Anglers in the Hoosier State seem to have more choices than ever on where to fish these days. We are blessed with a multitude of huge reservoirs, tiny farm ponds, deep natural lakes and mighty rivers where the fish populations are as diverse as the habitat. Some of those fish populations are world class, too!

Indiana is home to excellent populations of walleyes, bass, catfish, crappies, bluegills, pike, salmon, trout, muskies and more. Whether you are interested in catching a trophy-sized fish-of-a-lifetime or just a stringer full of chunky panfish for the table, many of the lakes in our state will fill the bill nicely.

With this in mind, Indiana Game & Fish magazine has put together a list of outstanding places to fish for some of our state's most popular fish species throughout the year. You can use the list below to plan a fishing trip for one of your favorite species, or you can use it to discover a new lake -- right when the fishing is best there.

JANUARY
J.C. Murphey Lake
Bluegills
First ice often brings the best icefishing of the season for many waters, and that is certainly true at J.C. Murphey Lake in Newton County. Better known as Willow Slough, this shallow impoundment covers 1,200 acres near the town of Morocco; the lake is part of the Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA).

Ever since this lake was renovated in 2004 to remove carp and other rough fish, the angling has been outstanding. In 2004 and again in 2005, biologists for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stocked large numbers of bluegills, redear sunfish, black crappies, largemouth bass and northern pike here. In 2005 alone, more than 439,000 bluegills were stocked, along with 123,226 redear sunfish. The new populations of bluegills and redears have really prospered, too.

According to Chip Long, the District 1 assistant fisheries biologist for the DNR, the fishing at the Slough should be excellent this winter. "A 2008 fisheries survey revealed that the bluegill and redear populations are flourishing, with bluegills up to 8.6 inches and redears up to 10.8 inches present in the lake," he said.

Those are impressive numbers, and since the DNR survey was performed earlier in 2008, don't be surprised if both types of sunfish are even a bit bigger by now. Keep in mind the fact that J.C. Murphey Lake has special regulations for panfish that were started in 2006. Anglers may only keep a total of 25 panfish per day (a total of 25 redears, bluegills or crappies in any combination).

FEBRUARY
Kankakee River
Walleyes
The Kankakee River in northwest Indiana boasts excellent fishing for a number of different species throughout the year. When the ice first covers the sloughs and backwater areas, bluegill and crappie fishermen often have a field day. By February, however, die-hard walleye anglers really begin to hit the river in earnest!

Biologist Chip Long also covers the Kankakee, and he reports that the river's walleye population has been boosted in recent years by the DNR's walleye stocking program. "Approximately 20,000 fingerling walleyes are stocked in Indiana's portion of the Kankakee River each year," he said. "Stocking has made a substantial contribution to our walleye fishery."

When targeting river walleyes in February, Long suggests fishing in areas where water is entering the river. Feeder creeks and other areas where running water hits the river can be hotspots, but be sure to keep your presentations slow. The traditional jig-and-minnow or curly-tailed grub will take plenty of fish at this time of year.

Indiana's state-record walleye came from the Kankakee River back in 1974, and weighed in at 14 pounds, 4 ounces (tied with another fish from the Tippecanoe River). Could there be another monster walleye swimming around out there in the Kankakee? You never know -- but trophy-sized walleyes are caught from the river nearly every year.