2021 Ohio ODNR Fishing Report

Last Updated: July 16, 2021

• The daily bag limit for walleye in Ohio waters of Lake Erie is 6 fish per angler. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15 inches.
• The daily limit for yellow perch is 30 in the West and East Zones of Ohio waters of Lake Erie. The daily limit is 10 in the Central Zone of Ohio waters of Lake Erie.
• The trout and salmon daily limit is 5 fish per angler. The minimum size limit is 12 inches.
• Black bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass): The daily limit is 5 fish per angler with a 14-inch minimum size limit. 
• See the Ohio Fishing Regulations for more information.

Walleye

• Fishing continues to be good, and large numbers of undersized walleye are keeping anglers busy. Anglers have been doing well in the Western Basin by Little Cedar Point and Pickeral Reef, as well as between Kelleys Island and Cedar Point in 35-40 feet of water. Fish have been higher in the water column, with many anglers targeting fish 20 feet down. Trolling spoons and crankbaits, as well as casting and trolling with worm harnesses have been the most popular techniques.
  
  In the central basin fishing, nearshore anglers are picking up a lot of undersized walleye, with some better size fish coming from deeper waters. The best bite around Cleveland have come from Edgewater and Gordon Park in 25-60 feet of water. Further East, anglers in Ashtabula and Conneaut have done really well in 40-73 feet of water, trolling 35-50 feet down in the water column, again with spoons and crawler harnesses
  

Largemouth Bass

• Nearshore areas, especially near structure including breakwalls have been producing large numbers of fish. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and soft plastic presentations have been working well. 

The water temperature off Toledo is 75 degrees, off Cleveland 72 degrees and off Erie 74 degrees.

Anglers are encouraged to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while on the water.

Ohio offers many fantastic locations for the public to fish, including 124,000 acres of inland water, 7,000 miles of streams, 2.25 million acres of Lake Erie water, and 481 miles of the Ohio River. Use the fishing reports and forecasts below to help you plan for fishing success!

Other helpful resources we have available include lake maps, fishing tips by species, and the online interactive fishing map that allows you to select features to customize your own fishing maps for Ohio’s inland lakes. 

Last Updated: June 28, 2021

• The daily bag limit for walleye in Ohio waters of Lake Erie is 6 fish per angler. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15 inches.
• The daily limit for yellow perch is 30 in the West and East Zones of Ohio waters of Lake Erie. The daily limit is 10 in the Central Zone of Ohio waters of Lake Erie.
• The trout and salmon daily limit is 5 fish per angler. The minimum size limit is 12 inches.
• Black bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass): The daily limit is 1 fish per angler with an 18-inch minimum size limit. Beginning June 26th, the limit will change to a daily limit of 5 fish, with a minimum size of 14 inches.
• See the Ohio Fishing Regulations for more information.

Walleye

• Fishing continues to be good, and large numbers of undersized walleye are keeping anglers busy. The best fishing has been Northeast of Kelleys Island and near the Vermilion Weather Buoy, as well as nearshore off Huron and Vermilion in 16-22 feet of water. In the Central Basin, have reported a good bite less than 3 miles offshore in anywhere from 25-50 feet of water out of Lorain, Gordon Park, and Edgewater. Trolling deep diving crankbaits and spoons behind dipsy divers has been the most common presentations. Anglers also doing well casting harnesses and weight forward spinners.

Largemouth Bass

• Nearshore areas, especially near structure including breakwalls have been producing large numbers of fish. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and soft plastic presentations have been working well. 

Channel Catfish

• Anglers are doing well in numbers and size of catfish in Sandusky Bay and other tributaries of Lake Erie. Several reports of fish over 10 pounds. Shrimp fished on a Carolina rig remains the bait of choice, but fish can be caught on worms, cut-bait, stink baits, and various others. Anglers doing best targeting channel edges.

The water temperature off Toledo is 72 degrees, off Cleveland 67 degrees and off Erie 67 degrees.

Anglers are encouraged to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while on the water.

 A fishing license is required to take fish from Ohio waters.

A fishing license is required to take frogs or turtles on public and private property.

Persons fishing in privately owned ponds, lakes, or reservoirs that are open to public fishing through an agreement or lease with the ODNR Division of Wildlife are required to have a fishing license.

Persons fishing must have their license in their possession while fishing and must show the license to anyone on request. Licenses can be displayed using a mobile device.

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty stationed in Ohio, but not on leave or furlough are required to purchase a resident license.

Annual fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. Annual and multiyear fishing licenses are valid from the date of purchase until the expiration date printed on the license.

A complete list of license options and prices for fishing can be found in the current Ohio Fishing Regulations. 

LICENSES & PERMITS

Youth Licenses
Persons under 16 years of age are not required to purchase a fishing license.
Resident Youth Lifetime License.... $430.56

Resident Licenses
Resident 1-Day License....$14.00
Resident 1-Year Upgraded from a 1-Day License* (see below)....$12.00
Resident 1-Year License....$25.00
Resident 3-Year License....$54.08
Resident 5-Year License....$90.22
Resident 10-Year License....$180.44
Resident Lifetime License....$468.00

Resident Senior Licenses
Resident 1-Year License....$10.00
Resident 3-Year License....$28.60
Resident 5-Year License....$47.58
Resident Lifetime License....$84.24

Nonresident Licenses
Nonresident 1-Day License....$14.00
Nonresident 1-Year License Upgraded from a 1-Day* (see below)....$37.44
Nonresident 3-Day License....$25.00
Nonresident 1-Year License....$50.96
Nonresident Lake Erie Fishing Permit (January 1 to April 30, 2021)....$11.00

Card and Duplicate
Resident Ohio Conservation Card....$4.00
Duplicate License - Free reprints are available at wildohio.gov....$4.00

*A one-day fishing license may be applied as credit toward the purchase of an annual license

ABOUT LICENSES & PERMITS

Multiyear Fishing Licenses (Ohio Residents Only)
A multiyear license allows an Ohio resident the opportunity to lock-in rates and avoid transaction fees for the length of the license. These licenses can be purchased for 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years. Permits and stamps must be purchased annually.

Multiyear license customers may pay additional fee for hard plastic license (Ohio Conservation Card) if desired.

Lifetime Fishing Licenses (Ohio Residents Only)
A lifetime license creates an Ohio tradition that lasts a lifetime! A lifetime license, purchased for yourself or as a gift, provides a lifetime of outdoors enjoyment, regardless of where they live in the future. The cost of the license offers considerable savings and convenience to the holder and supports conservation programs. Revenue generated by lifetime licenses provide long-term financial support for Ohio’s fish and wildlife. 

All Lifetime license holders will be mailed a plastic card (Ohio Conservation Card) to serve as their license.