From bass to panfish to heavy lake-run rainbow trout, Ohio has an abundance of fine angling options, many just waiting for cooler fall weather to turn on.

Here's a look at three excellent options:

SALT FORK LAKE, SMALLMOUTH BASS —Southeastern Ohio's Salt Fork Lake features a solid warmwater fishery. It's one of the better smallmouth bass lakes in the state.It covers just over 3,000 acres and attains a depth of 30 feet.While largemouths outnumber smallmouth bass in Salt Fork, the DOW considers the smallmouth population to be above average for a state inland lake. In its 2008 survey of the brown bass collected, 35 percent were in excess of 11 inches, and 12 percent longer than 14 inches.It's not surprising that largemouths outnumber smallies in Salt Fork.The lake has much more habitat suitable for largemouths than smallmouths. Salt Fork is comprised of two major creek arms, ones that each have networks of secondary bays and coves.I've had my best smallmouth bass action along the peninsula, near the dam, where the two arms split. The area is classic smallmouth bass water, with boulders and rock slides along with numerous laydowns; perfect places to pitch skirted jigs with crawfish trailers.Salt Fork Lake has no horsepower restrictions, though there are numerous no-wake areas.Two boat ramps are found within the lower end of the lake near the good smallmouth areas.

GRAND RIVER, STEELHEAD — A relatively young program, the Ohio DOW's steelhead stocking program has evolved into one of the more productive type efforts in the nation.Presently, Buckeye anglers can pick from five separate streams and rivers that are managed with consistent steelhead stockings. Several additional Lake Erie feeder streams pick up stray steelhead.Ohio's primary steelhead waters are the Vermillion, Rocky, Chagrin and Grand rivers, and also Conneaut Creek.Among them the Grand River receives some of the highest level of stocking, having been stocked with near or in excess of 100,000 steelhead fingerlings in each of the past five years. A four-year-old steelhead in Ohio waters will average around 28 inches in length and weigh from eight to 10 pounds.Fresh-from-the-lake steelhead typically begin entering Ohio tributaries in early to mid September, depending on the rain and stream flows of the year. Wet weather that elevates flows equates into early runs, as well as fish well distrusted throughout a given river or stream.The action continues from fall into winter, when snow and ice begin limiting the sport.Steelhead fishing on the Grand River takes place from Harpersfield Dam downriver to the lake. Public access points are well distributed throughout this length.They include: Harpersfield Dam, Hogsback Ridge Park, Riverview Park, Hidden Valley Park, Indian Point Park, Mason's Landing, Helen Hazen Wyman Park, Painesville City Park, Fairport Harbor Pier, and finally Mentor Headlands and Breakwall.While public access is good on the Grand River, anglers must remember that major portions flow through private property. Fishing such areas is not permitted without the landowner's permission.The continued sport provided by the steelhead program is reliant on good angler behavior.A variety of tactics take Grand River steelhead. Spin fisherman often fare well with small dark-bodied jigs tipped with maggots. This setup is usually fished beneath a float. Hardware in the form of spoons is also productive. Fly anglers score with a variety of egg patterns and streamers.Successful steelheading is often a matter of timing. The action is extremely sensitive to good conditions, which most anglers agree to be a good flow with slightly off-colored water. Anglers can keep in touch with the ebb and flow of the Grand by visiting the USGS's webpage that shows the history of the river gauge at Painesville.Simply do a search of "USGS gauge at Painesville, Ohio" to find the link.

CLEAR FORK LAKE, PANFISH — Northwestern Ohio's Clear Fork Lake has the deserved reputation as one the state's better muskie lakes. It's likely the muskies (and largemouth bass) help keep the panfish populations in check, as Clear Fork has a solid population of sunfish and crappies.It's a peaceful place to spend a fall afternoon putting a few panfish in the boat, and perhaps bringing some home for the table.Surveys conducted recently by the Ohio DOW revealed a good sunfish population that averaged 4.5 inches in length. 21 percent of the 'gils collected exceeded six inches. The crappie fishery is also in good shape.Crappies averaged eight inches, the population being dominated by white crappie.Clear Fork Lake covers a bit over 1,000 acres and has a maximum depth of over 20 feet. Of particular note to pan fishermen are the steep drop-offs along the northern shoreline of the lake.In the fall, crappies like to congregate at the bottom of sharp ledges the reach the main basin. Spots that feature a stump or two, or a sunken brushpile, will attract these deeper fish. Target them by yo-yoing a light jig from directly above.Use as light a jig as the wind and waves will permit.There is no horsepower limit on Clear Fork, though there is an 8 mph speed limit lake-wide. The boat access area is located at the upper end of the lake off of Route 97.Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.