Cities, and the Menomonee River in northeast Wisconsin. One cannot overlook Little Sturgeon Bay and neighboring water holes, all connected, mind you, for jumbo smallmouth.

But I admit to being spoiled with my adventures on Texas and Florida lakes.

I've been fortunate to have tangled with monsters over 7 pounds on Lake Fork and Toledo Bend in Texas, as well as Lake Okeechobee in south Florida.

But I strongly believe that if any of you were to take a fishing vacation all the way to the West Coast, you might be convinced to move there and continue your quest on some of the deeper reservoirs that constantly make the news.

Lakes such as Castaic, Casitas, El Cajon and a handful of other high-bluffed bodies of water in California have been growing Florida-strain largemouth like there's no tomorrow.

I have yet to fish those lakes, but I've looked at them several times from the entry roads, and every time I gaze out onto the waters I start to drool.

I spent a lot of time in Southern California the past two years tending to my elderly uncle's needs, and when I took some off I talked to the locals who were more than willing to share whatever information they picked up about finding the bigger fish.

Every one of those anglers showed me their tackle boxes. They all looked like muskie boxes, stuffed with lures ranging from 8-18 inches long.

Many of those reservoirs are carefully stocked with rainbow trout for those fishermen who want a different kind of action.

But it's a fact that the bass in those lakes go on massive feeding sprees, gobbling the trout like bags of candy.

Some writers believe the next world-record largemouth will come from one of those lakes. In fact, one questionable would-be record bass was brought in, but officials discovered it was snagged by an angler - so that dream subsequently went by the boards.

On a more down-to-earth level, I admit I would rather catch a bunch of bass in the 2- to 4-pound range on lakes like Geneva and Bangs and come off the lake a happy camper.

I also enjoy spending lots of time wading the Fox River for smallmouth and get excited when a 2-pounder grabs my lure.

It's all about priorities, I guess.

I realize some of you may never make it out to the West Coast unless you have a budget that allows a trip like that and all the time in the world to explore these honey holes.

But if you manage to squeeze in a trip to Southern California, include a couple of days of bassing on those magnificent bodies of water.