APRIL
Lake Freeman: White Bass
According to District 1 DNR personnel at Kankakee, April is one of the best months of the year to sample 1,547-acre Lake Freeman's excellent white bass fishing.

Located in northwest Indiana, just south of Monticello, Freeman offers anglers several productive spots in the lake to fish. Perhaps the best is at the base of the Norway Dam, located right in Monticello. This area can be fished from either a boat or from shore. The public access area near the boat ramp on the west side of the water offers both. The area is known for both high numbers of fish and huge sizes.

On up the lake is Oakdale Dam, also known as a top producer. Shore- fishing opportunities are limited in this area, however. There is a pay-to-launch ramp for those anglers with a boat.

Most of the white bass harvested from Freeman will be around 12 inches in length, but fish up to 16 inches are present, too.

MAY
Worster Lake: Bluegills
Spring bluegill fishing doesn't get much better than at 327-acre Worster Lake. Located in the northern part of the state, about 12 miles southwest of South Bend in Potato Creek State Park, its isolated beauty would make it a favorite stop even without the 'gills.

According to District 1 fisheries biologist Bob Robertson, bluegills are "everywhere" in the lake. He recommends fishing the numerous points that dot the shoreline of the lake, especially those that are suitable for nesting.

The lake's marina offers boat rentals if you need one, but there are plenty of shore-fishing opportunities as well. In fact, walking the shoreline with a cane pole is one of the best ways to fish Worster.

JUNE
Monroe Lake: Largemouth Bass
John Knepp knows as much about 10,750-acre Monroe as anyone in the state. He fishes it competitively and has caught his fair share of largemouths from its waters.

His advice for successfully fishing this impoundment is "think wood." It doesn't matter if it is stumps, laydowns, standing timber or flooded brush, just so long as it is wood.

Knepp typically begins his June largemouth fishing in the Pine Grove area, way up in the idle zone. He works the channel anywhere he can find a few stumps or maybe a treetop. "If you see a point with some wood on it, fish it to death," is his advice.

His strong second choice of spots is the points and submerged tree lines in Saddle Creek.

JULY
Lake Michigan: Coho Salmon
According to fisheries biologist Brian Breidert, the best Lake Michigan coho fishing takes place west, toward Illinois, and north, toward the Wisconsin-Illinois state line. In July, coho salmon will typically be found in the deeper waters and they will be in tight schools.

It may take you some time to find them, but when you do, expect the action to be fast and furious.

The Michigan City pier, with its adjoining ramp, offers access to Lake Michigan. When fishing in this area, make sure you know where you are in relation to the other state lines. There's no reciprocal licensing agreement between Indiana and the surrounding states.

Cohos weighing 5 pounds or more are relatively common after the spring feeding frenzy when they begin moving offshore toward deeper, cooler waters.

AUGUST
Wabash River: Flatheads
According to fisheries biologist Tom Stefanavage, the flathead catfish population in the Wabash River is good and getting better.

Research data from 1999 indicates that flatheads are the fifth most abundant fish in the river. That's good news for those wanting to target this species. At that time, high numbers of flatheads were sampled along the stretch between Terre Haute and the Ohio River. That's your best bet for catching a big one.

Like most rivers, the Wabash produces the best catfishing when its waters are up a bit and it has a lot of color. Successful anglers fish near deep holes, cuts, drops and current breaks. Areas along the inside or outside bends in the river channel offer the best opportunity for a real trophy.