Ohio Fishing Regulations Overview: 2026-27 Season Rules and Changes

March 19, 2026

Ohio’s Regulation Structure

Ohio’s fishing regulations are managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife and are updated annually. The fishing year runs March 1 through the last day of February, aligning with the license year. New regulations take effect each March 1.

A key distinction in Ohio is that inland waters and Lake Erie operate under separate regulation frameworks. Bag limits, size limits, and seasonal restrictions often differ between the two. Always check which set of rules applies to the water you’re fishing.

Inland Regulations

Inland waters include all Ohio rivers, streams, reservoirs, and ponds outside the Lake Erie watershed (below the first dam). General inland rules include:

• Bass: 12-inch minimum, 5 per day (largemouth and smallmouth combined)
• Saugeye/Walleye: 15-inch minimum, 6 per day on most lakes
• Crappie: 9-inch minimum, 30 per day
• Channel Catfish: No minimum size, 10 per day
• Bluegill/Sunfish: No minimum size, 30 per day

Some lakes have site-specific regulations that override the general rules, so always check the specific lake before fishing.

Lake Erie Regulations

Lake Erie has its own set of rules, often adjusted annually based on population surveys. A Lake Erie Permit is required in addition to a fishing license. Walleye bag limits on Lake Erie typically range from 4-6 per day depending on the year and are set through the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s quota process.

2026-27 Key Changes

• Walleye minimum size removed on 15 lakes: ODNR has removed the 15-inch walleye/saugeye minimum size limit on 15 specific inland lakes for the 2026-27 season, allowing anglers to keep smaller fish and potentially improving growth rates for remaining fish.
• Maumee River sunrise-to-sunset fishing: The walleye run area on the Maumee River is now restricted to sunrise-to-sunset fishing only during the spring run period.

Stay Current

Regulations change annually. The official source is the ODNR fishing regulations publication, available free at license vendors and online at eregulations.com/ohio/fishing. Download or bookmark it before every season — the penalties for violations are not worth the risk.