In a year that has delivered unprecedented challenges, many nevertheless found much to be thankful for as we celebrated Thanksgiving 2020 — and that includes those of us who call ourselves anglers.

Fishing has been good, and sometimes great, for anglers throughout the Youngstown-Warren region. We are fortunate to have access to some remarkable fishing resources. It is appropriate this week to reflect and give thanks for those we most appreciate.

I am thankful for the long-running success story that is Lake Erie. It’s without question, the finest walleye fishery in the world and, based on recent trawl surveys, the fishing is forecast to be outstanding for years to come.

Trophy walleyes — fish topping 10 pounds — live in big numbers in Erie waters just north of Warren and Youngstown. Anglers count their lucky stars to have convenient access to the near-shore waters where oversized Erie walleyes move in to areas where they feast after dark on baitfish in November and December.

But Erie is more than a walleye lake. It’s also home to world-class smallmouth bass fishing. The steelhead action is excellent, as well, and some anglers enjoy days when they score the Erie slam: walleyes, smallies and steelhead. No time is better than the next few weeks to hook up with all three species on one fishing trip.

Closer to home, anglers are thankful for the super crappie fishing. We are blessed to have good populations of the popular panfish in all of our local reservoirs. Mosquito and Pymatuning top the crappie list, but Berlin, Shenango, Milton and West Branch are all capable of serving up keepers for savvy anglers.

Our Thanksgiving list also includes the good bass fishing to be found in all of our local reservoirs. Largemouth populations have been strong in recent years at Mosquito, Pymatuning, Shenango and West Branch. The largemouth fishing also has been improving, with 2020 yielding some quality catches.

Berlin has been kicking out solid smallmouth bass fishing. The autumn action was strong, offering a hint at what anglers might expect out of Berlin in 2021.

In addition to Erie and Berlin, smallies are abundant in Lake Milton, Shenango and the Ohio River. Smallmouth bass anglers also are thankful for the good fishing on the Allegheny River’s upper reaches.

No list of quality fishing deserving anglers’ gratitude would be complete without including the big game fishing opportunities within an hour of our home base.

Northern pike continue to flourish in Mosquito Lake. The population is substantial enough to merit the attention of anglers who wish to target them specifically.

West Branch, meanwhile, remains one of the best reservoirs in the Midwest for muskies. Pymatuning has lots of big muskies, too, along with Conneaut Lake near Meadville, Pa., and Chautauqua Lake in western New York.

‘Tis the season to be thankful. Our region is fortunate to have quality opportunities for anglers to hook up with their favorite species.

Fishing, thankfully, continues to be a safe haven for those who want to stretch their legs for a few hours without worries about deadly viruses and other nasty business.

Jack Wollitz is a writer and angler who fishes all of the waters in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania. He also appreciates emails from readers. Send a note to Jack at jackbbaass@gmail.com.