• Bass, walleye and more swim in Ohio's waters.River image by Sergey Yakovenko from Fotolia.com
  
  Ohio is home to some truly outstanding fishing, with something to offer for novices, professionals, and whole families of fishermen. There are fish biting somewhere at any time of the year, from the depths of lake Erie to the smallest creek. Just be sure to have a valid Ohio fishing license, which you can pick up at bait shops and other retailers across the Buckeye State.
  
  

Spring: Tailwater Walleyes

• In April, Ohio's walleye fishing picks up in tail-water areas of rivers, causeway openings with current and below dams across the state. Throw jigs tipped with twister-tail grubs and live minnows in these areas. Current breaks next to heavy flow are top spots, and action can be excellent both at night and during the day. Ohio river tail-waters are great as are most Lake Erie tributaries. Good fishing lasts through May.
  
  

Summer: Lake Erie

• Lake Erie holds a bounty of fish, and summer is the time to take advantage of it. River mouths, rocky slopes, reefs, humps, sand bars, rock ledges, breakwalls and shipwrecks are all productive, and fishing can be hot anywhere from shore to several miles out. Bass, walleye, perch, muskellunge, and many other fish are available, and there are countless marinas, boat launches and bait shops in towns along the shore. Stop in and talk to the locals before you launch your boat. The chances are they can direct you to great fishing.
  
  

Fall: Stream Smallmouths

• Creek and river fishing is great throughout summer, but early fall is a great time to head to moving water, if not for the fish then for the beautiful scenery at this time of year. The fishing alone is quite attractive though. You will find smallmouths in pools and runs around cover. As temperatures drop, smallies spend more time in pools, and feeding patterns switch from crayfish to baitfish, so choose lures accordingly. Scioto River, Sandusky River, Little Beaver Creek, and Stillwater river are places to try.
  
  

Winter: Ice Fishing Perch

• Perch are one of the most prized food fish in fresh water and plentiful in Ohio's bays and reservoirs. Winter is the time to dig out the ice fishing gear and head to Findlay Reservoir No. 1, Metzger and Ferguson Reservoirs, Shelby Reservoir No. 3, Upper Sandusky Reservoir No. 2, or Willard Reservoir. Perch hold in deep water near the bottom, and bite on small jigs tipped with minnows or wax worms. Look for places that have green vegetation throughout winter, especially if there are rocks nearby.