Mosquito Lake covers 7,241 acres, and unlimited horsepower motors are allowed. There are five boat ramps on the lake, and amenities are available at Mosquito Lake State Park. The state park office may be reached at (330) 637-2856.

Nearby Pymatuning Lake in Ashtabula County also should offer some great crappie fishing this spring. This fishery is also dominated by black crappies, but white crappies are beginning to rebound, following a few down years. The average size of harvested fish remains around 10 inches, and good numbers of fish are between 8 and 10 inches. A few will top out around 12 inches.

Most anglers find the best success in spring by targeting stumps in the north end of the lake, brushpiles and the occasional fallen tree.

Weedbeds are another great option at this lake. Additionally, there has been some pallet structure added to the lake to increase habitat diversity.

This lake covers about 14,650 acres within Ohio and nearly 3,000 acres in Pennsylvania. Boat anglers may fish the entire lake with an Ohio license, but shore-bound anglers may fish only within the state in which they’re licensed.

For more information, contact the Pymatuning State Park office at (440) 293-6030. Additional fishing information on both Pymatuning and Mosquito lakes can be obtained by calling the Highlandtown Fish Unit at (330) 679-2201.

Berlin Lake covers 3,280 acres in Portage, Mahoning, and Stark counties. At this lake, anglers will find both black and white crappies up to 12 inches. Most fish will range between 8 and 10 inches.

The lake can be relatively deep at times, depending on lake level management. There is a wide variety of habitat in both shallow and deep-water locations. Water willow, which is prevalent in the lake, can be a great crappie attractor at times. There are brushpiles along the shore, and the ODOW has also installed some artificial habitat.

A structure and habitat map for the lake is available by contacting Matt Wolfe at the district office. Call him at (330) 644-2293, Ext. 3016.

More information on the lake may be obtained at the same number, or by calling the Berlin Fish Unit at (330) 654-2392.

DISTRICT FOUR
Seneca Lake is the third-largest inland lake in Ohio. It’s also one of the best spots in the southeastern portion of the Buckeye State, according to Tm Parrett, the ODOW’s District Four fisheries supervisor.

This 3,508-acre reservoir lies in Noble and Guernsey counties. Parrett said crappies grow well at this lake and typically, 65 percent of them reach harvestable size by the time they reach a year old. Fish are typically 10 inches or more by their second year. This is a great growth rate compared to many other area lakes.

The fishery is dominated by white crappies, but a few black crappies occasionally turn up. The average-sized fish caught in a recent trap-net survey was 7 inches. There were also plenty of crappies in the 6- to 8-inch range, and some measured up to 12 inches. The minimum size for keepers is 9 inches.

There’s a wide range of crappie habitat at this lake. The shoreline is dotted with fallen trees and limbs as well as brush. Some of the coves also have fallen woody structure and beaver lodges. Christmas trees have also been added to the lake.