Brook Trout in Ohio
Ohio rules and water for brook trout.
- 5 a daylimit
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Ohio brook trout: rules, record, water
Buckeye rules for brook trout fill 3 water classes of the 2026-27 booklet. Most inland Ohio water follows 5 (singly or in combination), open year-round.
From 1999 through 2003 ODNR records show 44,307 stocked.
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| Water class | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland waters | Statewide | 5 (singly or in combination) | Open year-round |
| Lake Erie and tributaries (trout and salmon) | Lake Erie proper and the entire length of all Lake Erie creeks, rivers, and tributaries | 2 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches | March 1 – May 15, 2026 |
| Lake Erie and tributaries (trout and salmon) | Lake Erie proper and the entire length of all Lake Erie creeks, rivers, and tributaries | 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches | May 16 – Aug. 31, 2026 |
| Lake Erie and tributaries (trout and salmon) | Lake Erie proper and the entire length of all Lake Erie creeks, rivers, and tributaries | 2 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches | Sept. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Lake Erie and tributaries (trout and salmon) | Cold Creek upstream of State Route 2 (Erie County) | 5 (singly or in combination) | Open year-round |
| Site-specific inland waters | Clear Creek from the first Fairfield County Road 69 bridge (east of the junction of County Roads 26 and 69) to the U.S. | 2 | Open year-round |
| Site-specific inland waters | Clear Fork of the Mohican River in Ashland County | 2 | Open year-round |
| Site-specific inland waters | Mad River and its tributaries | 2; minimum 12 inches | Open year-round |
| Site-specific inland waters | Clear Fork of the Mohican River in Richland County | 2; minimum 12 inches | Open year-round |
| Site-specific inland waters | Ashtabula, Chagrin, Grand, and Conneaut rivers and their tributaries | Possession is prohibited | 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.
brook trout plantings, 1999 to 2003
By decade, the ODNR records count 2000s 44,307.
ODNR Division of Wildlife Ohio Fish Stocking Records (public copy of the DataOhio dataset, current as of May 31, 2022; numbers by water, year, species and life stage); the public file stops at May 2022, so later years are not shown.
Lake Erie rules for brook trout
The Lake Erie Sport Fishing District has 4 rows for it; see the Lake Erie page for launches, piers and reefs.
- Lake Eriebasins, bays and launches
- Lake Erie rulesthe full district table
- P.C. Queen Perch HeadboatLake Erie charter
- A Absolute Fishing ChartersLake Erie charter
- A-Hoy Sara-J Fishing ChartersLake Erie charter
- Bass Fish AmericaLake Erie charter
Ohio neighbors of brook trout on the list
Shorelines and reservoirs by Brook Trout, photographed
Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Central Avenue, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Photo: Michael A. Orlando, CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions Buckeye anglers ask about brook trout
How many brook trout may I keep in Ohio?
5 (singly or in combination) on statewide inland waters, open year-round; other water classes have their own rows.
Where was the Ohio record brook trout caught?
There is no Ohio record entry.
What Ohio water is a good bet for brook trout?
None of the Ohio lake or river pages names it yet.
Where has ODNR stocked brook trout?
Yes; the public ODNR records show 44,307 stocked from 1999 to 2003, most in Palsa Tributary (e Br Chagrin R). The file ends in May 2022.
Do Lake Erie limits differ for brook trout?
Yes: 2 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches, march 1 – may 15, 2026.
Is brook trout open all year in Ohio?
Open year-round on statewide inland waters.
Do I need a stamp to fish for brook trout in Ohio?
Ohio sells no trout stamp; the regular license covers trout and steelhead, $25.00 a year for residents and $76.96 for nonresidents.
Does the Ohio River have a brook trout limit?
It has no Ohio River entry.