Strikingly similar to Buckeye Lake, Indian Lake is well known for its huge bluegills, yellow perch and fair largemouth bass fishing. But the lake's main draw is its incredible saugeye fishery.

Indian Lake, at 5,800 acres, has what many anglers would call the best saugeye fishing in all of Ohio. This opinion is hard to debate, since literally thousands of 'eyes are harvested from the lake every winter. Many of these fish reach weights approaching 10 pounds.

Up to 500,000 saugeyes are stocked in the lake every year. Their fast growth and hardy nature, coupled with optimal lake features, make this place a virtual smorgasbord for saugeye fishermen.

Many of Ohio's fishing clubs frequent the lake every season. The Western Ohio Walleye Club (WOWC) and the Western Reserve Walleye Association make forays to this lake every year.

According to John Clark, president of the WOWC, the members of his organization love fishing Indian Lake. "This is probably the club's favorite lake, and often yields the best catches," he said.

Indian Lake is 15 miles northwest of Bellefontaine and may be accessed off state routes 117, 235 and 366.

Good areas to target are shallow embayments with woody structure, the mouth of the North Fork Great Miami River and the many channels or dredged areas.

Areas where deep water meets shallow water are always good.

Biologists recommend targeting the shallow edge of these dropoffs, since that's where active fish will typically hold. Less active fish will be in the deeper water.

More information and lake maps may be requested by contacting the ODOW's District One office at (614) 644-3925, or by logging on to their Web site, where printable versions of their lake maps are available.

DISTRICT TWO
Pleasant Hill Reservoir
Pleasant Hill Reservoir is in Richland County. Though a relatively small lake at 850 acres, it offers huge opportunities. The outlook for crappies, saugeyes and largemouth bass is excellent here. Big 'gills up to 9 inches long may be caught and draw a fair amount of local attention.

The crappie population here averages about 10 inches, but fish up to 16 inches are frequently caught. Saugeyes reach weights of 8 pounds. Two- and 3-pound 'eyes are common.

Largemouth bass may be caught through the ice up to 18 inches. Though the lake's largemouth population is very healthy, state fisheries biologists have found that the size of bass available is more on the average side.