Michigan has so many great fishing destinations that it's hard to decide which ones to go to during the year. So much water, so little time!

This angling calendar should make those choices simpler.

JANUARY
Saginaw Bay Walleyes
Cold weather locks up Saginaw Bay by mid-January. A hot first-ice bite occurs in depths from 6 to 12 feet from Linwood on the west around to Sebewaing to the east on the inner bay. First and last light produce the hottest action, although on overcast, cloudy days, fishing can be good throughout the day.

Jigging spoons like Swedish Pimples and Do Jiggers in gold/orange, blue/silver and glow colors are hot when tipped with a minnow or minnow head. Anglers also score with leadhead jigs, Jigging Rapalas and similar lures. A lift-and-drop cadence seems to work best while staying on the move.

For live bait, tackle and fishing reports, contact Frank's Great Outdoors at (989) 697-5341, or online at www.franksgreatoutdoors.com.

Austin Lake Panfish
Kalamazoo County's 1,090-acre Austin Lake gives up some nice bluegills and crappies. Try the 11-foot hole in the center of this shallow lake and the 5- to 10-foot dropoff around it. Larva and teardrops produce best for bluegills averaging close to 8 inches and crappies up to 14 inches. For more information, contact the Kalamazoo County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-222-6363 or visit www.discoverkalamazoo.com.

Muskegon River Steelhead
Steelhead will trickle into the river throughout the winter, and provide steady fishing during January and February. Plugs work best in the cold water. Try from Croton Dam to Newaygo. To learn more, contact Parsley's Sport Shop at (231) 652-6986.

FEBRUARY
Higgins Lake Smorgasbord
It's often February before 9,600-acre Higgins Lake offers safe ice. But when it does, ice-anglers catch a mixed bag of lake trout, whitefish, perch and smelt.

The lake-trout action starts in 70 to 90 feet and moves deeper as winter progresses. Live smelt or blue or gray shiners suspended below conventional tip-ups and Slammers work best. Browns and rainbows are available, too.

Whitefish from 3 to 6 pounds can be caught right along with the trout. Anglers chum a hole with corn, rice or spawn and then fish the bottom with slip-bobbers or jigs. At night, smelt can be caught on teardrops and wax worms. Use a light to attract the micro-organisms that in turn attract smelt. Perch numbers are high in Higgins, but their size is small right now. Use wigglers, wax worms or minnows on bottom for the perch in 25 to 50 feet.

To book an ice-fishing charter on Higgins Lake, contact John's Frozen Charters at (989) 422-6745.

Lake Margrethe Bluegills
At 1,920 acres, Lake Margrethe has been hot for good-sized bluegills the past few winters. A good location is 300 yards out from the state park in 5 to 8 feet of water. Look for a defined weedline. Other hotspots include South Bay and off Eagle Point. For more information, contact the Grayling Visitors Bureau at 1-800-937-8837, or online at www.grayling-mi.com.

Burt Lake Walleyes
Look for Cheboygan County's Burt Lake to produce good walleye action in February. Try tip-ups with shiners, or jigging spoons with minnows. Try 15 to 45 feet off water off Kings and Colonial points. For more information, contact the Indian River Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-238-9325, or online at www.irchamber.com.

MARCH
Pine Lake Crappies
Expect frantic ice-out crappie action on Barry County's 660-acre Pine Lake. Specks migrate to the backs of coves and bays to find warm water and to bulk up before spawning time.

All four separate basins produce stringers of crappies. Concentrate on the south-facing shorelines. There's a public access at the northwest corner.

For more information, call D&R Sport Center at 1-800-992-1520.

Fletcher Floodwater Northerns
Pike put on the feedbag just before ice-out in this shallow 9,000-acre Alpena County lake. Spot tip-ups near the old riverbed. Use golden shiner or sucker minnows for northerns that will regularly top 10 pounds. Contact Jack's Landing at (989) 742-4370, or at www.jackslanding.com.