Some anglers get out there all year long, looking for something to bend their fishing rods, while others fall under the category of fair-weather fisherfolk. Most anglers fall somewhere in between the two extremes.

But regardless of where you fit in, there's always something biting all year long in Kentucky. The trick is knowing what species, and where.

We've done some research, relied on personal experience and that of other anglers, as well as consulting with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to seek out some of this year's best fishing.

Following are 36 fishing trips for you to consider, from January through December.

JANUARY
Rainbow Trout
Paintsville Lake
When trout are mentioned, many people think only of stream fishing. However, there are some great opportunities for catching trout in other locations -- and one of them is Paintsville Lake.

Every January, it gets a healthy stocking of rainbow trout, usually to the tune of up to 18,000 fish.

This annual stocking provides a very decent fishing opportunity at a time of year when many species of fish are hard to catch. In fact, this winter event has become so popular that at stocking time, numerous anglers gather to be among the first to take part in the action.

The trout are stocked at the boat ramp between the state park campground and the marina. In the immediate area, there's usually quite a crowd right trying to get in on the newly released fish. Bank access is good and so is success from the bank, even during the day. Night-fishing is not necessary at this time of year.

The stocked fish are about 8 inches long. But after three consecutive summers of good cool-water habitat, some nice holdover trout grow to 15 inches and longer. Try duping them with live bait under a bobber, or with small bright spoons or inline spinners.

These trout can be caught along the riprap bank areas near the campground and marina and bank areas near the dam.

FEBRUARY
Smallmouth Bass
Laurel River Lake
The dead of winter is tough on anglers. Usually they either stay inside or fret over not being able to fish, or they do venture out to suffer the elements.

However, those willing to brave a little cold weather have an excellent chance of catching a huge smallmouth or two at Laurel River Lake.

Smallmouths are known for being more active in colder water than some of their other black bass kin. This month can be a great time to find them ready and willing to bite.

What's even better is that you'll likely be one of only a few anglers on Laurel River Lake, which is almost 6,000 acres in size. The KDFWR fishing forecast states that it's home to an excellent population of smallies and good numbers of 14- to 18-inch fish, with some being even larger.

This month, smallmouth activity and fishing technique are very dependent upon weather. Anglers will need to experiment to find what method is working best. Smallies might be caught on jigs, spoons or by casting flies. On most days, the float-and-fly method is also deadly.

MARCH
Walleyes
Carr Creek Lake
Year after year, Carr Creek Lake produces excellent assessments for walleyes, but its walleye fishery still doesn't seem to get the respect or recognition it deserves. There are excellent numbers of fish up to 28 inches, with a few larger fish possible as well. There are lots of 6- to 8-pound marble-eyes, with some even going up to 12 to 13 pounds!