MINNOW OR BAIT FISH TRAPS
It is illegal to set, use, or maintain a min-
now or bait sh trap larger that 24 inches
in length or 12 inches in width, or with an
opening larger than 1 inch. A tag must be
attached with the owner’s name and address
or their customer identication number.
BAIT
It is unlawful for any person except licensed
bait dealers to possess more than 100 cray-
sh, or in combination 500 craysh, min-
nows, and other baitsh. A bait dealer’s per-
mit is required of persons buying or selling
minnows, craysh, and hellgrammites. This
permit may be obtained at wildohio.gov.
It is unlawful for any person to release any
sh or aquatic invertebrate, including but
not limited to craysh, snails and insects,
into waters of the state from which it did not
originate.
ARCHERY ANGLERS
Archery anglers may use bows of any draw
weight. A shing license is required. Archery
equipment may be used to take bullfrogs,
green frogs, and forage sh.
FISHING LINES
Anglers may use a maximum of three shing
lines statewide, whether fastened to a pole, a
rod and reel, or hand-held. Anglers may use
up to three hooks on each line, except as pro
-
vided in the Ohio Administrative Code.
CAST NETS
Forage sh and minnows may be taken with
cast nets. All other sh are required to be re-
leased immediately unharmed. It is unlawful
MINNOW SEINES AND DIP NETS
Square mesh must not be larger than ½ inch on a side.
Seine and net size limits and places where they may be used are as follows:
FISHING DISTRICT MAXIMUM SIZE
WHERE AND WHEN
THEY MAY BE USED
Minnow Seine: Inland 4 feet x 8 feet Streams only, 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Minnow Seine: Lake Erie * None No Limit
Minnow Dip Net: Inland 4 feet, each side All public fishing waters
Minnow Dip Net: Lake Erie * 6 feet, each side All public fishing waters
* Including East and West harbors in Ottawa County, and waters where fishing with nets is licensed by law.
to use a cast net with a square mesh less than
¼ inch or larger than 1 inch on a side, or with
a diameter greater than 10 feet. It is illegal
to use a cast net within a distance of 1,000
feet downstream from any dam posted with
Ohio Division of Wildlife signs indicating cast
net use is prohibited.
ICE ANGLERS
Ice anglers may use holes no larger than 12
inches in diameter. On Lake Erie, ice anglers
may use holes no larger than 12 inches in
width. Ice anglers may not use more than six
tip-ups and three rods per person. All shel-
ters and tip-ups must display the name and
address or customer identication number
of the owner or user.
A tip-up means a device consisting of a hook
and line attached to a spring or other device
which is capable of raising a small ag or
other signaling device when a sh is biting
or is hooked.
FORAGE FISH
Forage sh means freshwater drum (sheeps-
head), common carp, grass carp (in waters
not stocked by the Ohio Division of Wild-
life for vegetation control, as indicated by
signs), bighead carp, silver carp, black carp,
quillback, suckers, bown, gar, bualo, giz-
zard shad, and goldsh. These species may
be taken by any method except by means
of explosives, poisons, rearms, electric-
ity, chemicals, nets (other than cast nets),
seines, traps, or by snagging within 1,000
feet downstream of a posted dam or dam
on the Muskingum River (see SNAGGING for
additional information). Gizzard shad and
rainbow smelt may be taken with a minnow
seine, minnow dip net, or hand landing net.
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