148 Lakes · 70 Rivers · 88 Counties · 601 TownsOhio state record fish
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Ohio species

Chain Pickerel in Ohio

Where Ohio chain pickerel swim, what may be kept, and the record fish.

  • see bookletlimit
  • 6.25 lbrecord
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Photo of the species, not an Ohio water: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0

Ohio fish

chain pickerel in the Buckeye State, at a glance

The 2026-27 Ohio booklet sets chain pickerel limits across no separate table.

In 1961, Ronald P. Kotch brought in the record of 6.25 lb from Long Lake. ODNR stocking files list 76,402 for the years 1977 to 1981.

see bookletfirst booklet row
6.25 lbOhio record
0booklet rows
6waters with pages
Records

Record chain pickerel weights from Ohio

DivisionWeightLengthAnglerWaterYear
rod and reel6.25 lb26-1/4"Ronald P. KotchLong Lake1961

Outdoor Writers of Ohio record fish page, retrieved October 26, 2026; ODNR biologists confirm the species of a new record.

Stocking

Hatchery chain pickerel releases, 1977 to 1981

Long Lake69,947 fish
Punderson Lake1,500 fish
Zepernick Lake1,017 fish
Zoar Lake921 fish
Fox Lake809 fish
Spencer Lake548 fish
Killdeer Pond #15300 fish
Ruff Pond240 fish
Caldwell Lake200 fish
Pine Lake200 fish

Totals per decade come to 1970s 17,998 and 1980s 67,971.

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.

Where to look

Lakes and rivers in Ohio holding chain pickerel

Ohio lakes with chain pickerel

  • Long Lake224 acres
  • Highlandtown Lake188 acres
  • Spencer Lake86 acres
  • Punderson Lake80 acres
  • Fox Lake52 acres
  • Caldwell Lake10 acres

ODNR hot-spot maps, ODNR stocking records, the 2026 trout releases, the steelhead and walleye-run programs and state records; largest waters first.

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Pictures

Camera views of fishing water by Chain Pickerel

Cuyahoga River, Ohio
Cuyahoga River
Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
Huron River, Ohio
Huron River
Photo: J Astolfi, aka Tcjoe1985 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Little Beaver Creek, Ohio
Little Beaver Creek
Photo: Roseohioresident, CC BY-SA 4.0
Little Miami River, Ohio
Little Miami River
Photo: AndyHemmerCincinnati, CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers

Ohio chain pickerel: what anglers keep asking

Is a chain pickerel keeper allowed in Ohio?

The 2026-27 booklet gives it no limit row.

How big is the Ohio record chain pickerel?

6.25 lb from Long Lake, caught by Ronald P. Kotch in 1961.

Where do chain pickerel live in Ohio?

6 water pages here list it, led by Long Lake, Highlandtown Lake and Spencer Lake.

How many chain pickerel has Ohio stocked?

Yes; the public ODNR records show 76,402 stocked from 1977 to 1981, most in Long Lake. The file ends in May 2022.

How does Lake Erie treat chain pickerel?

Lake Erie sets no special rule for it.

Is the Ohio chain pickerel season open now?

Ohio prints no season for it, so it is open all year.

Does an Ohio chain pickerel angler need a trout stamp?

Anglers 16 and older need an Ohio fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $76.96 for nonresidents and $10.00 for residents 65 and older.

Is chain pickerel regulated on the Ohio River?

Neither Ohio River unit lists it.

Pick Ohio water for chain pickerel

The pages above carry launches and limits.

Ohio speciesOhio regulations