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Unless you are a last-minute tax return angler, today should be a great day to head to your favorite
Unless you are a last-minute tax return angler, today should be a great day to head to your favorite lake for a few hours of fishing.
We are fortunate that the weather and the fish all are cooperating at the same time as we arrive at mid-April. Around the time when our income tax returns are due each year, the walleyes, bass and crappies are up and active.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife issued a news release this week with forecasts about the top lakes in Northeast Ohio for popular species. The list follows a similar forecast last week about the prospects for Lake Erie species.
As expected, Mosquito Creek Reservoir is the Division of Wildlife’s top pick for walleyes. Officials say Mosquito for the past five years has had the strongest population of walleyes across all of Ohio’s inland lakes.
Known as a reliable producer of 14- to 18-inch fish, Mosquito also puts out a good number of walleyes up to 28 inches.
The Division of Wildlife recommends anglers work mid-lake areas from the Ohio 88 causeway to the cemetery near Cortland. Drifting, casting and trolling the 6- to 15-foot range works well, depending on the season and daily conditions.
Also expected is the news that West Branch is considered the region’s top musky lake. The ODNR Division of Wildlife Musky Angler Log shows the reservoir in Portage County near Ravenna was the best Ohio water. Lots of muskies, many of them large, are caught there annually, and 2016 was another very productive year.
Officials recommend anglers troll long points, sunken islands and weed lines. All three kinds of structure and cover are found readily throughout West Branch, from the dam on the east end to the western headwaters near Ohio 14.
The region’s best largemouth bass water, according to the Division of Wildlife officials, is Portage Lakes in Akron. Though I personally prefer other waters, the Portage Lakes complex does have a great following – especially among those anglers who live within easy drive time.
Each of the main lakes – Turkeyfoot, East, West, Long and North – offers its own unique kind of water. Docks, weedlines, emerging vegetation, points, drop-offs and other classic bass cover are abundant.
Visiting anglers are well advised to know the various rules on each of the waters. There are speed limits throughout the complex and horsepower restrictions in certain areas. I recommend first-time visitors to launch at the state ramp off Manchester Road at Turkeyfoot Lake. From there, you can navigate throughout the lakes – except for North and Long.
The best crappie lake on the Ohio Division of Wildlife list is Atwood Lake in Carroll and Tuscarawas counties. Officials say it has yielded many 9-inch and longer crappies over the past five years.
To find Atwood’s crappies, look for the numerous downed trees, beaver lodges and brush that is near deeper water. Small jigs with twister tails or minnows work well. Atwood is restricted to outboards of 25-horsepower or less.
Pymatuning gets the nod as Northeast Ohio’s best sunfish and perch lake. The division reports bluegill, rockbass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch populations are all strong.
With more than a dozen boat launches, Pymatuning offers anglers the option of fishing a number of diverse locations even though it is under a 20-horsepower restriction.