Ohio reference

Ohio Site-Specific Fishing Waters

Ohio lakes and streams with their own limits in the 2026-27 booklet: 96 site entries, 5 trout waters and the Pymatuning Lake table shared with Pennsylvania.

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Photo of Alum Creek Lake: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0

By water

Every Ohio water with a site-specific booklet rule

The booklet lists 96 lakes, reservoirs and stream sections whose limits differ from the inland table; 77 of them link to a page here. Where a water appears below, its rule replaces the statewide row for that species.

Water	Species	Limit and size	Season
Acton	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
Adams	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Alum Creek Lake	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area	Sunfish (all species)	20 (singly or in combination)	Open year-round
Ashtabula, Chagrin, Grand, and Conneaut rivers and their tributaries	Brook Trout	Possession is prohibited	Open year-round
Belmont	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Berlin	Walleye, Saugeye, & Sauger	6; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Blue Rock	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Buckeye	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Burr Oak	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum None may be taken between 12 & 15 inches	Open year-round
C.J. Brown	Walleye, Saugeye, & Sauger	6; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Caesar Creek	Paddlefish	Possession is prohibited	Open year-round
Caesar Creek Lake	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Caldwell	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Clear Creek from the first Fairfield County Road 69 bridge (east of the junction of County Roads 26 and 69) to the U.S. Route 33 bridge in Hocking County	Trout	2	Open year-round
Clear Fork of the Mohican River in Ashland County	Trout	2	Open year-round
Clear Fork of the Mohican River in Richland County	Trout	2; minimum 12 inches	Open year-round
Cowan	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Dale Walborn	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Deer Creek	Paddlefish	Possession is prohibited	Open year-round
Deer Creek Lake (Fayette and Pickaway counties)	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Delaware (including the Olentangy River upstream to the Waldo dam, and Whetstone Creek upstream to State Route 229)	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Dillon	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Dow	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum None may be taken between 12 & 15 inches	Open year-round
East Fork	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
East Fork	Paddlefish	Possession is prohibited	Open year-round
Ferguson	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Findley	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
Fox	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum None may be taken between 12 & 15 inches	Open year-round
Grand Lake St. Marys	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Greenfield	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Guilford	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Hammertown (Jackson City Reservoir)	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum None may be taken between 12 & 15 inches	Open year-round
Hancock County Wetlands	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Hargus	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
Highlandtown	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
Hoover	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Indian	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Jesse Owens State Park & Wildlife Area	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Jesse Owens State Park and Wildlife Area	Sunfish (all species)	20 (singly or in combination)	Open year-round
Killdeer Plains	Black & White Crappie	10	Open year-round
Killdeer Plains	Sunfish (all species)	10	Open year-round
Killdeer Plains ponds No. 30 and No. 33	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Kiser	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Knox	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 18 inches	Open year-round
La Su An (Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, Williams County)	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 18 inches	May 1, 2026 – Sept. 7, 2026 (area open to fishing)
La Su An (Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, Williams County)	Sunfish	15	May 1, 2026 – Sept. 7, 2026 (area open to fishing)
La Su An (Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, Williams County)	Channel Catfish	2	May 1, 2026 – Sept. 7, 2026 (area open to fishing)
LaDue	Walleye, Saugeye, & Sauger	6; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Lake Erie, Lake Erie tributaries (snagging)	All species	Snagging any species of fish is illegal from September 1 to April 30 in the Ashtabula River, Chagrin River, Grand River, Rocky River, Vermilion River, Arcola Creek, Conneaut Creek, Cowles Creek, Eucli	September 1 – April 30
Lake Milton	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Lake Milton, including the Mahoning River connecting Berlin Lake and Lake Milton	Walleye, Saugeye, & Sauger	6; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Lake Rupert (Wellston City Reservoir)	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum None may be taken between 12 & 15 inches	Open year-round
Lake Snowden	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
Long	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Loramie	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Mad River and its tributaries	Trout	2; minimum 12 inches	Open year-round
Mahoning River between Berlin Lake and Lake Milton	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Metzger	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Mosquito Creek Lake	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Mosquito Creek Lake	Walleye, Saugeye, & Sauger	6; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
New Lyme	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
O'Shaughnessy	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Ohio-Erie Canal	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Oxbow	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Oxbow	Black & White Crappie	10	Open year-round
Oxbow	Sunfish (all species)	10	Open year-round
Paint Creek	Paddlefish	Possession is prohibited	Open year-round
Paint Creek Lake	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
Paint Creek Lake	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Piedmont	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Pine	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Pleasant Hill	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Portage Lakes: East, North, Turkeyfoot, and West	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Resthaven Pond No. 8	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Rocky Fork	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Ross	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Rush Creek Lake	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Rush Run Lake	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Salt Fork	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
Salt Fork	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Seneca	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Seneca	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Silver Creek Lake	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
Slope Creek (Barnesville No. 3)	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum None may be taken between 12 & 15 inches	Open year-round
Spencer	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
St. Joseph River Wildlife Area	Black & White Crappie	10	Open year-round
St. Joseph River Wildlife Area	Sunfish (all species)	10	Open year-round
St. Joseph Wildlife Area	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Tappan	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
The Mahoning River from the dam at Berlin Reservoir to Lake Milton	All species	NO FISHING WITH A LINE WITH MORE THAN A SINGLE HOOK. The line may not have a hook larger than 1/2 inch from shank to point, or lure having more than a single hook larger than 1/2 inch from shank to po	March 1 – April 30, 2026
The Mahoning River from the dam at Berlin Reservoir to Lake Milton	All species	FISHING IS ALLOWED ONLY FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET.	March 1 – April 30, 2026
The Maumee River from the Grand Rapids Providence Dam to a line in the Maumee Bay from Little Cedar Point to Turtle Island	All species	NO FISHING WITH A LINE WITH MORE THAN A SINGLE HOOK. The line may not have a hook larger than 1/2 inch from shank to point, or lure having more than a single hook larger than 1/2 inch from shank to po	March 1 – April 30, 2026
The Maumee River from the Ohio Turnpike bridge to the easternmost point of Missionary Island in Wood County, and from the State Route 295 bridge to the Grand Rapids Providence Dam	All species	FISHING IS ALLOWED ONLY FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET.	March 1 – April 30, 2026
The Portage River from State Route 19 to the dam at Elmore	All species	NO FISHING WITH A LINE WITH MORE THAN A SINGLE HOOK. The line may not have a hook larger than 1/2 inch from shank to point, or lure having more than a single hook larger than 1/2 inch from shank to po	March 1 – April 30, 2026
The Portage River from State Route 19 to the dam at Elmore	All species	FISHING IS ALLOWED ONLY FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET.	March 1 – April 30, 2026
The Sandusky River from the Waterworks Dam in Tiffin to a line running 1/4 mile east of and parallel to the full length of the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge in Sandusky Bay	All species	NO FISHING WITH A LINE WITH MORE THAN A SINGLE HOOK. The line may not have a hook larger than 1/2 inch from shank to point, or lure having more than a single hook larger than 1/2 inch from shank to po	March 1 – April 30, 2026
The Sandusky River from the Waterworks Dam in Tiffin to the northern tip of Brady's Island in Fremont	All species	FISHING IS ALLOWED ONLY FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET.	March 1 – April 30, 2026
Turkey Creek	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum None may be taken between 12 & 15 inches	Open year-round
Tycoon	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Upper Sandusky No. 2	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer	Open year-round
Veterans Memorial	Black & White Crappie	30; minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Wellington Reservoir South	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
West Branch	Walleye, Saugeye, & Sauger	6; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
Wingfoot	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Wolf Run	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	3 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer	Open year-round
Zepernick	Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass	5; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round

Site-specific rules as printed in the 2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (ODNR Division of Wildlife Publication 5085, effective March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027) (booklet PDF), page numbers in the booklet.

Trout waters

Ohio streams with their own trout rules

Clear Creek from the first Fairfield County Road 69 bridge (east of the junction of County Roads 26 and 69) to the U.S. Route 33 bridge in Hocking CountyTrout: 2
Clear Fork of the Mohican River in Ashland CountyTrout: 2
Mad River and its tributariesTrout: 2; minimum 12 inches
Clear Fork of the Mohican River in Richland CountyTrout: 2; minimum 12 inches
Ashtabula, Chagrin, Grand, and Conneaut rivers and their tributariesBrook Trout: Possession is prohibited

2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (ODNR Division of Wildlife Publication 5085, effective March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027), page 11; retrieved October 26, 2026.

Pymatuning Lake

Pymatuning Lake limits shared with Pennsylvania

Species	Where	Limit	Season
Black & White Crappie	Pymatuning Lake	20 (singly or in combination); minimum 9 inches	Open year-round
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass	Pymatuning Lake	5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches	Open year-round
Muskellunge	Pymatuning Lake	2; minimum 30 inches	Open year-round
Walleye	Pymatuning Lake	6; minimum 15 inches	Open year-round
All other fish	Pymatuning Lake	No daily limit	Open year-round

Pymatuning Lake has its own Ohio and Pennsylvania rule table in the booklet; the Ohio resident license is $25.00 and the nonresident license $76.96.

Fish photos

The species behind Ohio Site-Specific Fishing Waters, pictured

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

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

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

Walleye, Ohio — Walleye
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey from Reston, VA, USA, CC0 1.0

Answers

Questions on Ohio waters with their own limits

How many Ohio waters have site-specific limits?

96 entries in the 2026-27 booklet, each replacing the inland row for the species it names.

Does a site rule override the statewide limit?

Yes, on the water and section the booklet names; elsewhere the inland table applies.

Which Ohio streams have special trout rules?

Clear Creek, Clear Fork of the Mohican River, Mad River and its tributaries and Clear Fork of the Mohican River, as listed above.

What is the walleye rule on Pymatuning Lake?

6; minimum 15 inches.

Can I fish Pymatuning from a boat with a Pennsylvania license?

Yes; from a boat either state license is valid, while bank anglers need the license of the state they stand in.

Are brook trout protected anywhere in Ohio?

Taking or keeping brook trout is prohibited in the Ashtabula, Chagrin, Conneaut and Grand rivers and their tributaries.

Why do some waters in the list have no link?

Some named waters are wildlife areas or ponds without a page; their rule still applies.

Where are the Lake Erie and Ohio River rules?

On their own pages, linked below.

More Ohio rules beyond the special waters

Ohio Lake Erie Fishing Ruleswalleye, yellow perch zones, bass and trout
Ohio River Fishing Rulesthe Western and Eastern units
Ohio license and regulationsprices, exemptions and inland limits