Deeper areas may be worked by means of a controlled drift driven by the wind. It's possible to pull walleyes out of fairly shallow water (under 4 feet or so) by drifting; a boat doesn't seem to spook the fish. Waders do very well on Mosquito Lake for the first month to six weeks after the ice has come off the lake. From late evening well into darkness is the best time to fish.

Another good early-season tactic is trolling in the stumpfields. One of the more productive areas is the large stump field found in about 6 to 10 feet of water southwest of the causeway. This area was productive for me during an early-season trip to Mosquito Lake last spring. Gold and black crankbaits worked best for my group during that outing. Let out just enough line to tick the top of the stumps, or you'll be snagged much of the time.

Another good stumpfield is north of the causeway adjacent to Rattlesnake Island. Deeper stumps are in the main basin area (known locally as "Red Barn"). This area is south of the causeway. The "cemetery" area along the southeastern shore of the lake is another popular walleye area.

Don't rule out deeper water during the early season, particularly for larger fish. Bigger females often hold in the depths and can be dredged out by pulling crankbaits on leadcore line.

There are no horsepower limitations at Mosquito Lake, though there is a 25-m.p.h. speed limit for the lower lake and a 15-m.p.h. limit for the upper portion. It's possible to move boats from the upper to lower basins by going under the bridge, but clearances can be iffy when the lake is full, especially if it's bumpy out. Watch that windshield!

Good access to the north portion of the lake is available at the private ramp at the Causeway Sporting Goods store. A nominal fee is charged for launching.

South of the causeway on the eastern shore is an excellent ODOW ramp and large parking lot. In the southern end of Mosquito Lake boats may be launched at the state park access and the Mosquito Lake Marina. A large fishing pier on the south side of the causeway provides good shore-fishing access.

Bait and tackle may be obtained in Mecca at the Causeway Sporting Goods store on the east side of the lake. Call (330) 637-7076 for more information. Also, try the Mosquito Lake State Park Marina off Route 305 at (330) 637-2075.

PYMATUNING LAKE
Currently, Ashtabula County's 14,650-acre Pymatuning Lake's walleye population isn't on the same level as Mosquito's. However, catches made during the summer of 2004 indicated good numbers of fish about to reach legal size. This, coupled with what's left of the mature fish that kept angler interest high the past two years or so, should keep Pymatuning on the must-fish list this spring.

This border water is shared with Pennsylvania, and management of the lake falls under the administration of both the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The PFBC stocks walleye fry on an annual basis, with the numbers exceeding 20 million fish over the past couple of years.

Pymatuning's walleye population dynamics have been in a state of change over the past few years. Once a place where catches of numerous sublegal fish were common, smaller fish were few and far between from 2002 to 2004. Springtime surveys conducted by Pennsylvania fisheries managers found mostly legal-sized fish in the nets. Fall studies revealed low numbers of young walleyes from springtime stockings.

Why the low recruitment? The most popular theory attributes it to competition and predation by populous alewives in the lake. These herring both muscle in on the limited early-season food sources and prey on young walleyes.