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2026 regulation year

Ohio River main stem 2026 — Indiana Fishing Regulations

Indiana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

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Ohio River main stem carries 6 special-regulation overlays on top of Indiana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and 1 more species. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

  • IN/KY Ohio River Reciprocity Compact main stem (either state's licence honored from KY/WV line to Cairo IL); black bass 12 in min, 6 / day combined; walleye + sauger + hybrid 14 in min, 6 / day; catfish 13 in min + no daily limit, only 1 blue ≥ 35 in + 1 flathead ≥ 35 in + 1 channel ≥ 28 in per day; IN state-record blue catfish 104 lb (Cannelton Dam tailwaters, 1999); paddlefish snagging + striped bass tailwaters

    Source: Indiana special-water list

Per-species rules on Ohio River main stem

Official source

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

Visit official Indiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Indiana Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Indiana trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Indiana

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Ohio River main stem?
Ohio River main stem carries 6 special-regulation overlays that override Indiana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and 1 more. One of them reads: "IN/KY Ohio River Reciprocity Compact main stem (either state's licence honored from KY/WV line to Cairo IL); black bass 12 in min, 6 / day combined; walleye + sauger + hybrid 14 in min, 6 / day; catfish 13 in min + no daily limit, only 1 blue ≥ 35 in + 1 flathead ≥ 35 in + 1 channel ≥ 28 in per day; IN state-record blue catfish 104 lb (Cannelton Dam tailwaters, 1999); paddlefish snagging + striped bass tailwaters." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Ohio River main stem?
Yes. Ohio River main stem is in Indiana, so a valid Indiana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Ohio River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Indiana rules.
Do Ohio River main stem's special rules replace Indiana's statewide limits?
Only where they conflict. Indiana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Ohio River 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 Ohio River?
Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Ohio River main stem, each linking to its full Indiana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Indiana limits.

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