With all that said, here's a look at Heyob's and Lewis's top choices for Ohio's August muskie action.

ALUM CREEK LAKE
Alum Creek, a 3,269-acre reservoir in Delaware County, resembles a millipede featuring 70 miles of shoreline with dozens of arms and coves protruding from its main body. It is one of eight lakes in the state that are stocked every year at a rate of one muskie per surface acre of water.

Alum Creek Lake has no restrictions on motor horsepower. The lake may be accessed one mile west of Interstate Route 71 on U.S. Route 36 and state Route 37.

Anglers employ many successful techniques on Alum Creek throughout the year, but August turns a new page in muskie behavior, so anglers, too, must begin looking for fish in new areas.

"Fishermen do best targeting suspended muskies in deep water," Heyob said. "As the surface water warms it holds less oxygen. Muskies in turn relocate to deeper water near the thermocline, where temperatures are cooler and the water is richer in oxygen."

Good areas to troll for suspended fish include main lake points, necked- down areas and inlets. Areas where streams enter the lake may be cooler and should also hold fish.

In 2004, muskie survey returns from Alum Creek showed nine Ohio Huskie Muskie Club qualifiers were caught, (muskies over 42 inches long), 51 honorable mentions, (muskies between 30 and 42 inches long) and 29 muskies under 30 inches.

"These numbers are not entirely accurate, because not every angler turns in their catches. These figures are only a reflection of the number of scale samples we receive and nothing else," Lewis explained. "In our estimation, the fishery is on track and will continue to improve, and provide fishermen with yet another great angling year in 2005. Anglers targeting Alum Creek in August can expect a chance at some beautiful fish -- maybe even a Huskie Muskie qualifier."

For more information on the muskie fishing at Alum Creek Lake, contact the ODOW's District One office at (614) 644-3925, or write them at 1500 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215.

For travel information and accommodations, the Alum Creek State Park office may be reached at (740) 548-4631.

CLEAR FORK RESERVOIR
The reputation as one of Ohio's finest muskie fisheries that Clear Fork Reservoir has long enjoyed is a well-earned one. This 971-acre reservoir has 14 miles of shoreline in Richland and Morrow counties. It has no motor restrictions in effect, but does have an 8 mph speed restriction. The lake may be accessed off state routes 97 and 314 northwest of Lexington.

Clear Fork is stocked every year with one 9-inch muskie per surface-acre of water. It's from Clear Fork that the ODOW obtains fertilized eggs to stock other Ohio muskie lakes.

According to biologists Lewis and Heyob, Clear Fork is one of the best muskie lakes in the state. "Anglers who are going to fish Clear Fork in August should arrive at the lake early in the morning," Heyob offered. "Good locations to target are the spring holes on the north end of the lake. Many successful anglers cast thoroughly to these areas.

"Water temperatures often dictate the depth at which anglers will find fish. And with every passing year, fishermen are faced with different weather patterns. Be adaptable and patient on Clear Fork. The fish are there, and diligent anglers stand a good chance of catching them."

Because Clear Fork does not stratify (develop a thermocline), anglers enjoy favorable casting conditions year 'round.

August hotspots on Clear Fork Reservoir include the islands and underwater humps in the middle of the lake and the steep ledges on the north shore by the spring holes.