There are areas all over Northern Ohio to find your favorite fish.

On Apr 9, 2022

After a particularly dreary off-season, it is time to hit Buckeye State waters once again.

This year we have arranged to list our top five locations for each of the 10 most popular Ohio species, including angler tips for each and a listing and phone number of the most respected bait and tackle outlets and phone number for each.

Many thanks to the ODNR, our reporting stations, and ongoing reports into both the Buckeye Angler Facebook site and buckeyeangler.com from so many of you.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

1. Mogadore Reservoir: Consistent productivity, for both numbers and size, continues to impress. Bait: spinnerbait. Mogadore Bait & Tackle: 330-628-9872.

2. Portage Lakes: Revered Ohio bass fishery continues to produce despite ongoing tournament activity. Bait: lipless crankbaits. Fisherman’s Central: 330-644-5346.

3. Lake Erie: Near shore bite continues to impress over time. Bait: tubes. Real Sport Charters: 419-265-2736.

4. LaDue Reservoir: Northern Portage County electric-only standout will require multiple trolling batteries for many, as big as it is. Bait: spinnerbaits. One Stop Fishing Shop: 440-834-2248.

5. Deer Creek Reservoir: Easily overlooked fishery along the Portage and Stark County line is a personal favorite. Standout bait: buzzbaits. Park office: 330-477-3552.

SMALLMOUTH BASS

1. Lake Erie: Ongoing automatic leader in this category, with the best bite headed eastward. Bait: tubes. Real Sport Charters: 419-265-2736.

2. LaDue Reservoir: Dam area population is largely a productive secret for locals. Bait: tubes. One Stop Fishin’ Shop: 440-834-2248.

3. Lake Milton: Smallies have taken precedence over largemouth, with the possible exception of early spring. Bait: tube baits. Northcoast B&T: 330-654-2516.

4. Cuyahoga River: Reliable numbers from Hiram Rapids on down to Munroe Falls, and again from Gorge Dam through Cascade valley. Bait: in-line spinners.

5. West Branch State Park: Increasingly positive average sizes. Bait: tubes. Mark’s Bait, Tackle & Ammo: 330-296-3474.

BLUEGILL (includes sunfish, pumpkinseed, redear, warmouth )

1. LaDue Reservoir: Not a unanimous choice. Backbays and weedy edges near state Route 44 are outstanding. Bait: waxworms. One Stop Fishin’ Shop: 440-834-2248.

2. Mogadore Reservoir: Is not the national redear legend it once was, but a healthy and varied population still exists. Bait: Pinmins & maggots. Mogadore B & T: 330-628-9872.

3. Punderson Lake: A largely overlooked gem of southern Geauga County has a solid population in its deep, cool waters. Bait: ants and maggots. Park Office: 440-564-2279.

4. Mosquito Lake: Underrated population best in and around state ramp. Bait: maggots. Causeway B & T: 330-637-7076.

5. Portage Lakes: Outstanding population throughout. East Reservoir is a standout. Bait: redworms. Fisherman’s Central: 330-644-5346.

CATFISH

1. Mosquito Lake: An amazing performer for such a shallow water fishery. Bait: cut shiners. Causeway B &T: 330-637-7076.

2. Clendenning Lake: A former home base of legendary catfish guide Roy Hoppes deserves its reputation. Bait: cut bait. Marina: 866-633-7961.

3. Piedmont Lake: A mid-state legend renowned for huge flatheads. Bait: bluegills. Last Stop Tackle Shop: 330-401-3333.

4. Nimisila Reservoir: A disconnected Portage Lake a primary area cattin’ destination, particularly from shore. Bait: minnows. Eddie’s Bait & Tackle: 330-896-1770.

5. Lake Erie: Not a primary choice for piscatorial desires, but deeper shoreline dropoffs provide steady action. Bait: cutbait. Real Sport Charters: 419-265-2736.

CRAPPIE

1. Mosquito Lake: A long-time category champ. Pikie Bay and the cemetery region are ongoing hot spots. Bait: minnows. Causeway: 330-637-7076.

2. West Branch State Park: Lots of productive shoreline cover to work. Bait: minnows. Mark’s: 330-296-3474.

3. Mogadore Reservoir: Shoreline cover is precious, with vertical jigging between islands a productive option. Bait: minnows. Mogadore B & T: 330-628-9872.

4. Portage Lakes: A decent population throughout, with the “Boneyard” area too often overlooked. Bait: minnows. Fisherman’s Central: 330-644-5346.

5. Berlin Lake: A challenge hereabouts is to narrow down your options on this vast impoundment. Bait: jigs & minnows. Les’ Bait: 330-584-6741.

MUSKIE

1. West Branch State Park: A perennial category winner maintains status. Bait: jerkbaits. Mark’s: 330-296-3474.

2. Leesville Lake: A premier Muskie destination through mid-state. Bait: spinnerbaits. Hoss Marine: 740-269-1335.

3. Lake Milton: The river area is a local favorite. Bait: sledge baits. Northcoast Bait: 330-654-2516.

4. Salt Fork State Park: A picturesque fishery outside Cambridge gives up some true monsters. Bait: spinnerbaits. Salt Fork Outdoors: 740-432-1508.

5. Clear Fork: A regular stop on the Muskie tourney circuit for a reason. Bait: large swimbaits. Robin’s Nest: 419-884-3650.

NORTHERN PIKE

1. Mosquito Lake: Some nice ones are caught every year. Bait: in-line spinners. Causeway: 330-637-7076.

2. Lake Milton: Many muskie anglers are fooled by many a pike. Bait: minnow baits. Northcoast B & T: 330-654-2516.

3. Cuyahoga River: With the once renowned best northern fishery in the state now reduced to a fishing wasteland by dam removals, many forget the numbers still available upriver clear to Hiram Rapids. Bait: spinnerbaits.

4. West Branch State Park: A so-so population offers an occasional trophy. Bait: crankbaits. Mark’s: 330-296-3474.

5. LaDue Reservoir: Not as big on average as those in the adjacent Cuyahoga, but they’re there. Bait: spinners. One Stop Shop: 440-834-2248.

YELLOW PERCH

1. Mogadore Reservoir: The most viable inland alternative to Lake Erie and many are finding out how much better they taste as well. Bait: minnows. Mogadore B & T: 330-628-9872.

2. Lake Erie: Nowadays a decidedly economic uncertainty. Bait: shiner minnows. Real Sport Charters: 419-265-2736.

3. Lake Milton: A late fall/early winter thing out here. Bait: blade baits. Northcoast B & T: 330-654-2516.

4. Pymatuning Reservoir: A huge impoundment harbors many perch amidst those sunken forests. Bait: minnows. Pyma Tackle: 888-204-9227.

5. LaDue Reservoir: A significant population, though few true jumbos. Bait: minnows. One Stop Shop: 440-834-2248.

TROUT

1. Lake Erie: Has surpassed all tributaries combined in total steelhead catches annually. Bait: spoons. Real Sport Charters: 419-265-2736.

2. Conneaut Creek: Easily the state’s premier steelhead tributary. Bait: Hair jigs and egg sacs. Snug Harbor: 440-593-3755.

3. Punderson State Park: A variety of trout species available. Bait: in-line spinners. State Park: 440-564-2279.

4. Rocky River: Features a steelhead fishery closest to population centers. Bait: dry flies.

5. Mad River: This western Ohio stream features the only naturally reproducing population. Bait: in-line spinners. Mad River Outfitters: 614-451-0363.

WALLEYE

1. Lake Erie: These are the good old days. Walleye are available to anglers even near the shore year ’round. Bait: crankbaits. Real Sport Charters: 419-265-2736.

2. West Branch Reservoir: Spring jig and minnow bite are an annual highlight. Bait: jigs and minnows. Mark’s: 330-296-3474.

3. Lake Milton: Troll those crawler harnesses down by the dam. Bait: nightcrawler harnesses. Northcoast B & T: 330-654-2516.

4. Berlin Lake: Narrow down your search to mid-lake humps. Bait: blade baits. Les’ Baitshop: 330-584-6741.

5. Mosquito Lake: Slow-troll those mid-lake humps. Bait: Rebel Crawdads. Causeway Marina: 330-637-7076.

Jack Kiser is the outdoors columnist for the Record-Courier and “Midwest Outdoors” magazine, and host of “Buckeye Angler” and for PBS and Fox Sports. You may reach him at the Buckeye Angler Facebook site and buckeyeangler.com.