The first (east) basin, largest of the three, has public access at a county park situated on the east shore of the lake. The maximum depth of this lake is about 30 feet.

The second basin is separated from the first basin by a peninsula (Comfort Point) extending south from the north shore of the main body of the lake. The second basin contains the deepest water of the lake at about 80 feet.

Although the first and second basins are roundish in form and deep, the third basin is long (roughly one mile long), narrow and rather shallow, only about 9 feet deep.

Ledet said studies of Crooked Lake in recent years have revealed walleyes up to 20 inches, but added that the lake hosts many walleyes in the 15- to 16-inch class.

Ledet said historically, the first and second basins have been the best for walleyes, but recent studies show good numbers of walleyes, and good catch rates of this species, in the third basin as well.

"There is no particular best spot for walleyes," Ledet said. "They are scattered throughout the lake."

Crooked Lake has good populations of largemouth bass and bluegills, but Ledet said the bulk of the 'gills are about 7 to 8 inches. He added that most ice-fishermen do not fish for bass at Crooked Lake.

Conventional ice-fishing gear and baits are best for the bluegills, Ledet said, adding that while some anglers use tip-ups with minnows for walleyes, most anglers use jigging spoons or the Rapala jigging lure of middle size. Many anglers will dress the hooks of the jigging spoons with very small minnows.

Ledet said Crooked Lake also has yellow perch in good numbers, but added that they are small.

Anglers looking for larger bluegills and redear sunfish will find them at Silver Lake, 238 acres, four miles west of Angola off U.S. Route 20, according to Ledet.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has property at the northeast corner of the lake, but it is not yet developed as an access site.

Silver Lake is producing good number of 'gills and redears in the 8- to 10-inch range.

Ice-fishermen can park at the DNR property, but many anglers access Silver Lake from a church parking lot on the south side of U.S. 20.

Jed Pearson said Sylvan Lake's 630 surface acres of water will be the best bet for ice-anglers in District 3, citing a big population of bluegills that run 7 to 8 inches long. There is also a good population of walleyes that will meet the state's minimum-size limit of 14 inches; finally, there is the potential for anglers to catch yellow perch in the 8- to 10-inch range.

Sylvan Lake is a long, east-west body of water situated at Rome City (Noble County). Pearson thinks of it as having three main basins. The lake's maximum depth of 36 feet can be found in the Cain Basin at the southeast end of the lake.

A large island separates Cain Basin and a shallower basin in the northeast corner of the lake forms a large, nameless central basin. The lake continues into the west basin through a narrow neck. A boat ramp at the public fishing area is located near the outlet of the west basin. The central and western basins of Sylvan Lake have maximum depths of less than 20 feet.