Here's a look at our top fishing trips for the next 12 months, and a chance to discover new angling adventures in Illinois.

JANUARY
Illinois River Saugers
Our namesake river may be frozen now, but in just a couple of weeks it will open up again, offering outstanding sauger action in deeper "wintering holes." Some of the best fishing occurs before the advent of spring runoff within one mile of the Abraham Lincoln Bridge on Interstate 39.

Light line and a vertical presentation are major keys to success during the peaceful coldwater period. Fish are seldom interested in aggressive feeding now, but you can trigger them all day long with blade baits and jigs with fliptails.

As runoff begins, fish start to move upstream, quickly drawing crowds of anglers. If you can't fish during the week, note the depth at which the fish are active in this glorified canal and try to replicate the presentation at that depth elsewhere.

Contact: Starved Rock Bait & Tackle, (815) 667-4862.

Lake Michigan Brown Trout
You may be fishing ice or open water. Either way, these salmonids are close to shore right now and willing to eat alewives or spawn sacs. Target harbors and warmwater discharges from the Windy City north to the Wisconsin line.

Pool 12 Crappies
If there is a "January thaw" near month's end, the rising Mississippi River will trigger crappies at Kehough Slough two miles north up the railroad tracks north of Galena. Take West Street due west out of town until you hit the river, then either follow the tracks or go straight ahead and try Fish Trap Slough, another winter hotspot. The L'il Cecil lure is a crappie killer!

FEBRUARY
Lake Sangchris Stripers
Big striped bass dog shad all winter long on this central Illinois cooling lake, with many fish congregated near the warmwater discharge at the powerhouse right now.

Troll large shad-pattern crankbaits behind planer boards or downriggers. Have a big blade bait ready, too. These fish sometimes bust shad on the surface. You can often hook up without spooking fish by making a long cast. Heavy gear is a must.

Contact: Sangchris Corner, (217) 623-5252.

Pool 13 Crappies
Mickelson's Landing at Potter's Marsh near Thomson on Pool 13 of the Mississippi River gives up huge slab crappies at the edge of the old dredge canal every winter. Although there has been considerable siltation, find at least 6 feet next to a foot or less of water and you're in the ballpark. Maps are available at the refuge office in Savanna.

Devil's Kitchen Rainbows
Fish close to the dam spillway with Berkley Gulp Trout Nuggets or salmon eggs about 10 feet under a small slip-bobber. The water is over 70 feet deep here. Fish often become airborne before you realize a bite.

MARCH
Mississippi River Saugers
Watch the weather carefully. When we get a pattern with several days' warming trend, head for the tailwaters and try vertical jigging with blade baits or hair jigs.

Check for any special harvest restrictions. If possible, go during the week. There are only a few prime locations near the yellow "bullnose" below the dam. Use caution when the river begins to open up. Vertical jigging below the dam is effective. If you see ice floes coming, get out of the way and let them pass.

Contact: Big River Bait & Taxidermy, (815) 244-3115.

Shabbona Lake Catfish
Channel catfish are active through the ice, especially around the old farm buildings and cribs over the old roadbed. The best bait is a couple of red wigglers. Use electronics to locate suspended fish, then drop bait to this depth. Chances are the suspended fish have whiskers.

Baldwin Lake Bluegills
The warmwater discharge of this Randolph County lake offers super bluegill action using ice-fishing jigs tipped with wax worms. Bites can be light. Use a neutrally weighted float, light line and long rod. You can have a ball with a cane pole from shore.