Edward Burger.

Sometimes it gets a little tough to work in 36 fishing trips a year. But we’ve picked out at least three quality choices for you each month in our annual look at Kentucky’s hottest angling opportunities for 2008. Hopefully, you can take advantage of all 36.

But if not, whenever you do manage to go, you can consult these recommendations for some of the best fishing in the Commonwealth, at any time of the year.

The following choices are based on current information from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) about the health of various fisheries, as well as historically good fishing for certain species at certain times, and angler-reported success.

We’ll highlight opportunities for good fishing on streams, rivers and reservoirs throughout the year, and tip you off to several types of fishing that you personally like.

And who knows? Once you learn about some of the best times of the year to give it a shot, maybe you’ll see a couple of new places somewhere you’ve never been and species you want to try.

JANUARY
Muskies
Cave Run Lake
Cave Run Lake is known for two important facts pertaining to muskie fishing. One, the catch rate per hour is one of the best in the nation.

And two, the quality of the fish caught is exceptional.

In cold-water situations, muskies will remain active around submerged cover in timber-lined coves.

Also, they often concentrate along main lake channels or the ledges of creek channels. They follow the pattern of baitfish -- which for a muskie can be shad, sunfish or just about anything else that the muskie decides.

Baitfish suspend along dropoffs in fairly deep water.

And if there’s something to hide around, like a crappie bed put there by anglers or natural occurring woody cover, that’s where muskies will hang as well.

Use your electronics to locate changes in lake-bottom contours and to fish along channel edges.

Use heavy rods and line with a braided or steel leader.

Fish slowly. Even though muskie are a coldwater species, they won’t go after a lure zipping past them when with a lot less effort, they can catch a cold bluegill hovering around a brushpile.

Having a big dip net is a pretty good idea, too.

FEBRUARY
Smallmouths
Green River Lake
Those overcast, slightly warmer days of late February start beckoning the chunky smallmouths at Green River Lake to come closer to the bank and find something to eat.

Sloping banks, warmed by the sun for a few days in a row, are like magnets to smallmouths, which for a long, long period have stayed out in the deep water along the main river channel.

Good spots to work are gravel banks that lead down to a deeper, more pronounced drops. Points tend to attract baitfish when water temperatures finally start to climb into the high 40s or low 50s.

Smallmouths will track right in behind their prey on a gradual warm-up trend.

Smallmouths use cover, but aren’t as timid about getting away from it as largemouths seem to be.

Long stretches of open rocky banks and sometimes, even barren-looking points will hold smallies. And in late winter, the species can tend to school on spots with baitfish. The general rule of thumb is to downsize from summer lure sizes.

And especially if the water is super-clear, try to avoid getting right on the shoreline, to avoid spooking fish with your boat or big splashes from your cast.

MARCH
Largemouths
Kincaid Lake
Biologists continue to say that though it’s small, Kincaid Lake in northern Kentucky has an excellent reputation for quality largemouth bass.

In March, the big female bass will be even heavier than in June, and now is the time to try to hook up with what could be the biggest bucketmouth of your career.

Smaller impoundments warm up a little quicker than major lakes. And when that first little warm-up stretch comes along, largemouths tend to come back to the banks surprisingly well.

They’ll move in primarily looking for spots where the water feels more comfortable for them, but also trying to find some food to replenish what the winter has taken out of them.

Spots where you find heavy cover are good places to fish in late afternoon, after the sun has hit the bank most of the day.

Look for unusual features along the bank where bass can hold and warm up and perhaps ambush food fish.

Murky water coming in from run-offs or the head of the lake is also an advantage if you can find some.

Remember to think big fish this time of year, and adjust your equipment accordingly. But try to use a rod with a fairly sensitive tip: In colder weather, even monster bass are sometimes light-mouthed on the pick-up.