This story easily could be twice as long as it is and still only scratch the surface of Oklahoma's diverse and dynamic year-round fishing potential.

"Fishing opportunities have never been better in our state," said Barry Bolton, and he should know. He's Chief of Fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The variety of species our anglers have available now is really strong."

Although Oklahoma may not often come to mind when it comes to great fishing for species like walleyes, sauger/saugeyes and trout, great fishing for these fish does exist in the Sooner State. So does great fishing for black bass, crappie, stripers, white bass, catfish and even the prehistoric paddlefish.

Start planning your trips now!

JANUARY
Stripers
January is a great month to fish for stripers on the Lower Illinois River for a number of reasons. Most important, from here, is the opportunity to tangle with really big stripers on light tackle. The Lower Illinois is home to a good trout fishery because of coldwater releases from Lake Tenkiller. This time of year, white bass and stripers will run up the river for the chance to feed.

Many anglers choose to fish live or cut bait like they do in other lakes. Those who opt for light tackle and jig-fishing, however, enjoy a great chance to experience some of the best angling action of the entire season.

One of the keys to success in this kind of striper fishing is the ability to adapt to varying water conditions by changing jig sizes and weights to be consistent in presentation. Bring along a selection of weights from 1/6 ounce to 1/4 ounce, and make sure the hooks are as sharp as can be.

Hooking a striper or big white bass will stress your rod, reel and line. Ultra-sharp hooks will help assure a good hookset and give you the best chance of holding up your end of the fight with a fierce striper.

Bucktail jigs tend to present a bulkier profile as you fish them, while soft plastics usually offer a look with more action. I prefer the plastics because color and size changes can be made quickly if you don't need to adjust the weight of your jighead.

Expect to find whites and stripers from the mouth of the Illinois, where it dumps into the Arkansas River, all the way up to Tenkiller Dam.

FEBRUARY
Trout
Oklahoma offers a number of seasonal trout fisheries, but this is the time to head for one of the year-round spots -- that 12-mile section of the Mountain Fork River from the Broken Bow dam down to the U.S. Highway 70 bridge. Anglers can fish from bank or boat and enjoy great action for big browns and rainbows.

Before you leave, check the Wildlife Department's Web site and become familiar with the map that outlines how regulations change in the trout section of the Mountain Fork. There are multiple fishing "zones" noted in blue and red on the map; regulations vary by zone.

Blue zones allow anglers to catch up to six rainbow trout of any size and one brown of at least 20 inches. Red zone anglers may not keep fish smaller than 20 inches, and the limit is one rainbow 20 inches or larger.