As I sit at my computer to write this article, I'm finding it hard to concentrate. The television is showing what's going on in the southeastern part of our state in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which came ashore just two days prior to this writing.

As the reality of this cataclysmic disaster sinks in, it's obvious that it'll be a long time before residents of New Orleans and the surrounding area can think about fishing hotspots in 2006, and our prayers and thoughts go out to the thousands of affected citizens of that area. In the following, we'll concentrate on fishing opportunities in regions of the state not affected by Katrina, listing three areas around the rest of the state for each month of the upcoming year.

JANUARY
Saline/Larto Lakes Crappie
The Saline/Larto Lake waterway system, located just east of Alexandria, offers crappie fishing that can be hot this time of year.

Concentrate on the deeper bayous and canals, especially around the mouths of streams where the water is usually deeper. Look for holes up to 20 feet deep, but the crappie can be anywhere from 8 to 12 feet deep in most of the holes. Anglers often use several jig poles with different colored jigs, each set at different depths.

Grand Cheniere Redfish
In January, there's no better place to find redfish than in southwest Louisiana around Grand Cheniere. Watch the Weather Channel for the approach of cold fronts. When the blue line on the map indicating the passage of a front reaches the Gulf, it's time to head for Hog Bayou or the Mermentau River and fish fresh shrimp or, if the water is clear enough, a soft plastic grub on a 1/4-ounce leadhead.

Lake Bruin Bass
One of the better oxbow lakes on the Mississippi for bass fishing is Lake Bruin located in Tensas Parish between Newellton and St. Joseph.

There are several patterns that work on this lake. Jigs and trailers fished around trees and boat docks on the north end of the lake are popular this time of year along with Rat-L-Traps and Carolina-rigged worms.

FEBRUARY
Black Lake Bass
February is a good month to hit the channel and sloughs for bass on Black Lake. It's hard to beat a heavy black or blue 1/2- or 5/8-ounce jig. If the water is off-colored, black, brown and amber are all good colors to try.

Anglers should concentrate on channels and sloughs literally from one end of the lake to the other. The outside bends of the channel are usually best for holding good-sized bass. Texas-rigged Brush Hogs or black/ neon or watermelon colored lizards will also work here this time of year.

Lake Claiborne Crappie
This is one of the best times of the year to catch crappie on Lake Claiborne. Anchor your boat in deep water just out from the dam where big schools of crappie frequently suspend near the bottom. Locate schools of threadfin shad, because where the shad are concentrated, the crappie will be there too. Minnows or jigs work equally well.

Lake St. John Bluegills
As strange as it may seem, February is a good month to catch a basket of fat bluegills on Lake St. John. Fishing cold worms or red wigglers just off the bottom in the deepest holes will often pay off with a bragging-sized catch of big bluegills.

MARCH
Toledo Bend Bass
Once the month of March rolls around, look for big bass beginning to spawn in the shallows of Toledo Bend. Locate areas of shallow water with water temperature in the low 60's, and you're in business.

White spinnerbaits, large Rat-L-Traps in a crawfish color and, perhaps the favorite, a Carolina-rigged lizard will likely take some hefty bass this time of year.

Caney Lake Crappie
While Caney Lake, in Jackson Parish, is best known for producing outsized bass, the lake hosts a population of big crappie as well. Look for big slabs around piers and brushpiles from quite shallow out to 14 feet deep. Black and green or white and red tube jigs or shiners will work.