Lake Trout in Ohio
Limits, the record and stocking for lake trout.
- 5 a daylimit
- 26.63 lbrecord
Pick for lake troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not an Ohio water: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
A Buckeye profile of lake trout
The Division of Wildlife lists lake trout in 3 water classes for 2026-27. Statewide, the booklet sets 5 (singly or in combination), open year-round.
The Ohio record weighed 26.63 lb, caught by James J. Beres on Lake Erie in 2017. Hatchery records for 2008 to 2012 total 123,700 fish.
For the lake trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Daily limits and sizes for Ohio lake trout
| 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 |
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.
Ohio record lake trout
| Division | Weight | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rod and reel | 26.63 lb | 38" | James J. Beres | Lake Erie | 2017 |
Outdoor Writers of Ohio record fish page, retrieved October 26, 2026; ODNR biologists confirm the species of a new record.
Waters stocked with lake trout, 2008 to 2012
Decade totals in the ODNR records: 2010s 123,700.
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 trout in the Lake Erie district
Lake Erie carries 4 rows for it, separate from the inland table.
- 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
Fish sharing a rule with lake trout
Photo stops on the water near Lake Trout
Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Stch2022, CC BY-SA 4.0
_spans_the_Ohio_River_at_Cincinnati,_Ohio,_U.S.A_(2023).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
lake trout across Ohio, question and answer
Which length rule applies to Ohio lake trout?
5 (singly or in combination) on statewide inland waters, open year-round; other water classes have their own rows.
Who holds the Ohio lake trout record?
26.63 lb from Lake Erie, caught by James J. Beres in 2017.
Which Ohio pages name lake trout?
No Ohio lake or river page lists it yet.
Do the ODNR records show lake trout stocking?
Yes; the public ODNR records show 123,700 stocked from 2008 to 2012, most in Lake Erie. The file ends in May 2022.
Is lake trout regulated on Lake Erie?
Yes: 2 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches, march 1 – may 15, 2026.
When can I fish for lake trout in Ohio?
Open year-round on statewide inland waters.
How much does an Ohio license for lake trout cost?
Ohio sells no trout stamp; the regular license covers trout and steelhead, $25.00 a year for residents and $76.96 for nonresidents.
How does the Ohio River treat lake trout?
The river units set nothing separate for it.