Photo by Ron Sinfelt

With winter winding down, Ohio's lakes will soon be open and its rivers running ice-free. One of the most sought-after species is the walleye, and Ohio has a good selection of waters in which purebreds seem to fare the best. Some of the better inland walleye waters are in the northeastern portion of the state, though the fish can be found in other areas as well.

Here's a look at three of the best places to go for inland walleyes in Ohio this spring.

MOSQUITO LAKE
Long considered by the Ohio Division of Wildlife to be one of the state's top inland lakes, Trumbull County's Mosquito Lake has been rated as the best overall walleye water for the past couple of years. Several strong year-classes are present, with good numbers of adult fish in the 13 to 21 inch range. Mosquito's walleyes fatten up on gizzard shad and young panfish.

Mosquito Lake, a relatively shallow, windswept reservoir, lies in a flatland setting. Stretching north to south in a bean-like shape, 7,241-acre Mosquito Lake reaches a maximum depth of about 30 feet near the dam; the average depth is much less. A few islands dot the lake. Shoreline flats tend to hold submergent vegetation like milfoil, though weeds were limited last season.

Zebra mussels have made their way into Mosquito, so water clarity has been on the rise over the past few years. The clearer water has extended the weed growth out to deeper water, particularly in the southern end of the lake.

The Route 88 causeway splits Mosquito Lake into two separate basins. Roughly a third of the lake is found north of the causeway. The extreme upper end of the lake is managed as a propagation area, and no fishing is permitted there. The off-limits area is well marked with buoys.

In addition to the weedbeds, stumpflats are a favored type of cover for Mosquito Lake walleyes. Several submerged roadbeds are also present. During the early season, submerged willows hold not only walleyes but crappies as well. Wave-washed gravel points, flats and humps are also important walleye attractors during the early season.

Mosquito Lake serves as a broodstock lake for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. As such, it is well stocked to ensure a good supply of fish not only for anglers but also as future breeders for the ODOW's walleye program. During spring 2004, more than 15 million walleye fry were introduced into Mosquito Lake via several stockings. The ODOW spreads the stockings out to help ensure that conditions are prime for at least one or two stockings.

The fish are also released in shallow, quick-to-warm areas in which conditions are better for the production of the zoöplankton vital for the survival of newly stocked walleye fry.

As of last spring, the agency estimated the adult walleye population (fish 13 inches and greater) to be about 64,000 fish. Creel surveys conducted during the 2004 season showed walleyes represented about 42 percent of the angling effort. Harvested walleyes averaged 15.2 inches.

Early-season walleye fishing at Mosquito Lake generally means fishing in shallow water. Many walleyes are taken in water less than a foot deep! Light leadhead jigs tipped with a minnow or twister tail body are popular. Pitching jigs up against the shore can be a slow way to fish, but a productive one when the fish are holding in very shallow water.