Lake Eire offers some of the best fishing anywhere for walleyes, smallmouth bass, trout and salmon. Throughout the state, countless inland lakes and ponds offer year-round opportunities for saugeyes, bass, catfish, big rainbow trout and panfish.

With so many excellent places to wet a line, your only dilemma is deciding where to spend your precious fishing hours!

Here's a roundup of 36 of our best bets for productive fishing in 2009.

Regulations vary by season, species and location, so be sure to check the current rulebook before heading out.

JANUARY
Saugeyes
Buckeye Lake
This 2,816-acre Fairfield County lake is stocked with saugeyes each year. Use a jig tipped with a minnow for good success. Buckeye Lake is also home to largemouth bass, bluegills, carp, channel and flathead catfish, hybrid striped bass and crappies.

For access and area details, check DeLorme's Ohio Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 69.

Largemouth Bass
Griggs Reservoir
Northwest of Columbus, this 361-acre lake in Franklin County is one of the state's top 10 bass tournament sites, offering excellent fishing for big bucketmouths.

Griggs is also home to smallmouth bass, saugeyes, channel catfish, carp and crappies. There are two access areas on the east side of the reservoir near the dam. To get there, take Fishinger Road from U.S. Route 33 or Dublin Road.

Muskellunge
Berlin Reservoir
This 3,321-acre lake is the only inland impoundment in Ohio where natural reproduction of muskies' has been recorded. To target muskies on this big lake that spreads over Portage, Mahoning and Stark counties, focus on the Mill Creek area.

Berlin Reservoir is also home to walleyes, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappies and bluegills.

For multiple access sites, check DeLorme's OAG, Map 42.

FEBRUARY
Hybrid Striped Bass
Charles Mill Lake
Located in Mifflin, this 1,350-acre lake provides excellent angling for striped bass.

There's a good population of fish in the 12- to 22-inch range.

Charles Mill Lake is also home to crappies, saugeyes, largemouth bass, channel catfish and a fair number of flathead cats. For multiple access sites, see DeLorme's OAG, Map 49.

White Bass
Ferguson Reservoir
This 305-acre lake in Allen County has good numbers of white bass ranging from 8 to 10 inches. It's known for its good ice-fishing for this species. Angling for white bass is also good here during May and June, just off the shoreline.

Ferguson Reservoir is also home to walleyes, smallmouth bass, channel cats and bluegills.

For access and area information, check DeLorme's OAG, Map 45.

Northern Pike
Guilford Lake
Anglers at this 328-acre lake in Columbiana County can expect excellent fishing for channel cats and largemouth bass in addition to plenty of big toothy pike.

For multiple access areas, see DeLorme's OAG, Map 53.

MARCH
Walleyes
Maumee River
Annual spring spawning runs from Lake Erie pump up the walleye population and increase angler success.

Walleyes taken here average 19 inches, with some up to 30-plus inches long.

Access is at the foot of Maple Street in Perrysburg and at Orleans Park. Fish from the Conant Street Bridge upstream to the end of Jerome Road in Lucas County. Try floating jigs tipped with white, yellow or fluorescent plastic tails.

Black Crappies
Madison Lake
Biologists report that this 105-acre lake in Madison Lake State Park has a good population of crappies over 10 inches long.

Madison Lake is also home to channel catfish and a fair number of largemouth bass. Check DeLorme's OAG, Map 67, for area information.

Saugeyes
Paulding Reservoir
This 63-acre lake lies in the northwestern Ohio town of Paulding.

The reservoir is also home to good numbers of channel cats and yellow perch. Access is off U.S. Route 23.

See DeLorme's OAG, Map 35, for details.