Spring is the best time for chasing walleyes. More and bigger 'eyes are caught during this time of warming water and the feeding frenzies that precede the annual spawn.

For the best fish of this spring season, try these five inland spots.

MOSQUITO LAKE
Most fisheries biologist and anglers consider this to be Ohio's No. 1 inland fishery for walleyes. For anglers hoping to tie into a big spring lunker, Mosquito Lake in Trumbull County is a must-visit location.

The lake is a component of Mosquito Lake State Park and is also a wildlife management area. All the amenities associated with a park are here, including boat launches, camping and a marina.

Though there are no motor restrictions on the lake, a no-wake restriction extends 300 feet from all shorelines, as well as a speed zone.

Although only 24 feet deep, Mosquito Lake has more than 7,200 acres of water and a variety of structure and conditions conducive to any fishing style. Anglers familiar with the lake use jigs, harnesses, spoons and plugs with good success.

The key is to adapt to the available structure. In deeper water, slow-trolling a deep-running plug may be best, but casting a jig near a section of riprap shoreline may be just as productive.

Mosquito Creek Lake lies 45 miles west of Cleveland and 15 miles north of Warren. Walleye anglers may reach the lake from state Route 87 along its northern border, state Route 88 on the south, state Route 45 on the west and state Route 46 on the east.

The wildlife area headquarters is off state Route 87 on county Road 263.

Additional information on Mosquito Creek Lake may be obtained from the Ohio Division of Wildlife's District Three office at (330) 644-2293. For maps and more information online, try www.ohiodnr.com.

C.J. BROWN RESERVOIR
In Clark County, C.J. Brown Reservoir covers 2,000 acres. The lake is part of Buck Creek State Park and has all the associated amenities.

There are no motor restrictions on the lake. Though the summer crowds can make the lake pretty frothy, spring walleye anglers should be able to avoid the worst of it.

Spring walleye fishing at the reservoir is a little different than many of Ohio's inland lakes. C.J. Brown is relatively featureless, with very few major humps or structures to concentrate fish. Spring walleye anglers should concentrate their efforts on the dam's riprap wall and bridge abutments. Jigs often work best in these areas, but trolling them can also be productive. (Continued)

C.J. Brown Reservoir lies in Buck Creek State Park, two miles northeast of Springfield and approximately one mile east of state Route 4 on Croft Road. Or try going three miles north of U.S. Route 40 on Bird Road and Buck Creek Lane. For more information, call the ODOW's District Five Office at (937) 372-9261. For online information, try www.ohiodnr.com.

BERLIN LAKE
Straddling the junction of Stark, Portage, and Mahoning counties is Berlin Lake with more than 3,300 acres of water. Berlin Lake has all of the amenities and draws a very active summer crowd, but this shouldn't be much of a problem for the spring walleye angler.

Berlin Lake has a variety of structure along the shoreline, as well as beneath the water, that holds plenty of fish. There are long sloping points, creek channels and flats where anglers may cast or troll. There are also willow-strewn shorelines and steep dropoffs for anglers fishing jigs.

Berlin Lake lies a couple of miles southeast of Deerfield via U. S. Route 224 and state routes 14 and 225.