MAY
Bluegills: Pickwick Lake
May is an outstanding month for catching 20 to 30 bluegills in a couple of hours of fishing on Pickwick Lake, and it's not unusual to catch 50 to 100 in a day. Typically, the bluegills weigh 1/2 to 3/4 pound.

Bluegill action peaks in May because of the conjunction of the spawn and the mayfly hatch. These events double the angling fun. For bedding locations, fish the gravel bars around the rock rows in the town of Sheffield and on Sevenmile Island. Fishing is also good in Cypress and Spring creeks and at Jackson Island, which is immediately below Wilson Dam.

To target the mayfly hatch, use a fly rod with a mayfly nymph or Elk Hair Caddis on or just below the surface.

For current fishing information, check with Gray's Tackle Shop in Sheffield. Their telephone number is (256) 383-2716.

Other Hotspots
For fast topwater action on Jordan Lake, bump your buzzbait into woody cover in the shallow flats on the lower lake. The largemouths will reward you with explosive strikes when the right location is found.

This is also an excellent month for catching monster flathead catfish on limblines on the Alabama River.

JUNE
Striped Bass: Lewis Smith Lake
There's no better place for catching huge striped bass in June than Smith Lake. An average fish weighs 16 to 18 pounds, with good numbers of stripes weighing in the mid-20s. A few years ago, Nick Bailey set a new lake record with a giant 46-pounder.

In June, the fish move down the lake to take advantage of the cooler water available at greater depths. This migration, which was revealed to biologists through radio telemetry, also causes anglers to switch to a night-fishing pattern.

For fast action, start fishing a few hours after sunset and slowly troll live shad near pier lights at depths of 20 to 30 feet. The light attracts insects, which in turn attract baitfish.

Current fishing information is available by calling Bob Alexander at Smith Lake Trade Center and Tackle Box at (256) 734-7484.

Other Hotspots
Floating the Conecuh River above Gantt Lake often produces more than 100 largemouth strikes on light tackle. Use a light johnboat or canoe on this section of the river.

Night-fishing is also excellent for speckled trout on the Intracoastal Waterway in south Baldwin County.

JULY
Channel Catfish: Lake Martin
For a half-day of summer fishing on Lake Martin, it's common to catch 30 to 40 catfish weighing between 1 1/2 and 3 pounds, with four or five big fish weighing up to 8 pounds. Martin's clean water produces some of the state's best-tasting catfish.

Instead of anchoring, anglers have found that drift-fishing produces more and bigger cats. The technique is simple but effective. Anglers slowly drift red wigglers inches off the bottom, using their trolling motors to control depth, speed and direction. Plan your drift to begin over a flat in the coves of Wind Creek or New Hope in water 15 to 20 feet deep.

For current fishing information, call or visit Lake Martin Bait & Tackle on U.S. Highway 280. The telephone number is (256) 329-9107.

Other Hotspots
Also this month, smoker king mackerel cruise the larger offshore reefs out of Orange Beach, looking to attack baits trolled slowly on the surface or as deep as 20 feet. Live menhaden and ribbonfish are sure-bet offerings for kings weighing up to 30 pounds.

Summer finds bass busting topwater baits on the Warrior River early in the morning.

AUGUST
Blue Catfish: Gainesville Lake
During August, if very little rain falls on the Tombigbee watershed, you find excellent fishing for good numbers of blue catfish on Gainesville Lake in water less than 8 feet deep. This is especially effective at night as the big fish swim near shore, looking for an easy meal.

Your best opportunity for fast action lies on the lower section of the lake, where it's possible to catch cats weighing 30 to 60 pounds. The truly big boys, though, make their home in the tailwaters of the Tom Bevill Lock and Dam. Anglers have removed many blues from this area weighing nearly 100 pounds.

The best fishing occurs where the river channel hugs the shoreline. For current fishing information, call Hubert Ferguson at the H&B One Stop in Pickensville at (205) 373-6696.

Other Hotspots
Alabama's artificial reefs provide outstanding habitat for red snapper during the summer. GPS coordinates for these hotspots are available from the state's Marine Resource Division on Dauphine Island.

This is also a prime month for catching flathead catfish from the deep holes on the Conecuh River below the Point "A" Dam.