No matter how and where you wet your hook, Georgia offers something for everyone. Some anglers may prefer fishing high-elevation streams for brook trout, Georgia's native trout species. Other anglers may pursue Georgia's favorite fish species, the largemouth bass, on sprawling man-made reservoirs. Yet others may prefer heading out to the deep-water drops and live bottom of Georgia's Atlantic coast.

The author caught this 5-pound largemouth at Rocky Mountain PFA. Those lakes are good bets in cold weather. Photo courtesy of Kevin Dallmier.

No matter what size or shape they come in, all Georgia fish are fun to catch. Let's take a look at some of the best Georgia has to offer anglers throughout the coming year.

January
Largemouth Bass: West Point Lake
Look for clear water in the lower half of the lake and creek mouths that are holding plenty of shad. Find this combination, drop a jigging spoon down to the fish, and you may be well on the way to having a great day of winter bass fishing. Expect to find the fish holding in more than 20 feet of water.

If the month is mild and a warm spell heats the water a few degrees, then switch to shallow-water tactics and fish around shallow wood or rock with a spinnerbait or crankbait.

Other Options: The hybrids should be schooling strong on Lake Allatoona. The Gaults Ferry area of the lake is a consistent producer. Find the bait to find the fish.

A good warm and sunny day can pull redfish into shallow marsh ponds on the Georgia coast.

February
Largemouth Bass: Lake Jackson
This lake has the reputation of giving up some big fish during the winter. A good strategy is to hit deep points early in the day with jigs and jigging spoons, especially if you can find some brush.

As the day warms, target shallow rocks and seawalls. The sun's rays warm these areas a few crucial degrees, and you may be lucky enough to find a big fish that has moved up for a meal of crawdads or shad drawn by the warmth and protection offered by the shallow cover.

Other Options: Carters Lake walleyes are on the move up for the spawning season. Target rocky points and shoals far up the lake where the Coosawattee River enters.

Smith Creek at Unicoi State Park in White County is a delayed-harvest stream for rainbow trout and offers good off-season catch-and-release fishing.

March
White Bass: Coosa River
March kicks off some of the most consistent fishing in northwest Georgia. Annually, white bass make their annual run up the Coosa River, and year after year, anglers are there to intercept them. Boat- and bank-anglers can join the action. Both boat ramps and good bank access are found at Mayo's Bar Lock and Dam, down stream of Rome. The action starts early in the month and by mid-month should be hot and heavy.

Good places to find fish are creek mouths, blown-down trees in current, and sandy banks. A general trend is to fish deeper in the morning, and then as the sun warms the water, the fish move shallower. Make sure your casts land just inches away from the bank.

A 1/4-ounce jig and plastic grub combo is a great all-around lure because of its versatility. Small medium-diving crankbaits or Rat-L-Traps are good too. Top colors include pearl, white and yellow. Live-bait anglers do well with minnows or small shad. Other Options: Spring has sprung on the Georgia coast, and great fishing is available for Savannah River striped bass. Target bridge and pier pilings, or other structure when the tide turns.

The last Saturday in March is the opening day of trout season, and a good family trip is to hit any of the state's heavily stocked streams in North Georgia.