Northern Pike in Ohio
ODNR limits, the Ohio record and waters for northern pike.
- see bookletlimit
- 22.78 lbrecord
Pick for northern pikePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not an Ohio water: Georg Mittenecker, CC BY-SA 2.5
How northern pike fit into Ohio fishing
In the current Ohio regulations, northern pike turns up under no separate table.
Outdoor Writers of Ohio list Troy Klingler first, with 22.78 lb from McKarns Lake in 2016. ODNR stocked 139,288 of them from 1987 to 1991, the last five years in its public records.
For the northern pike herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Outdoor Writers of Ohio records for northern pike
| Division | Weight | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rod and reel | 22.78 lb | 45" | Troy Klingler | McKarns Lake | 2016 |
Outdoor Writers of Ohio record fish page, retrieved October 26, 2026; ODNR biologists confirm the species of a new record.
ODNR northern pike releases by water, 1987 to 1991
Decade by decade the counts run 1970s 2,975,647, 1980s 618,404 and 1990s 65,058.
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 northern pike live in Ohio
Still water holding northern pike
- Grand Lake St. Marys13,396 acres
- Indian Lake5,161 acres
- Atwood Lake1,564 acres
- Charles Mill Lake1,348 acres
- Nimisila Lake743 acres
- East Branch Reservoir403 acres
- Guilford Lake361 acres
- Lake Logan333 acres
- Lake Rupert327 acres
- Jackson Lake252 acres
- Highlandtown Lake188 acres
- Tycoon Lake183 acres
- North Lake164 acres
- Wellington Upground Reservoir159 acres
- Kokosing Lake154 acres
- Outhwaite Reservoir148 acres
- Lake Snowden143 acres
- Veto Lake135 acres
- Ross Lake127 acres
- Nettle Lake115 acres
- Belmont Lake109 acres
- Clark Lake102 acres
- Sippo Lake100 acres
- Harrison Lake99 acres
ODNR hot-spot maps, ODNR stocking records, the 2026 trout releases, the steelhead and walleye-run programs and state records; largest waters first.
Buckeye water around Northern Pike, in pictures
Photo: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Jbarta, CC0 1.0
Photo: Aaron Zhu, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Catching northern pike in Ohio, in a few answers
What is the Ohio daily limit for northern pike?
It has no limit row of its own in Ohio.
What does the Ohio northern pike record weigh?
22.78 lb from McKarns Lake, caught by Troy Klingler in 2016.
Which Ohio waters list northern pike?
38 water pages here list it, led by Grand Lake St. Marys, Indian Lake and Atwood Lake.
Do Ohio hatcheries raise northern pike?
Yes; the public ODNR records show 139,288 stocked from 1987 to 1991, most in Resthaven Pond #08. The file ends in May 2022.
Is there a Lake Erie row for northern pike?
No separate Lake Erie row; the inland rule or no limit applies.
Which calendar dates apply to Ohio northern pike?
No season row exists for it.
Which Ohio license covers northern pike?
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.
What Ohio River rule covers northern pike?
There is no Ohio River row for it.
Plan a Buckeye northern pike trip
Open any water above for its launches and Ohio limits.