Once again, it is time for our annual review of area fishing results for this year's open water public fishing locations. This year saw some more changes than usual in some categories. Weather was not a particularly fundamental variable this year, as precipitation was generally rather low and overall temperatures were pretty "normal."
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I wanted to thank all the input gathered and considered throughout the tear from our long-time contact stations at area bait & tackle stores, the Ohio ODNR , personal experiences, Record- Courier readers, and those adding input throughout the year at the " Buckeye Angler " site on Facebook.
Here then are this year's top five choices in each category, ranked alphabetically by specie.
LARGEMOUTH BASS
5. Nimisila Reservoir
4. Wingfoot Lake
3. LaDue Reservoir
2. Mogadore Reservoir
1. PORTAGE LAKES
SMALLMOUTH BASS
5.Berlin Reservoir
4. West Branch Reservoir
3. Cuyahoga River
2. Lake Milton
1.LAKE ERIE
BLUEGILL ( includes sunfish, warmouth, redear, pumpkinseed )
5. Mosquito Reservoir
4. Walborn Reservoir
3. Punderson Lake
2. Mogadore
1. LADUE RESERVOIR
CATFISH
5. Portage Lakes
4. Berlin
3. Mogadore
2. Lake Erie
1. MOSQUITO
CRAPPIE
5. Deer Creek Reservoir
4. Mogadore
3. West Branch
2. Berlin
1. MOSQUITO RESERVOIR
MUSKIE
5. Lake Erie
4. Clear Fork Reservoir
3. Leesville Lake
2. Milton
1. WEST BRANCH
YELLOW PERCH
5. Pymatuning Reservoir
4. Cuyahoga River
3. Milton
2. Mogadore
1.LAKE ERIE
NORTHERN PIKE
5.Milton
4. LaDue
3. Mosquito
2. West Branch
1. CUYAHOGA RIVER
TROUT
5. Chagrin River
4. Grand River
3. Punderson
2. Lake Erie
1. CONNEAUT CREEK
WALLEYE
5. Milton
4. Mosquito
3. Berlin
2. West Branch
1. LAKE ERIE
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Jack Kiser is the host of Buckeye Angler and long-time Outdoors Columnist for the Record-Courier and " Midwest Outdoors" ,Ohio Valley Outdoors, and Angler magazines, as well as TV and radio host for WNIR, PBS, ONN, WAKR and Fox Sports.You may reach him at the Buckeye Angler Facebook site.