Ohio reference

Ohio River Fishing Rules

Ohio River limits for the Western Unit shared with Kentucky and the Eastern Unit shared with West Virginia, which counties fall in each, and when an Ohio license covers the river.

For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 ~~$54.99~~

Photo of Paint Creek: Kyle Hartshorn, CC BY 2.0

Two units

Which Ohio counties sit in each Ohio River unit

Lawrence County west of South Point, and Scioto, Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Hamilton counties (OAC 1501:31-13-11 / eRegulations)Western Unit
Lawrence County east of South Point, and Gallia, Meigs, Athens, Washington, Monroe, Belmont, Jefferson, and Columbiana countiesEastern Unit

2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (ODNR Division of Wildlife Publication 5085, effective March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027), page 16; retrieved October 26, 2026.

Western Unit

Ohio River Western Unit limits (Ohio and Kentucky)

Species	Where	Limit	Season
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	OHIO REGULATIONS: boat anglers in Ohio waters, shoreline anglers on the Ohio shoreline, all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the West	6 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches	Open year-round
Black & White Crappie	UNIFIED OHIO AND KENTUCKY REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam in t	30 (singly or in combination)	Open year-round
Muskellunge	UNIFIED OHIO AND KENTUCKY REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam in t	2; minimum 30 inches	Open year-round
Striped, Hybrid-Striped, & White Bass	UNIFIED OHIO AND KENTUCKY REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam in t	30 (no more than 4 over 15 inches)	Open year-round
Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye	UNIFIED OHIO AND KENTUCKY REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam in t	6 (singly or in combination); minimum 14 inches	Open year-round

Limits as printed in the 2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (ODNR Division of Wildlife Publication 5085, effective March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027) and the ODNR Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch daily limits sheet (May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027); retrieved October 26, 2026.

Eastern Unit

Ohio River Eastern Unit limits (Ohio and West Virginia)

Species	Where	Limit	Season
Black & White Crappie	OHIO REGULATIONS: shore anglers on the Ohio shoreline and all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the Eastern Unit	30 (singly or in combination)	Open year-round
Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye	OHIO REGULATIONS: shore anglers on the Ohio shoreline and all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the Eastern Unit	6 (singly or in combination)	Open year-round
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	UNIFIED OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam	6 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches	Open year-round
Muskellunge	UNIFIED OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam	2; minimum 30 inches	Open year-round
Striped, Hybrid-Striped, & White Bass	UNIFIED OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam	30 (no more than 4 over 15 inches)	Open year-round

Licenses

Which license works on the Ohio River

Pymatuning Lake: an Ohio or Pennsylvania license from a boat. Ohio River Eastern Unit: Ohio and West Virginia honor each other’s licenses on the main stem, banks and embayments (residents of the two states only). Ohio River Western Unit: boat anglers follow the rules of the state by which they are licensed; Ohio bank anglers follow Ohio rules.

On the Ohio River an Ohio license covers Ohio waters, the Ohio shoreline and Ohio embayments; residents pay $25.00 a year and nonresidents $76.96.

The Ohio River

Fish photos

Fish from Ohio River Fishing Rules, in photos

Largemouth Bass, Ohio — Largemouth Bass
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Black Crappie, Ohio — Black Crappie
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Muskellunge, Ohio — Muskellunge
Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain

Hybrid Striped Bass, Ohio — Hybrid Striped Bass
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Walleye, Ohio — Walleye
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0

Answers

Questions on Ohio River limits and licenses

Which counties are in the Ohio River Western Unit?

Lawrence County west of South Point, and Scioto, Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Hamilton counties.

Which counties are in the Eastern Unit?

Lawrence County east of South Point, and Gallia, Meigs, Athens, Washington, Monroe, Belmont, Jefferson, and Columbiana counties.

What is the black bass limit on the Western Unit?

6 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches.

What walleye and sauger rule applies on the Western Unit?

6 (singly or in combination); minimum 14 inches.

Is there a walleye size limit on the Eastern Unit?

6 (singly or in combination).

Does a West Virginia license work on the Ohio side?

On the Eastern Unit, Ohio and West Virginia residents may use either license on the main stem, banks and embayments.

What about Kentucky licenses on the Western Unit?

Boat anglers follow the rules of the state that licensed them; Ohio bank anglers follow Ohio rules.

Is catfish covered by the Ohio River tables?

The unit tables cover bass, crappie, muskellunge, the temperate basses and walleye; catfish follow the statewide Ohio rows on Ohio water.

More Ohio rules beyond the Ohio River

Ohio Lake Erie Fishing Ruleswalleye, yellow perch zones, bass and trout
Ohio Site-Specific Fishing Waterslakes and streams with their own limits
Ohio license and regulationsprices, exemptions and inland limits