What special fishing regulations apply at Lake St. Marys?

Lake St. Marys carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Ohio's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass. One of them reads: "No-horsepower-limit largemouth + crappie reservoir; 9 in crappie minimum, 30 / day." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake St. Marys?

Yes. Lake St. Marys is in Ohio, so a valid Ohio fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lake St. Marys; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Ohio rules.

Do Lake St. Marys' special rules replace Ohio's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Ohio's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake St. Marys by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Lake St. Marys?

Largemouth bass has a water-body-specific rule on Lake St. Marys, each linking to its full Ohio regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Ohio limits.

2026 regulation year

Lake St. Marys 2026 — Ohio Fishing Regulations

Ohio statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Lake St. Marys carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Ohio's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

No-horsepower-limit largemouth + crappie reservoir; 9 in crappie minimum, 30 / day
Source: Ohio special-water list

Per-species rules on Lake St. Marys

Largemouth bass regulations →
12 in minimum, 5 / day; no-horsepower-limit reservoir

Official source

Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 Ohio fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

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.

Other special-regulation waters in Ohio

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Lake St. Marys?: Lake St. Marys carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Ohio's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass. One of them reads: "No-horsepower-limit largemouth + crappie reservoir; 9 in crappie minimum, 30 / day." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake St. Marys?: Yes. Lake St. Marys is in Ohio, so a valid Ohio fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lake St. Marys; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Ohio rules.
Do Lake St. Marys' special rules replace Ohio's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Ohio's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake St. Marys by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Lake St. Marys?: Largemouth bass has a water-body-specific rule on Lake St. Marys, each linking to its full Ohio regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Ohio limits.

← Back to Ohio regulations overview