The Hoosier State is blessed with year-round fishing opportunities for trout, walleyes, suckers, bass, catfish, cohos, northern pike and panfish. Wherever you live, there's a great fishing hole nearby, or if you want to travel, you can take your pick of hotspots on our 21,000 miles of rivers and streams or on any of our nearly 1,000 lakes and impoundments.

But not all fishing holes are alike. Many lakes and rivers are historically exceptional fisheries for one or two species and others change from year to year. Knowing where to go is the first step to take in finding an outstanding fishing trip.

Fisheries biologists with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have spent countless hours compiling fish population surveys, angler interviews and in habitat improvement and revitalization, all with anglers in mind. Stockings of some species have resulted in self-sustaining populations of fish, while others are stocked more on a put-and-take level.

Whether you're looking for Lake Michigan browns or Lake of the Woods walleyes, here's a look at some of our state's best lakes and rivers for this year.

JANUARY
Lake Michigan
Brown Trout
One of our best winter angling destinations begins near the warmwater discharges along Indiana's 45 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline from Duneland Beach to just beyond Whiting. Brown trout from 16 to 28 inches concentrate in these areas of warmer water and are willing biters right now.

The Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has stocked thousands of browns here and anglers can expect fish up into the 20-inch-plus range. A 20-pounder was taken a few years ago, and there are probably more of this size or better in the lake's cold depths.

Hotspots for browns include the state line energy warmwater discharge on the Illinois/Indiana line and the Amoco discharge near Hammond. The Michigan City pier is a good bet if there isn't any ice.

FEBRUARY
Kankakee River
Walleyes
Anglers will find plenty of good-sized fish in the stretch of the river bordered by the Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area. Studies conducted by the DNR have indicated high densities of walleyes in the river with fish in the 18-inch range thrown in as a bonus.

The Illinois and Indiana DNRs have jointly stocked walleye fingerlings and the results are beginning to show.

Walleyes will hold in slack water or behind pilings, woody cover or rocks just out of the fast current. As baitfish move by, they'll dart out into the current for an easy meal. Marble-eyes may be a little sluggish in the cold water, but they will continue eating right on through the winter months.

The Kankakee is a beautiful river with gravel and rock flats and relatively clear water. The river winds down through Lake, Newton, LaPorte and Starke counties in northwest Indiana.

MARCH
Big Blue River
White Suckers
Suckers on the Blue River are in deeper holes that are located along the entire length of river. Just about every hole, cut or river bend dip of any size can be stacked with suckers lying close to the bottom. It doesn't take much of a hole to hold numerous suckers.