New Bass Regulations for Ohio

[Smoothkip]

Heres some new Regulations for you Ohio anglers that use Bass for Catfish Bait.

New Ohio Bass Fishing Regulations Now in Effect
Mar
6 Written by: ODNR Division of Wildlife
3/6/2013

COLUMBUS, OH – New statewide and specific site bass fishing regulations are now in effect for the 2013-2014 license year, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

Statewide, a new 12-inch minimum length limit has been implemented by the ODNR Division of Wildlife on all public waters for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass where there are no other special regulations. The daily limit of five fish per day remains in effect for black bass, singly or in combination.

Some reservoirs that previously had special regulations were changed to the new statewide 12-inch length limit. The 12-15 inch slot length limit was removed from Timbre Ridge Lake, and 15-inch minimum length limits were removed from:

Caesar Creek Lake (Warren, Clinton and Greene counties),
Kenton Lake (Gallia County),
Lake Milton, including the Mahoning River connecting Berlin Lake and Lake Milton (Mahoning County),
Lake Vesuvius (Lawrence County),
Monroe Lake (Monroe County),
Monroeville Reservoir (Huron County),
Pike Lake (Pike County) and
Sippo Lake (Stark County).
Two new regulations have been incorporated to increase the size and number of bass. These special regulations include a reduced number of largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass that anglers may keep per day and split daily limits, where anglers may only keep a specified number of fish of a certain length.

The first regulation is a special 15-inch length limit with a four fish split daily limit. Anglers may keep two fish under 15 inches and two fish 15 inches or larger, for four fish per day. The split daily limit allows limited harvest of bass less than 15 inches to promote growth of bass to larger sizes. This regulation is referred to as a “15, 2-and-2.” It is in effect at these reservoirs:

Acton Lake (Preble and Butler counties),
Findley Lake (Lorain County),
Hargus Lake (Pickaway County),
Highlandtown Lake (Columbiana County),
Lake Snowden (Athens County),
New Lyme Lake (Ashtabula County),
Paint Creek Lake (Highland and Ross counties),
Salt Fork Lake (Guernsey County),
Silver Creek Lake (Summit County) and
Upper Sandusky No. 2 (Wyandot County).
The second split daily limit is referred to as a “Super Slot,” a 14-20-inch slot length limit intended to increase the chance of catching trophy bass. Anglers may keep two fish under 14 inches and one fish 20 inches or larger, for three fish per day. However, anglers are not allowed to keep any fish in the protected slot. This regulation will be limited to the following waters:

All American Electric Power (AEP) ponds and reservoirs, including AEP ReCreation Lands, Conesville Coal Lands and Avondale Wildlife Area, with all ponds and reservoirs included in each daily limit per angler (Coshocton, Guernsey, Muskingum, Morgan, Noble and Perry counties),
Belmont Lake (Belmont County),
Guilford Lake (Columbiana County),
Killdeer Plains Reservoir (Wyandot County),
Kiser Lake (Champaign County),
Long Lake (Summit County),
Oxbow Lake (Defiance County),
Spencer Lake (Medina County),
St. Joseph Wildlife Area ponds (Williams County),
Tycoon Lake (Gallia County),
Wingfoot Lake (Portage County) and
Wolf Run Lake (Noble County).
These adjustments in regulations were developed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife through an analysis of historical fish surveys, creel surveys and angler-reported tournament results, an evaluation of management options and fisheries objectives as well as extensive angler input through online surveys, creel surveys, open houses and meetings with sportsmen and women.

Ohio has other special regulations for black bass at a number of waters around the state that remain in effect. These include traditional 14-inch, 15-inch and 18-inch minimum length limits, and 12-15 inch slot length limits, all with five fish daily limits on Lake Erie and inland waters, and six fish daily limits on the Ohio River. Visit wildohio.com for more information.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.com.

For more information, contact:
Vicki Ervin, ODNR Division of Wildlife
614-265-6325
Jason Fallon, ODNR Office of Communications
614-265-6860

[Catfishrollo]

This is gonna change things for sure... rollo

[Skyline1506]

big bait means big fish i guess. 12in smallies are going to change things a lot

[Catfishrollo]

My concerns are if we get our bait from private waters, and are stopped on public waters with the exceeded amount of bass for bait... Its gonna be a pissin match to convince the dnr that your bait wasn't caught on public waters.. rollo

[Skyline1506]

dip test time!

[Seanstone]

All it will boil down to is whether or not he/she wants to give you a ticket. I'm pretty sure they could get you for the movement of gamefish from one body of water to another....if you did convince them that tou got them from private waters. I'm not sure which fine i'd rather have.

I guess just dont get caught. Lol

[Catfishrollo]

I agree Sean, the way alot of laws are stated I never feel 100 percent in the clear. Guess just try to do whats right by how the law is stated, and wish for the best! lol rollo

[bassmassey]

tell em' you thought they were big creek chubs! lol

[bruin50]

Im new to fishing for flatheads. Is smallmouths the best fish to use for them? Ive always heard of using bullhead and bluegills.

[Smoothkip]

I think the reason that smallmouth are a great Flathead bait is they share the same habitat. Rocky, woody cover is where you often find Flatheads and in turn you will find smallmouth. Different times of the year they seem to produce better for us. One night Last october we caught 12 shovelheads and 10 of them were on smallmouth and the other 2 on largemouth. We had chubs, gills, suckers, rockbass also as bait and not one fish off them. I think they produce best for us in the spring and fall.

[Catfishrollo]

They are awesome baits. I have also believed that in colder water bites, they seem to prefer smaller slender baits over many other baits as well. Such as spring and fall. Other baits, besides cutbaits they seem to do what we call" shortbite...." Often mouthing, and, or, not moving off far with the bait to seem commited. Making it difficult sometimes to hook up on other baits. So... heck ya!! Many of us here consider bass as an awesome flathead bait!!! rollo