2026 regulation year
Ohio Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
Ohio sells one combined licence that covers inland waters and the Ohio portion of Lake Erie — no separate Great Lakes stamp is required. Resident annual licences expire on the last day of February. Lake Erie is split into three yellow perch management zones (West, Central, East) with distinct daily bag limits set each spring by the Lake Erie Committee. The Ohio River is managed as a boundary water with Kentucky and West Virginia; an Ohio resident licence is honoured on the river to the south bank.
Get change alerts
Watch Ohio fishing regulations and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.
License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual | $25.00 | |
| Resident 1-day | $14.00 | Applies as credit toward an annual licence if upgraded the same day ($12 upgrade) |
| Resident senior (65+) annual | $10.00 | Ohio residents age 65+ born on or after Jan 1, 1938 |
| Resident senior (65+) lifetime | $84.24 | |
| Resident lifetime | $599.04 | |
| Resident youth lifetime | $430.56 | Purchased before the holder's 16th birthday — anglers under 16 need no licence at all |
| Resident disabled veteran / former POW | Free | Free — disabled veterans, POWs, and holders of wheelchair-symbol veteran plates; formal application required |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual | $76.96 | |
| Non-resident 3-day | $52.00 | |
| Non-resident 1-day | $27.04 | Applies as credit toward a non-resident annual licence if upgraded the same day ($49.92 upgrade) |
| Non-resident (under 16) | — | No licence required — anglers under 16 are exempt regardless of residency |
Buy directly from Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife. Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| WalleyeCompare across states → | Open year-round (Lake Erie + inland) | 6 / day (Lake Erie + inland) | 15 in Lake Erie; no statewide minimum inland (15 in on listed reservoirs) |
| Yellow perchCompare across states → | Open year-round (Lake Erie + inland) | Lake Erie: zone-based (2026: West 30 / Central 10 / East 20); inland: 30 / day | No statewide minimum length |
| Smallmouth bassCompare across states → | Open year-round (Lake Erie spawn limit May 1 – June 26: 1 fish, 18 in min) | 5 / day combined black bass | 14 in minimum Lake Erie; 12 in minimum most inland waters |
| Steelhead (rainbow trout)Compare across states → | Open year-round; prime tributary fishery Oct – April | 2 / day Lake Erie tributaries + open lake | 12 in minimum |
| Largemouth bassCompare across states → | Open year-round (most public reservoirs) | 5 / day combined black bass | 12 in minimum most reservoirs; 15 in on listed slot waters |
| MuskellungeCompare across states → | Open year-round | 1 / day (musky + tiger musky combined) | No statewide minimum; 30 in at Pymatuning + Ohio River |
| Channel catfishCompare across states → | Open year-round | No limit under 28 in; 1 / day over 28 in | No minimum length to keep |
| CrappieCompare across states → | Open year-round | No statewide limit; 20–30 / day on listed reservoirs | No statewide minimum; 9 in on listed waters |
Notable water-body special regulations
Three yellow perch management zones — West, Central, East — with a zone-specific daily bag set each spring by the Lake Erie Committee (2026: West 30 / Central 10 / East 20). Walleye 6 / day, 15 in min; black bass 5 / day, 14 in (May 1 – June 26 reduced to 1 fish, 18 in)
Boundary water with KY/WV; Ohio licence honoured to the south bank. Black bass 6 / day, 12 in; walleye/sauger/saugeye 6 / day, 14 in; muskellunge 2 / day, 30 in; trophy flathead + blue catfish (1 over 35 in each)
Rocky River (Lake Erie tributary)
Steelhead Alley: stocked steelhead fishery Oct – April; 2 / day, 12 in minimum
Chagrin River (Lake Erie tributary)
Steelhead Alley: same regs as Rocky; closed to night-fishing during stocked steelhead season on listed reaches
Grand River (Lake Erie tributary)
Steelhead Alley: longest stocked tributary in the system; same 2 / day, 12 in
Steelhead Alley: easternmost stocked tributary; OH/PA boundary applies near mouth
Steelhead Alley: westernmost stocked tributary
Pymatuning Reservoir (OH/PA boundary)
Reciprocal walleye/crappie regs with Pennsylvania; either licence honoured on the open water
Northeast Ohio walleye reservoir; walleye/saugeye/sauger 6 / day, 15 in minimum (15 in min added Jan 2025); crappie 30 / day, 9 in
No-horsepower-limit largemouth + crappie reservoir; 9 in crappie minimum, 30 / day
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation trophy black bass reservoir — a Knox County lake near Fredericktown. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5 with an 18 in minimum length — the strictest black-bass minimum in Ohio's special-regulation list, managing Knox as a trophy-bass fishery. Other species follow statewide rules (Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07).
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Salt Fork Lake (Guernsey County, Salt Fork State Park) is the largest inland lake in Ohio. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: a 4-fish split daily limit — only 2 bass may be under 15 in and only 2 bass 15 in or longer. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. A stocked muskellunge fishery (statewide 1 / day) is also present. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Caesar Creek Lake (Warren, Clinton, and Greene counties, Caesar Creek State Park) is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control lake popular for crappie, saugeye, and muskellunge. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Paddlefish may not be taken or possessed within 2,000 ft of the reservoir or its dam. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
East Fork Lake (William H. Harsha Lake)
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — East Fork Lake, officially William H. Harsha Lake (Clermont County, east of Cincinnati), is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir and a top hybrid-striped-bass, saugeye, and crappie water. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Paddlefish may not be taken or possessed within 2,000 ft of the reservoir or its dam. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Paint Creek Lake (Ross and Highland counties, Paint Creek State Park) is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: a 4-fish split daily limit — only 2 bass under 15 in and only 2 bass 15 in or longer. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Paddlefish may not be taken or possessed within 2,000 ft of the reservoir or its dam. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Dillon Lake (Muskingum County, Dillon State Park near Zanesville) is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir managed as a saugeye and crappie fishery. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Piedmont Lake (Belmont and Harrison counties) is a Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District reservoir long regarded as one of Ohio's premier muskellunge waters. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Muskellunge follow the statewide 1 / day limit. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Tappan Lake (Harrison County) is a Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District reservoir known for crappie, saugeye, and largemouth bass. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Acton Lake (Preble and Butler counties, Hueston Woods State Park) is popular for largemouth bass and crappie. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: a 4-fish split daily limit — only 2 bass under 15 in and only 2 bass 15 in or longer. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Findley Lake (Lorain County, Findley State Park near Wellington) is an electric-motors-only lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: a 4-fish split daily limit — only 2 bass under 15 in and only 2 bass 15 in or longer. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Burr Oak Lake (Athens and Morgan counties, Burr Oak State Park) sits in the Appalachian foothills. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5, but no bass between 12 and 15 in may be kept — a protected slot allowing harvest only of bass under 12 in or over 15 in. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — C.J. Brown Reservoir (Clark County, Buck Creek State Park near Springfield) is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake and one of Ohio's top walleye fisheries. Walleye, saugeye, and sauger: daily limit 6, 15 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Lake Milton (Mahoning County) is a reservoir on the Mahoning River near Youngstown. Walleye, saugeye, and sauger: daily limit 6, 15 in minimum (the rule also covers the Mahoning River connecting Berlin Lake and Lake Milton). Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Pleasant Hill Lake (Ashland and Richland counties) is a Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District reservoir in the Mohican region. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Lake Loramie (Shelby and Auglaize counties, Lake Loramie State Park) is a former canal-feeder reservoir popular for crappie and bluegill. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
Clear Fork of the Mohican River
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation trout stream — the Clear Fork of the Mohican River (Richland and Ashland counties), one of Ohio's few stocked stream-trout fisheries. Trout: daily limit 2; a 12 in minimum applies in the Richland County reach, while the Ashland County reach carries a 2-fish limit with no minimum size. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Wingfoot Lake (Portage County, Wingfoot Lake State Park near Akron) is a former Goodyear company lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: a 3-fish split daily limit — only 2 bass under 14 in and only 1 bass 20 in or longer (a trophy-bass slot). Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — LaDue Reservoir (Geauga County) is an Akron city water-supply lake and a noted northeast-Ohio walleye and muskellunge fishery (electric motors only). Walleye, saugeye, and sauger: daily limit 6, 15 in minimum. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Cowan Lake (Clinton County, Cowan Lake State Park) is a popular southwest-Ohio bass and crappie lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5, 15 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Seneca Lake (Guernsey and Noble counties) is a large Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District reservoir. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5, 15 in minimum. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Rocky Fork Lake (Highland County, Rocky Fork State Park) is a popular south-central-Ohio crappie and saugeye lake. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Delaware Lake (Delaware County, Delaware State Park) is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir north of Columbus. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum — the rule also covers the Olentangy River upstream to the Waldo dam and Whetstone Creek upstream to State Route 229. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — O'Shaughnessy Reservoir (Delaware and Franklin counties) is a Scioto River impoundment in the Columbus metro. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir chain — the Portage Lakes (Summit County, Portage Lakes State Park near Akron), including the East, North, Turkeyfoot, and West reservoirs. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Ferguson Reservoir (Allen County, near Lima) is a water-supply lake in northwest Ohio. Black and white crappie: daily limit 30, 9 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Dale Walborn Reservoir (Stark County, near Alliance) is a northeast-Ohio bass lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5, 15 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation lake — Zepernick Lake (Columbiana County, Zepernick Wildlife Area) is an eastern-Ohio bass lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5, 15 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation lake — Ross Lake (Ross County, Ross Lake Wildlife Area near Chillicothe) is a south-central-Ohio bass lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5, 15 in minimum. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation lake — Kiser Lake (Champaign County, Kiser Lake State Park) is a quiet-water lake (gas motors prohibited) long popular for sailing and fishing. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: a 3-fish split daily limit — only 2 bass under 14 in and only 1 bass 20 in or longer (a trophy-bass slot). Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Wolf Run Lake (Noble County, Wolf Run State Park) is a clear eastern-Ohio lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: a 3-fish split daily limit — only 2 bass under 14 in and only 1 bass 20 in or longer (a trophy-bass slot). Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation lake — Spencer Lake (Medina County, Spencer Lake Wildlife Area) is a northeast-Ohio lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: a 3-fish split daily limit — only 2 bass under 14 in and only 1 bass 20 in or longer (a trophy-bass slot). Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
Jesse Owens State Park and Wildlife Area
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation waters — the lakes of Jesse Owens State Park and Wildlife Area (southeastern Ohio coal country; the former AEP ReCreation Land), a vast complex of reclaimed-strip-mine lakes. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: a 3-fish split daily limit — only 2 bass under 14 in and only 1 bass 20 in or longer. Sunfish (all species): daily limit 20. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Lake Rupert (Vinton County; the Wellston city reservoir) is a southeast-Ohio lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5, but no bass between 12 and 15 in may be kept — a protected slot allowing harvest only of bass under 12 in or over 15 in. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation reservoir — Hammertown Lake (Jackson County; the Jackson city reservoir) is a southern-Ohio lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5, but no bass between 12 and 15 in may be kept — a protected slot allowing harvest only of bass under 12 in or over 15 in. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation lake — Turkey Creek Lake (Scioto County, Shawnee State Forest) is a southern-Ohio lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass: daily limit 5, but no bass between 12 and 15 in may be kept — a protected slot allowing harvest only of bass under 12 in or over 15 in. Other species follow statewide rules. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
ODNR Division of Wildlife special-regulation trout stream — Clear Creek (Fairfield and Hocking counties, Clear Creek Metro Park southeast of Columbus), one of Ohio's stocked stream-trout fisheries. Trout: daily limit 2, no minimum size, in the reach from the first Fairfield County Road 69 bridge to the U.S. Route 33 bridge in Hocking County. Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-13-07.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fishing license to fish in Ohio?
- Yes. Ohio requires residents and non-residents alike to hold a valid fishing license, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. Buy directly from Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife; resident and non-resident fees are listed in the tables above.
- How much is a fishing license in Ohio?
- Resident fees range from $10.00 (resident senior (65+) annual) to $599.04 (resident lifetime); Non-resident fees range from $27.04 (non-resident 1-day) to $76.96 (non-resident annual). The full breakdown — annual, multi-day, senior, and lifetime options — is in the license-fee tables above, and you can compare Ohio against every other state on the license-fee comparator.
- What fish can you catch in Ohio?
- Ohio anglers most commonly target Walleye, Yellow perch, Smallmouth bass, Steelhead (rainbow trout), Largemouth bass, Muskellunge, and others. Each species sets its own season, daily bag, and size or slot limit — compare them in the species table above, or open a species page for the full 2026 rule.
- When does fishing season open in Ohio?
- It depends on the species — Ohio sets a separate season for each. Warmwater fish like bass, catfish, and panfish are open year-round in most of the state, while trout, walleye, salmon, and other cold-water or migratory species have dated seasons. The season column in the table above shows each one, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife can shift dates by emergency order.
- Are there special fishing rules on specific Ohio waters?
- Yes. 46 named Ohio waters carry regulations that differ from the statewide rule, including Lake Erie, Ohio River, Rocky River (Lake Erie tributary), and 43 more. See the notable water-body special regulations above for the exact rule on each.
Official source
Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife is the authoritative source for Ohio fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.
Visit official Ohio fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Ohio Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Ohio trip during the active season.