What Missouri angler hasn't lamented, "So many fish, so little time"? How could you not? Pardon the irresistible pun, but our state is truly stuffed to the gills with great places to wet a line for a host of species suited to anyone's tastes and inclinations.

This year's Missouri fishing calendar was assembled with that thought in mind. Come along on a month-by-month tour of some -- but by no means all -- of the best angling our state has to offer.

JANUARY
Truman Dam Buffalo
It's likely that many Missouri anglers are unaware of a fish called the buffalo, let alone that these seldom-sought fish can provide some of the year's most exciting action. Buffalo grow to prodigious sizes in the Lake of the Ozarks, and in January, schools of buffalo weighing from 20 to 30 pounds and beyond crowd into the dead-water channel below Truman Dam near Warsaw.

A double-jig rig consisting of a 1/8-ounce jig tied about 18 inches above a 1/4-ounce jig is the most popular terminal tackle. Tip the jigs with 3-inch white, yellow or chartreuse curlytail grubs. Fish vertically or slow-troll with the larger jig tapping the bottom occasionally. Hint: Adding half a night crawler to each jig can make a big difference.

Trout fishing at any of the state's four trout parks is another excellent option. Anglers are limited to flies and artificial lures and must release their fish, but 50-trout-per-day catches are the norm. Sauger fans can find good action off the wing dams in the Missouri River.

FEBRUARY
Lake Taneycomo Trout
Taneycomo is one of Missouri's most popular trout fisheries for the simple reason that it offers ample opportunity for anglers of any skill level to use their favorite methods.

When the turbines at Table Rock Dam aren't operating, "Lake" Taneycomo from Fall Creek up is a flowing stream. Special regulations apply in this stretch of water: artificial lures and flies only, and a 12- to 20-inch must-release slot limit for rainbows. Note that the lakewide daily limit of one brown trout over 20 inches applies here as well. Bring chest waders, and pay attention to the loud horn blast that signals the start of power generation. It's never just a drill; leave the water immediately.

Below the mouth of Fall Creek, trout fishing becomes far more egalitarian. Artificial lures and flies are still legal, and catch a lot of trout, but most anglers either drift-fish from boats or tight-line from the bank, using a variety of commercial and out-of-the-lunch-box baits.

Farther north, the warmwater arm of Thomas Hill Lake offers excellent hybrid action this month. Walleyes at the upper end of Bull Shoals make for good fishing, especially after dark.

MARCH
Lake Of The Ozarks Crappie
Crappie fishing has been good to excellent here for the past several years, and there's no reason for that to change in 2006.

Look for crappie to be on or close to the bank in a late-pre-spawn to full spawn mode. As a general rule, protected coves and small creek arms produce better than do main-lake shorelines. Look for sloping pea-gravel banks. The presence of docks is an asset, especially if brushpiles have been sunk beneath them. When fishing docks, remember that while the water is public, the dock and its cables and ramps are private property.

Small jigs with or without attached spinners (1/16-ounce or lighter) tipped with soft-plastic tubes are the most popular lure for a very good reason: They catch crappie. Some insist on using minnows, and catch some crappie, but, even so, put themselves unnecessarily at disadvantage.

Fishing for white bass should be excellent this month near the upper ends of major creek and river arms at Bull Shoals. And March is the month that largemouth fishing at Table Rock Lake heats up to excellence on any angler's scale.