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 four management zones (Western, West-Central, Central, Eastern) with distinct yellow perch 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.
License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual | $25.00 | |
| Resident 1-day | $14.00 | 1-day fee applies toward an annual upgrade if purchased the same day |
| Resident senior (66+) annual | $10.00 | |
| Resident lifetime senior (66+) | $35.96 | |
| Resident youth (under 16) annual | $11.00 | |
| Resident disabled veteran | Free | Free — eligibility required |
| Resident lifetime | $599.00 |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual | $50.96 | |
| Non-resident 3-day | $25.96 | |
| Non-resident 1-day | $14.00 | |
| Non-resident youth (under 16) | $11.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Open year-round (Lake Erie + inland) | 6 / day Lake Erie; 4 / day inland | 15 in minimum Lake Erie + inland |
| Yellow perch | Open year-round (Lake Erie + inland) | Lake Erie: zone-based daily bag set each spring (typically 10–30); inland: 30 / day | No statewide minimum length |
| Smallmouth bass | Open year-round (catch-and-release encouraged May 1 – June 24 on Lake Erie) | 5 / day combined black bass | 14 in minimum Lake Erie; 12 in minimum most inland waters |
| Steelhead (rainbow trout) | Open year-round; prime tributary fishery Oct – April | 2 / day Lake Erie tributaries + open lake | 12 in minimum |
| Largemouth bass | Open year-round (most public reservoirs) | 5 / day combined black bass | 12 in minimum most reservoirs; 15 in on listed slot waters |
Notable water-body special regulations
Lake Erie (Ohio waters — all four management zones)
Western, West-Central, Central, and Eastern management zones with zone-specific yellow perch daily bag set each spring by the Lake Erie Committee
Boundary water with KY/WV; Ohio licence honoured to the south bank. Trophy flathead + blue catfish regs apply
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; 15 in minimum, 4 / day
No-horsepower-limit largemouth + crappie reservoir; 9 in crappie minimum, 30 / day
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.