When the subject of fishing new waters comes about, one of the most frequently listed advice items is the hiring of a guide for the initial outing. Doing so -- says the recommendation -- will often dramatically shorten your learning curve on the "new" waterway.

As a fishing guide myself, I like to think this is a wise suggestion, and money well spent. But guides come in forms other than a fish-savvy physical presence holding down one end of the boat. In this case, it's our 12-month guide, one that leads you to top-quality fishing options all around the Mountain State.

JANUARY
Ohio River White Bass
Providing the border for much of northwestern West Virginia, the finned bounty of the Ohio River is easily accessible to anglers from many of the state's population centers. The Ohio River plays host to a wide variety of fish species, including white bass. White bass are eager biters, sometimes even aggressive ones, a trait that doesn't diminish much even in winter's frigid water.

While searching for something to eat, white bass will cruise many zones of the river during the warm weather -- often making their presence known by visible surface feeding activity. But when the bottom falls out from frigid water temperatures, expect to find these feisty battlers in more specific areas. Tailrace areas, river/creek mouths and deep, slow-moving pools provide the food and current conditions necessary for white bass to survive the winter months.

The most significant areas, as well as the most obvious, are the locks and dams at tailrace areas. White bass, like many species, will stack up below New Cumberland, Pike Island, Hannibal, Willow Island, Belleville, Racine and Robert C. Byrd locks and dams. In regard to tailrace areas, this is strictly shore-fishing; boats are not permitted in tailrace areas. Good facilities are available at many of the dams, such as the nice setup at Hannibal Dam where ample parking, fishing piers and cleaning stations are provided.

White bass will often congregate at the mouths of the larger creeks -- such as Fishing Creek in New Martinsville. As winter gives way to spring, white bass will run up the creeks on spawning runs.

FEBRUARY
Tygart Lake Rainbow Trout
West Virginia's outstanding trout-stocking program kicks into gear come January, when some of the higher quality and more accessible trout waters receive their first supply of trout. Following the January stocking, these waters get trout twice this month, then weekly during March, April and May. This includes the tailrace area of Tygart Lake.

At a time when cold weather and snowy/muddy roads can limit access into some of the state's premier trout streams, one can usually count on dependable sport in the outflow area of 1,700-plus-acre Tygart Lake.

Both shore- and boat-fishing are available. The town of Grafton has a boat launch located within its park. Stocked trout are just one of the highlights of the "Grafton Dam" spillway. The state also stocks the lower Tygart River with tiger muskies; these game fish show up regularly in spillway area, too. Tygart Lake also has a nice walleye population; so don't be surprised if a few of these tasty species make their presence known.

Take county Route 44 south from Grafton to reach this area.

MARCH
Bluestone Lake Crappie
The spring's warming rays usher in a list of angling opportunities. Among these is crappie fishing, with Bluestone Lake being one of the better venues.

Basically a widening of the New River, Bluestone Lake lacks much in the way of significant bays and coves. The one exception is the Bluestone River arm, which provides a significant backwater. Bluestone is relatively shallow by West Virginia standards, with a maximum depth around 30 feet, thus it warms quickly. Expect to find crappie this time of year up in shoreline laydowns. Bluestone also has some extensive mud flats, which will heat up quickly. These areas will also draw in papermouths.

There are some minor coves located at the mouths of several of the feeder creeks that enter the lake.