Match the Exact Lake, River or Reservoir Before Applying a Fishing Limit
Ohio’s statewide fishing limits are only the starting point. Many named lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams, wildlife-area ponds and boundary waters have their own daily limits, minimum lengths, protected size ranges, hook restrictions or fishing hours.
This guide helps anglers identify the exact waterbody, species, regulated section and effective dates before keeping a fish or selecting tackle.
What Are Ohio Site-Specific Fishing Regulations?
Site-specific fishing regulations are special rules that replace or add to Ohio’s normal statewide rules for a named lake, reservoir, river, stream, wildlife-area pond or clearly defined section of water.
A site-specific rule may change the number of fish you may keep, minimum length, protected slot size, legal hook configuration, fishing hours, possession of a protected species or the distance around a dam where harvest is prohibited.
If a waterbody appears in Ohio’s site-specific table, use that listed rule for the named species. Statewide regulations continue to apply to species and subjects not changed by the special listing.
Four Fast Actions That Prevent Most Regulation Mistakes
Confirm the official water name
Use the name shown in the Ohio regulation booklet, lake map or ODNR property page.
Identify the target species
Search separately for bass, crappie, sunfish, trout, walleye, saugeye, sauger and paddlefish.
Mark the regulated section
Record the bridge, dam, tributary, river mile, connected lake or distance around a structure.
Save the rule offline
Screenshot the table, date restrictions, map and official contact before leaving mobile coverage.
Which Ohio Fishing Regulation Controls Your Catch?
Named waterbody rule
If the exact lake, reservoir, river or pond is listed, follow its special species regulation.
Defined section rule
A rule may apply only between two dams, bridges, islands, confluences or other landmarks.
Date or method rule
Spring river rules may change legal hooks, fishing hours or targeting methods for a limited period.
Statewide fallback rule
Use the normal statewide rule only when no Lake Erie, Ohio River or site-specific exception applies.
Find the Correct Ohio Waterbody Regulation
Is the water Lake Erie or within a Lake Erie tributary boundary?
Lake Erie rules can extend upstream to listed bridges and dams and may override inland rules.
Is the water part of the Ohio River boundary system?
Ohio–Kentucky and Ohio–West Virginia agreements use separate licensing and species rules.
Does the exact lake, river or reservoir appear in the site-specific table?
Search every official and alternate name, including city reservoir and wildlife-area names.
Does the rule apply to your exact species?
A special crappie rule does not automatically change bass, catfish or saugeye limits.
Are there posted signs, seasonal orders or property rules?
Lake La Su An and managed wildlife-area waters can have posted limits, fishing days or access conditions.
When the water name is uncertain
Use the county, nearest road, dam, marina, park or wildlife-area name when contacting ODNR. A screenshot of your GPS pin is more useful than saying only “the lake near my house.”
Ohio Site-Specific Bass Limits by Lake and Reservoir
Bass are managed with several different strategies, including higher minimum lengths, split daily limits and protected slot ranges.
| Waterbody or group | Daily limit | Legal size rule | How to apply it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake La Su An | Special limits posted | Read current signs and special notice | Do not rely on a general bass table for this wildlife-area fishery |
| Knox Lake | 5 | 18-inch minimum | Release every bass shorter than 18 inches |
| Adams, Blue Rock, Caldwell, Cowan, Dale Walborn, Greenfield, Ohio–Erie Canal, Hancock County Wetlands, Pine, Resthaven Pond No. 8, Ross, Rush Creek Lake, Rush Run Lake, Seneca, Wellington Reservoir South and Zepernick | 5 | 15-inch minimum | Only retain bass measuring 15 inches or longer |
| Acton, Findley, Hargus, Highlandtown, Lake Snowden, New Lyme, Paint Creek Lake, Salt Fork, Silver Creek Lake and Upper Sandusky Reservoir No. 2 | 4-fish split limit | 2 fish under 15 inches and 2 fish 15 inches or longer | The total cannot exceed four and neither size category may exceed two |
| Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area, Belmont, Guilford, Jesse Owens State Park and Wildlife Area, Killdeer Plains ponds No. 30 and No. 33, Kiser, Long, Oxbow, Spencer, St. Joseph Wildlife Area, Tycoon, Wingfoot and Wolf Run | 3-fish split limit | 2 fish under 14 inches and 1 fish 20 inches or longer | Bass from 14 inches through less than 20 inches cannot be retained |
| Burr Oak, Dow, Fox, Hammertown Reservoir, Lake Rupert, Slope Creek Reservoir and Turkey Creek | 5 | No bass between 12 and 15 inches may be taken | Retain only fish below 12 inches or 15 inches and longer |
Ohio Site-Specific Crappie and Sunfish Regulations
Crappie Waters With a 30-Fish Limit and 9-Inch Minimum
Black and white crappie have a combined daily limit of 30 fish and a 9-inch minimum at:
Alum Creek Lake, Buckeye Lake, Caesar Creek Lake, Deer Creek Lake in Fayette and Pickaway counties, Delaware Lake including the listed Olentangy River and Whetstone Creek sections, Dillon, East Fork, Ferguson, Grand Lake St. Marys, Hoover, Indian, Lake Milton, Loramie, the Mahoning River between Berlin Lake and Lake Milton, Metzger, Mosquito Creek Lake, O’Shaughnessy, Paint Creek Lake, Piedmont, Pleasant Hill, Portage Lakes East, North, Turkeyfoot and West, Rocky Fork, Salt Fork, Seneca, Tappan and Veterans Memorial.
Killdeer Plains, Oxbow and St. Joseph River Wildlife Area
Daily limit: 10 black and white crappie combined.
Minimum size: none.
Killdeer Plains, Oxbow and St. Joseph River Wildlife Area
Daily limit: 10 sunfish of all species.
Minimum size: none.
Appalachian Hills and Jesse Owens
Daily limit: 20 sunfish, singly or in combination.
Minimum size: none.
Site-Specific Trout, Walleye, Saugeye and Sauger Rules
| Species | Water or section | Daily limit | Minimum size or restriction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout | Clear Creek from the first Fairfield County Road 69 bridge to the U.S. Route 33 bridge in Hocking County; Clear Fork of the Mohican River in Ashland County | 2 | No minimum size |
| Trout | Mad River and its tributaries; Clear Fork of the Mohican River in Richland County | 2 | 12-inch minimum |
| Brook trout | Ashtabula, Chagrin, Grand and Conneaut rivers and their tributaries | Possession prohibited | Release immediately into the originating waterbody |
| Walleye, saugeye and sauger | Berlin, C.J. Brown, LaDue, Lake Milton including the connecting Mahoning River, Mosquito Creek Lake and West Branch | 6 combined | 15-inch minimum |
Ohio Paddlefish No-Take Areas
Paddlefish may not be taken or possessed in or within 2,000 feet of the following reservoirs and dams:
Caesar Creek
No paddlefish take or possession in the protected reservoir and dam area.
Deer Creek
The 2,000-foot paddlefish protection zone applies around the reservoir and dam.
East Fork
Immediately release any paddlefish encountered within the protected area.
Paint Creek
Possession is prohibited in or within 2,000 feet of the reservoir and dam.
Pymatuning Lake Fishing License and Species Rules
Either an Ohio or Pennsylvania fishing license may be used when fishing from a boat on Pymatuning Lake. A Pennsylvania fishing license is required to take fish, frogs or turtles from the Pennsylvania shore or from an island.
| Species | Daily limit | Minimum size | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black and white crappie | 20 combined | 9 inches | Count both crappie species together |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 combined | 12 inches | The two bass species share one total |
| Muskellunge | 2 | 30 inches | Measure before retention |
| Walleye | 6 | 15 inches | Use the boundary-lake rule rather than the normal inland minimum |
| All other fish | No limit under this table | None under this table | Other laws and method restrictions still apply |
Either State License
An Ohio or Pennsylvania fishing license may be used while fishing from a boat on the lake.
Pennsylvania License Required
A Pennsylvania license is required when taking fish, frogs or turtles from the Pennsylvania shoreline or an island.
Maumee, Sandusky, Portage and Mahoning River Spring Rules
No Line With More Than One Hook
Double and treble hooks are prohibited in the regulated sections. The hook may not be larger than one-half inch from shank to point.
- Maumee River from Grand Rapids Providence Dam to the specified Maumee Bay line
- Sandusky River from the Waterworks Dam in Tiffin to the specified Sandusky Bay line
- Portage River from State Route 19 to the dam at Elmore
- Mahoning River from Berlin Reservoir dam to Lake Milton
Fishing Only From Sunrise to Sunset
- Maumee River from the Ohio Turnpike bridge to the easternmost point of Missionary Island
- Maumee River from the State Route 295 bridge to Grand Rapids Providence Dam
- Sandusky River from the Waterworks Dam in Tiffin to the northern tip of Brady’s Island
- Portage River from State Route 19 to the dam at Elmore
- Mahoning River from Berlin Reservoir dam to Lake Milton
Lake La Su An Wildlife Area Fishing Rules
The statewide site-specific table does not provide a standard bass number or minimum size for Lake La Su An. It instructs anglers to follow the special limits posted for the managed fishery.
Read Current Posted Limits
Check signs, current ODNR notices and any lake-specific handout before beginning to fish.
Check Open Fishing Days
Special-management waters may limit fishing to certain days, dates or daylight hours.
Check Reservation Requirements
Verify whether reservations, permits, assigned lakes or other access controls apply to the planned visit.
Check Tackle Rules
Posted rules may regulate hooks, bait, retained fish or the number of fishing opportunities.
Connected Rivers, Tributaries and Reservoir Sections
A site-specific regulation may extend beyond the shoreline of the named lake into a connecting river or tributary. The official table may describe the endpoint with a dam, bridge or state route.
Delaware Lake
The crappie rule includes the Olentangy River upstream to Waldo Dam and Whetstone Creek upstream to State Route 229.
Berlin and Lake Milton
The site-specific rules include the Mahoning River section connecting Berlin Lake and Lake Milton.
Clear Creek
The trout listing uses two specific bridges to define the regulated reach.
Practical Ohio Site-Specific Regulation Examples
An angler catches a 16-inch bass at Knox Lake
Knox Lake has an 18-inch minimum for bass. The fish must be released even though it exceeds Ohio’s normal statewide 12-inch bass minimum.
Correct action: release the fish immediately and use the Knox Lake special rule.
An angler already kept two short bass at Acton Lake
Acton Lake uses a four-fish split limit allowing two bass under 15 inches and two bass 15 inches or longer.
Correct action: no additional bass under 15 inches may be retained that day.
A 13-inch bass is caught at Burr Oak Lake
Burr Oak prohibits retention of bass between 12 and 15 inches.
Correct action: release the fish because it falls within the protected slot.
An angler uses a treble-hook lure on the Maumee River in March
Treble hooks are prohibited in the regulated Maumee section from March 1 through April 30.
Correct action: replace the lure or legally modify it to use one qualifying single hook.
An Ohio-licensed boat angler fishes Pymatuning Lake
The Ohio license may be used while fishing from a boat. The Pymatuning species limits still apply.
Correct action: use the special crappie, bass, muskie and walleye table rather than normal statewide limits.
An angler moves from Delaware Lake into the Olentangy River
The special crappie rule continues upstream only to Waldo Dam.
Correct action: mark the dam and change rule treatment after passing the listed endpoint.
Prepare for an Ohio Lake, River or Reservoir Trip in Eight Steps
-
Write the official waterbody name.
Include alternate names, reservoir numbers, wildlife-area pond numbers and the county. -
Save the launch or bank GPS location.
Record the nearest bridge, dam, marina, road or park entrance. -
List every target species.
Check bass, crappie, sunfish, trout, walleye, saugeye, sauger and paddlefish separately. -
Read the site-specific table.
Write down the daily limit, minimum length, slot limit or possession prohibition. -
Check connected-water endpoints.
Mark every bridge, dam, confluence or tributary limit included in the regulation. -
Check seasonal tackle and hour restrictions.
Spring river regulations may prohibit treble hooks or restrict fishing to daylight. -
Download the rule and map offline.
Save screenshots in case the lake or river has weak mobile coverage. -
Carry a measuring board.
Measure every questionable fish before placing it in a livewell, stringer or cooler.
Common Ohio Site-Specific Fishing Mistakes
Using statewide rules at a listed lake
The site-specific regulation replaces the normal species rule for that named water.
Applying one special rule to every species
A bass slot limit does not automatically change crappie, catfish or saugeye regulations.
Misreading a split daily limit
Split limits control both the total number and how many fish may come from each size category.
Keeping a fish inside a protected slot
A fish may exceed the statewide minimum but still be unlawful under a lake-specific protected range.
Ignoring a connected river section
Some lake regulations extend upstream to a named dam or bridge.
Using old spring river landmarks
The 2026 Maumee daylight boundary uses the easternmost point of Missionary Island.
Using treble hooks during restricted dates
Single-hook regulations apply to listed Maumee, Sandusky, Portage and Mahoning sections in March and April.
Assuming posted limits never change
Lake La Su An and special-management waters require current posted-rule verification.
Ohio Fishing Maps and Waterbody Research Tools
Ohio Lake Bathymetry Catalog
Search official ODNR boundary, contour and depth datasets for lakes and reservoirs throughout Ohio.
Open the ODNR bathymetry catalogHuntFish OH App
Use the official app to reference regulations, locate wildlife properties, find ramps and keep license information available.
Review Ohio fishing and app resourcesODNR Property Pages
Search the exact lake, reservoir, fishing area, wildlife area or state park for access and local property information.
Find an Ohio ODNR propertyOhio Division of Wildlife Contact, Address and Map
Contact ODNR when two waters have similar names, a regulated endpoint is unclear, posted limits conflict with an old screenshot or your trip crosses a Lake Erie, Ohio River or Pennsylvania boundary.
Division of Wildlife Customer Service
614-265-6300
wildinfo@dnr.ohio.gov
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2045 Morse Road, Building G
Columbus, OH 43229
Ohio Wildlife District Offices
| District | Office address | Regional use |
|---|---|---|
| District One | 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215 | Central Ohio waters |
| District Two | 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, OH 45840 | Northwest Ohio waters |
| District Three | 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, OH 44319 | Northeast Ohio waters |
| District Four | 360 E. State Street, Athens, OH 45701 | Southeast Ohio waters |
| District Five | 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia, OH 45385 | Southwest Ohio waters |
Official Ohio Site-Specific Fishing Resources
2026–27 Ohio Fishing Regulations
Why use it: pages 10 through 12 contain the current site-specific lake, reservoir, river and stream regulations.
After opening: search the PDF for the exact waterbody and species, then read the complete row and any following notes.
Open the official Ohio regulation bookletOhio Fishing License Information
Why use it: confirm current license requirements, exemptions, prices and purchase methods.
After opening: verify the correct resident or nonresident license before the trip.
Review Ohio fishing licensesODNR Lake Boundary, Contour and Depth Data
Why use it: locate the official lake name, shoreline, contours and mapped features.
After opening: search the list for the lake or reservoir and select the available boundary or contour layer.
Search Ohio lake mapping dataOhio Division of Wildlife Contacts
Why use it: ask about unclear landmarks, similar waterbody names, posted limits or regulation conflicts.
After opening: contact customer service or the district covering the waterbody.
View Wildlife district officesOhio Site-Specific Fishing Regulations FAQs
What is an Ohio site-specific fishing regulation?
It is a special rule for a named lake, reservoir, river, stream, wildlife-area pond or defined section of water. The special rule may change a daily limit, minimum size, protected slot, legal hook, fishing hours or possession requirement.
Do site-specific rules replace Ohio statewide fishing limits?
A site-specific rule replaces or adds to the statewide rule for the listed species, method or location. Statewide regulations still apply to matters not changed by the special listing.
How do I find the special regulation for an Ohio lake?
Confirm the official lake name and county, search pages 10 through 12 of the current Ohio regulation booklet, match the target species and read the complete daily-limit and size row.
What is the bass minimum size at Knox Lake?
Knox Lake has a five-bass daily limit and an 18-inch minimum length for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.
What does a split bass daily limit mean?
A split limit controls both the total number of bass and how many may be kept from each legal size category. For example, a four-fish split limit may allow two bass below 15 inches and two bass measuring 15 inches or longer.
Which Ohio lakes have a 9-inch crappie minimum?
Many major lakes and reservoirs have a combined 30-crappie limit and 9-inch minimum, including Alum Creek, Buckeye, Caesar Creek, Delaware, Hoover, Indian, Mosquito Creek, Paint Creek, Salt Fork, Seneca and Tappan. The complete current list should be checked in the regulation booklet.
Can I use an Ohio license on Pymatuning Lake?
An Ohio or Pennsylvania fishing license may be used while fishing from a boat on Pymatuning Lake. A Pennsylvania license is required to take fish, frogs or turtles from the Pennsylvania shoreline or an island.
Are treble hooks legal in the Maumee River during the spring run?
Treble and double hooks are prohibited in the listed Maumee River section from March 1 through April 30, 2026. The line may not have more than one qualifying single hook.
Can I keep brook trout from Ohio Lake Erie tributaries?
Possession of brook trout is prohibited in the Ashtabula, Chagrin, Grand and Conneaut rivers and their tributaries. Any brook trout caught there must be immediately released into its originating waterbody.
Do posted signs at the lake override an old regulation screenshot?
Use the current official rule, emergency order and posted site information. Lake La Su An and other special-management waters may use posted limits or access conditions that should be checked before fishing.
Editorial verification: Ohio’s 2026–27 site-specific bass, crappie, sunfish, trout, walleye, paddlefish, Pymatuning Lake and spring river regulations were reviewed on July 27, 2026.
Independent information notice: OhioFishingLicense.website is an independent informational website and is not operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Site-specific limits, emergency orders, posted rules and access conditions can change. Official ODNR rules control.