Empire State anglers have so many choices of where to fish and what to fish for, it would take several lifetimes to visit them all! Deep, cold mountain lakes offer good trout fishing, while the state’s mighty rivers offer up pole-bending action for bass, pike and other warmwater species.

Miles of coastline offer access to the Atlantic Ocean for surfcasting or deep-sea charters. Exploring all the honeyholes in Lake Erie or Lake Ontario could take a lifetime!

Here’s a roundup of best bets for you to consider while planning your 2008 fishing vacation schedule:

JANUARY
Tiger Muskellunge
Lake Lauderdale
Lake Lauderdale is well known for its great tiger muskie action, especially through the ice. The minimum length is 30 inches, and the daily creel limit is one fish.

Dangle lively minnows and small suckers near the edge of weedy areas for these voracious predators.

The lake also has black crappies, yellow perch, bluegills and pumpkinseeds. Access is off Route 22.

Rainbow Trout
Moreau Lake
Moreau Lake in Moreau is open to the taking of trout year ‘round. The creel limit is five fish of any length.

Moreau Lake is also home to chain pickerel, pumpkinseeds and yellow perch. Access is off the Old Saratoga Road.

Landlocked Salmon
Lake Champlain
This big lake forms the borders of New York and Vermont. Fishing is excellent for a number of species, including landlocked salmon, lake trout, brown trout, walleyes and northern pike.

Lake Champlain may be accessed in the towns of Barcelona or Dunkirk, off Route 5. For more access, check out DeLorme’s New York Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 97.

FEBRUARY
Northern Pike
Adirondack Lake
Adirondack Lake in the town of Indian Lake is a great ice-angling destination for pike. But get there soon -- the season for pike closes on March 15.

The daily creel limit is five fish of any length. When pike strike, take up the slack and set the hook quickly! This is also a decent place to catch yellow perch and pumpkinseeds.

Access is off Route 28.

Splake
Limekiln Lake
Limekiln Lake in Inlet is open year ‘round for the taking of all trout, including splake. The daily creel limit is five fish, with no length limit.

Access may be had southeast of Inlet off Route 28.

Chain Pickerel
Saratoga Lake
This Saratoga Springs lake is one of the state’s better pickerel waters. Fishing is also excellent for walleyes.

The season on both species closes on March 15.

Access may be had at the north end of the lake adjacent to Route 9P.

MARCH
Lake Trout
Canada Lake
Canada Lake in Caroga is open ‘year round for trout. Anglers may keep three lakers per day, with a minimum length of 21 inches.

Fish small baits or lures on or near the bottom in the shallows.

Brown trout may also be taken. For them, the daily creel limit is five fish of any length.

To access the northern end of the lake from Route 12, take Route 10.

Walleyes
Lake Ontario
The best walleye spots in this great lake are Irondequoit, Sodus or Braddocks bays. The eastern basin, including Chaumont and Mud bays, are also good. Lake Ontario is also home to lunker bass and pike.

Check out the Great Lakes fishing regulations before you go.

Access can be had at several points. Check DeLorme’s New York Atlas and Gazetteer, maps 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 83.

Chain Pickerel
Bashakill Marsh
Ice-anglers target chain pickerel this month at Bashakill Marsh, just south of Wurtsboro.

This water is open for the taking of pickerel ‘year round, with a 12-inch minimum length and a five-fish daily creel limit. (Continued)

Access may be had four miles south of Wurtsboro. From U.S. Route 209, take Haven Road and then South Road.