By Eileen Davis

Whether you are new to fishing or you're a seasoned pro, here is a year of great Cotton State fishing trips guaranteed to challenge, enlighten or thrill.

The best fishing lies on the upper stretches of these reservoirs near the dams, where the lakes are riverine and the current is strong. To catch spots under these conditions, anglers fish vertical banks, looking for large rocks, points or undercut banks that break the current and concentrate fish.

When fishing current breaks, retrieve crankbaits, 1/4- to 1/2-ounce jig-and-pigs, or 1/2-ounce spinnerbaits with the current.

For smallmouths, anglers find good action fishing the edge of Wilson Lake's deep river channels.

During February, bass concentrate in Briar, Dead, Dennis, McReyonlds and Mifflin lakes as well as Little Bayou Canot. If there's a cold north wind blowing, also fish Chocolata and Chukfee bays.

Flipping a jig-and-pig next to wood cover in extremely shallow water often gets your rod bent immediately. Small crankbaits and spinnerbaits also draw hard strikes. For current fishing information, call Mizells Fish Camp at (251) 626-5323.

February is an excellent month for catching large grouper from deep water off Orange Beach.

The Neely Henry crappie fishery is the result of nutrient-rich water supporting a dynamic shad population. Also, submerged timber, which is perfect crappie structure, stands on the edge of the lake's many creek channels. Look for schools of crappie feeding in Beaver, Shoal and Big Canoe creeks.

To find concentrations of fish, try trolling with several poles, each baited with crappie jigs tipped with minnows, rigged for 12 to 15 feet.

For information or guide service on Neely Henry, call Charles Slaton at (256) 442-2588.

Saltwater anglers find cobia arriving off the coast at Orange Beach this month, as well.

Sight-fish for cobia using live bait rigged on 30-pound-class baitcasting or spinning rods and reels. Croakers, eels, pinfish, sea catfish, shrimp or crabs retrieved in front of cruising fish can start a good fight.

To book a fishing trip or obtain more information, call Capt. Chip Day at (251) 981-1943.

Fishing for spawning shellcrackers on Gantt Lake is another way to fill your cooler in April.

Beginning two weeks before the first full moon in May, fish for pre-spawn and spawning bream in 3 to 7 feet of water. Look for beds in areas with an early growth of milfoil on small humps, points and sandbars. Anglers report good fishing in Short and Town creeks.

Instead of fishing crickets and wigglers on long poles, try casting a 1/32-ounce jig tipped with a cricket and fished under a weighted float about two feet off the bottom.

For current fishing information or bream guide service on Lake Guntersville, call Charles Slaton at (256) 442-2588.

On the coast, you can catch plenty of big red snapper from Alabama's many artificial reefs.

To locate monster-sized fish, start fishing in the late evening and use your depthfinder to search deep water for a large school of shad with big stripers lurking below. Once located, lower a live gizzard shad down to the waiting fish. You can also find stripers feeding near dock lights close to deep water.

For guide service on Smith Lake, call Dale Welch at (256) 737-0541.

Speckled trout anglers shouldn't miss the great night fishing on the Intracoastal Waterway at Gulf Shores.