I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again: The good ol’ days of Ohio fishing are here and now.

As our world spins faster and faster, it is tempting to decry current times. Many look back with rose-colored glasses and see better times, better cars, better everything–and that includes better fishing.

But I was fishing 50 years ago (and more), so I think I have the perspective to compare then and now. “Now” wins, hands down, here in Northeast Ohio and elsewhere in the Buckeye State.

I think fishing is better today than when I started buying annual fishing licenses, but you don’t have to take my word for it. Ohio Division of Wildlife recently issued a news release that underscores the quality of the state’s crappie, bass, walleye and saugeye fisheries.

The release includes information about the largest fish caught among those four species. All told among Ohio’s 25 most popular species, more than 8,000 catches of trophy-size fish were recognized.

Certainly the emergence over the past half-century of Lake Erie as the world’s greatest walleye lake helps fuel my conviction that we are living the good ol’ days. While Dad sings the praises of Erie’s fill-the-washtub blue pike fishing in the 1950s, today’s anglers are lugging coolers loaded with heavy limits of walleye.

Erie’s excellent walleye fishing appears to be on a trend of sustainability. Year after year, the fishing forecasts are excellent.

The biggest Erie walleye in 2021 measured 34 inches. Erie also produced 1,392 Fish Ohio-caliber walleyes (28 inches or longer) in 2021.

Among inland walleye lakes, Mosquito Creek Lake is the perennial leader in walleye catches. The population has been strong enough to be the leader in brood production for Ohio’s walleye stocking program for many years.

The Division of Wildlife news release reported Mosquito was Ohio’s top crappie lake in 2021, yielding more Fish Ohio catches than any other lake in our state.

Pymatuning Lake ranked eighth among Ohio crappie lakes, while West Branch Reservoir was ninth.

Largemouth bass also are a Mosquito Lake feature attraction. The lake was ranked fourth among Ohio bass lakes.

Mosquito’s emergence over the past 10 years as a leader in walleye, crappie and bass fishing is attributable to the lush vegetation that has become established. The greenery provides necessary habitat to support the forage base of crawfish, minnows, yellow perch, amphibians, and young-of-the-year shad, bluegill and other fish.

Ohio’s top saugeye lakes include two within an hour drive of Youngstown and Warren. Tappan, Clendening and Atwood lakes were rated fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

The Fish Ohio program awards anglers’ amazing catches for 25 popular sport fish. Those who qualify receive a Fish Ohio pin for their first entry and a master angler pin for four separate species in the same year.

Applications for pins are accepted at fishohio.gov.

Jack Wollitz’s book, “The Common Angler,” explores the “why” behind anglers’ great enjoyment of fishing. He likes emails from readers. Send a note to jackbbaass@gmail.com.