From north to south, Cotton State anglers planning fishing trips this year have a tremendous variety of opportunities available. With so many fresh and saltwater destinations across the state, it's possible to experience a new fishing adventure every month of the year.

Our wide range of species can challenge any angler eager to stalk a trophy or ready for fast action and full stringers.

To help make the most of your time on the water in 2010, here is a full year of places and species.

JANUARY
Blue Catfish Wheeler Lake
Winning catfish tournament angler and guide Mike Mitchell revealed that his favorite lake for "old whiskers" is Wheeler and winter as the best season. Last year, his biggest blue weighed 98 pounds, and the heaviest stringer weighed 650 pounds. He said 50-pounders are common in winter.

Mitchell caught both the big fish and stringer from a hump the size of a car near the main river channel. The top of the hump was only 10 feet deep, which was the depth where he hooked the big fish.

Instead of downsizing his bait for the cold water, Mitchell uses hand-size chunks of skipjack herring. He fishes the bait on an 8/0 circle hook.

To book a winter guide trip, call Mike Mitchell at (256) 673-2250 or visit www.tnriveroutfitters.net.

Other Hotspots: For fast action, fish the causeway crossing the Mobile Delta for largemouth bass. A north wind forces water from the shallow bays and concentrates the fish there.

Also in January, Lake Mitchell's crappie hold on points near schools of shad.

FEBRUARY
Largemouth Bass Lake Eufaula

The possibility of catching a 10-pound largemouth makes this the best month to fish Lake Eufaula. As big sows move from their winter haunts to spawning flats, they become aggressive feeders and vulnerable to reaction lures like crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits.

A few days into a warming trend, start by fishing the flats, and then search the creeks and ditches -- the migration routes -- leading out to deep water. Most likely, you'll find them 8 to 10 feet deep on top of the ledge holding next to old brushpiles and snags. Retrieve lures from shallow to deep. Bass usually strike near the dropoff.

Creeks that produce "hawgs" are Barbour, Bustahatchee, Cheneyhatchee, Cowikee and Tobannee.

To book a day of guided bass fishing on Eufaula, call David Cole at (334) 687-7229.

Other Hotspots: Spotted bass on Jones Bluff Lake are unbeatable as it's the only time of the year to catch 5- to 7-pound fish.

In the Mobile Delta, bream congregate in the deep holes of Mallard Fork and Bay Minette creeks.

MARCH
Striped Bass Lake Martin
In March, the best place to catch stripers weighing more than 30 pounds is in Lake Martin's creeks as the big fish move shallow. These trophy rockfish are the exception, as most big fish are 20-pounders.

Nearly all of Martin's creeks attract big fish in spring. Search tributaries by trolling live shad -- the larger the better -- 40 feet behind planer boards. The boards allow you to work the shallow water near the bank without spooking the fish. Use a speed sufficient to keep the board in position and monitor that speed with a GPS unit.

Anglers who use live bait on Martin usually collect shad below a Coosa River dam on their way to the lake.

To book a guide trip, call Jim Parramore at (205) 533-3664 or (205) 699-1886.

Other Hotspots: On Lake Guntersville, look for groups of big females migrating to their spawning areas in the backs of North and South Sauty creeks. Start by ripping a red Rat-L-Trap through weeds on the points leading to the spawning flats.

This month on the Gulf of Mexico, grouper season re-opens March 15.