2026 regulation year
Mad River 2026 — Ohio Fishing Regulations
Ohio statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Mad River carries a special-regulation overlay on top of Ohio's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Per-species rules on Mad River
12 in minimum; coldwater + tailrace smallmouth fishery
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
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Mad River?
- Mad River carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Ohio's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass. It reads: "12 in minimum; coldwater + tailrace smallmouth fishery." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Mad River?
- Yes. Mad River 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 Mad River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Ohio rules.
- Do Mad River's special rules replace Ohio's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Ohio's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Mad River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule 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 Mad River?
- Smallmouth bass has a water-body-specific rule on Mad River, each linking to its full Ohio regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Ohio limits.