Check out these five hot fishing spots in the United States and Canada during February and March.

Winter Steelies  /  Oregon
Umpqua River, OR—The scenic Umpqua holds one of the best winter steelhead runs on the West Coast. Fishing is closed to wild steelhead harvest, but remains open year-round for fin-clipped fish. The run peaks in February and March; fish average 6 to 10 pounds, but many bigger fish make the run. Side-drift spawn and puffballs, back-troll plugs, cast spinners and spoons, or fly fish streamers and weighted nymphs. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (503) 947-6000.—Dan Bacher

Wawa Wonders  /  Ontario
Wawa Lake, ON—This deep, clear lake is just two hours west of the Ontario/Michigan border at Sault Ste. Marie, and it’s loaded with lake trout and whitefish. Target suspended lakers with white tubes, Swedish Pimples, green Northland Airplane Jigs and Williams Whitefish, in 30 to 70 feet. For whitefish, chum with cut-up minnows and macaroni, then jig Crippled Herring spoons or tinsel jigs. North of Superior Tourism, (800) 265-3951.—Gord Ellis

River Of Action  /  Ohio/West Virginia
Ohio River, OH-WV: Tailraces of New Cumberland Dam, Pike Island Dam and Hannibal Dam on the upper Ohio River offer prime late-winter opportunities for walleyes and saugers, plus smallmouth bass, white bass and hybrid stripers. Check state regulations carefully for differences in sizes and limits on this boundary water. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, (800) 945-3543.—Darl Black


Door Jam  /  Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay, WI—Door County has legendary scenery, but the world-class ice fishing in Sturgeon Bay and adjacent Green Bay waters beat the view. February is prime for jumbo perch, walleyes, whitefish and pike in this Great Lakes paradise, and the shallow-water bite for double-digit prespawn ’eyes will ruin you for other fisheries. Alexander’s Sport Fishing, (920) 851-4214; Reel Action Sportfishing, (920) 360-2136.—Dan Johnson

Dakota Dreamin’  /  North Dakota
Devils Lake, ND—Ever-rising water means more walleyes, perch and pike on this High Plains paradise. Cabela’s MWC anglers Jason Feldner and Johnnie Candle guide on Devils. Feldner wields Lindy Darters and Slick Jigs for all three, while Candle favors spoons tipped with Gulp! Minnows. He targets long, tapering points morning and evening, and the shallowest portions of deep rock at midday. Johnnie Candle, (701) 665-3474; Jason Feldner, (701) 351-1294.—Dan Johnson