Hoover Lake is 2,818 acres and has a 10-horsepower motor restriction. There are no motor restrictions at the 1,287-acre Deer Creek Lake or at 1,017-acre Delaware Lake, but there is a 9-inch minimum-length limit for crappies harvested from these two impoundments.

For more information on any of the lakes in District One, call (618) 644-3925.

DISTRICT TWO
Anglers in the northwestern portion of the state may want to target Pleasant Hill Reservoir in Richland County. While the average crappie measures just under 10 inches, good numbers of fish up to 16 inches are available.

Biologist Mike Wilkerson said this lake had one of the highest catch rates during sampling attempts. The bulk of the population is comprised of white crappies, but there are some black crappies as well.

There is a lot of woody structure at Pleasant Hill. The lake is very steep-sided, and many trees angle into the water from the shoreline. Timber structure is abundant in both shallow and deeper-water areas.

This lake is 850 acres and a Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) Lake. There is a public boat ramp, marina and campsite.

Anglers can get more information online at MWCDLakes.com< or by calling the Pleasant Hill Lake Park office at (419) 938-7884.

Clear Fork Reservoir is also in Richland County. This 1,012-acre lake is home to both black and white crappies. Most will average between 8 and 10 inches. Larger fish up to 12 inches are caught less frequently.

There are unlimited spots for great crappie angling on this lake. It’s not a particularly deep lake and is timbered all the way around. There are plenty of downed trees and submerged woody structure. There are also a couple of islands with leaning timber that provides prime crappie hotspots.

The lake features a good boat ramp with ample parking. There is no horsepower restriction on the lake, but boat speed is limited to 8 miles per hour.

The best source of information on Clear Fork Lake is at the ranger station, at (419) 884-1408

Wilkerson said the sleeper lake in District Two is 105-acre Harrison Lake in Fulton County. This lake has good numbers of fish as well as good size distribution. Crappies caught here will range from 7 to 11 inches.

There is not a lot of structure near the dam. However, the remainder of the lake has plenty of leaning trees and other structure. Fishing submerged pine trees can be phenomenal when the crappies move into the shallows.

Harrison Lake lies within Harrison Lake State Park. There is a boat ramp at the lake, and anglers are allowed to use electric motors only.

You can obtain more information by visiting the state park in person or by calling (419) 237-2593 or toll-free at 1-866-644-6727. You can also access park and lake information online at DNR.State.OH.US.

DISTRICT THREE
The best crappie lake in this northeastern Ohio district is Mosquito Lake in Trumbull County. The fishery is primarily made up of black crappies, but there are a fair number of white crappies. Both species have good size representation in the lake, with many measuring between 8 and 11 inches. Fishing is expected to be excellent in 2007. There is some brush in the lake, but not an overabundance of good structure. Fishing near the causeway off state Route 88 can yield some great crappie fishing at times. Many anglers use minnows and will fish this area at night.