May means business for Northeast Ohio anglers, as the lakes are full, the rivers are running strong and the fish are at their friskiest. Whether you pursue bass, muskies, walleyes or crappies, May is first or second on most anglers’ rankings of their favorite months to go fishing. I love May in Ohio. The wetlands are alive as the waters warm and the plants gain their greenery, while the spring peepers’ choruses grow louder every day. The trees are budding and the birds are nesting.

May means the walleye spawn is completed here in our local streams and rivers and the adults are back to their eager spring feeding. Pymatuning will be the hot ticket throughout May as anglers drift and troll for the provisions for family fish fries.

Catfish are starting to prowl, too, as the traditional nighttime hotspots throughout the Youngstown-Warren region glow with lantern lights and campfires. Channel cats are the main attraction, but flatheads also are available, especially at Mosquito Lake.

Largemouth bass are May’s main lovers in our Northeast Ohio counties. From Lake Erie to the Ohio River and all the reservoirs and ponds in between, the largemouths are pairing up and fanning nests for the spawn that will occur when the moon and water temperature are right. Mosquito Lake already is producing bumper crops of bass. A recent Do Bass Northern Open Anglers Association tournament victory went to a team that tallied a five-bass limit exceeding 24 pounds. That is one of the heaviest five-bass catches ever recorded in Ohio bass tournament history. While the largemouths are making babies, smallmouth bass also are busy in May. Smallies are widespread in Northeast Ohio. They are moving in from Lake Erie to the harbors and channels, and cruising the rocky banks at Milton, Berlin and Pymatuning. Shenango Reservoir north of Sharon, Pa., also offers excellent smallmouth fishing, as does the New Cumberland Pool of the Ohio River near East Liverpool and Wellsville.

May is the month crappie anglers have been waiting for as slab-sided fish invade the flooded willow bushes and other vertical and horizontal cover in our local reservoirs. Mosquito Lake ranks high on the list of favorites for anglers looking to load their stringers with crappies.

Big game anglers are ready for action with oversized muskies and northern pike. West Branch remains a highly regarded muskie fishery, along with Milton and Pymatuning. Leesville Lake in Carroll County is another muskie hotspot.

Relatively few anglers target northern pike specifically, but they are numerous enough to show up as surprise catches at Mosquito Lake. Fish exceeding 36 inches in length are eager to grab lures cast for bass and the bait rigs drifted and trolled for walleyes. May’s weather is for the most part pretty darn conducive to inspire anglers to go fishing. Best of all, May’s fishing often is outstanding, regardless of the angler’s favorite species.

Jack Wollitz’s book, “The Common Angler,” dives into the highs and lows that combine to make fishing a passion for so many people. He appreciates emails from readers. Send a note to jackbbaass@gmail.com.