First Posted: 3/6/2015
As the first week of March draws to a close, most outdoor types are thinking spring and possibly open water fishing, turkey hunting and longing for that first weekend camping trip.
After a second successive brutal winter, spring may be in the air this week with temperatures expected in the 40s and 50s. Add in some sunshine, and many people are ready to whet their appetite to get outdoors.
Old Man Winter can still hang around in March and April, but in previous years many anglers have caught bluegills, crappies, yellow perch and some other species in open water by now. We still have a bit of a wait, but there’s nothing like thinking of open water and making sure you have everything ready for your first outing.
The cold and ice fishing weather may have caught you off guard. Don’t forget new fishing licenses were needed on March 1. If you plan any kind of spring hunting, you need a new hunting license. License fees are $19. They can be purchased online or at numerous bait and tackle stores or sporting goods departments.
In addition to those lawful requirements, anglers should be aware that a number of regulations changed as of March 1.
The daily bag limit for walleye in Ohio waters of Lake Erie is four fish per angler through April 30. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15 inches.
The daily bag limit for yellow perch is 30 fish per angler in all Ohio waters of Lake Erie.
The trout and salmon daily bag limit is two fish per angler. The minimum size limit is 12 inches.
The daily bag limit for black bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass) on Ohio waters of Lake Erie is five fish per angler. The minimum size limit for black bass is 14 inches.
The Castalia Fish Hatchery application period opened March 1 and continues through the end of the month for a computer generated random drawing that is held in early April.
Those chosen in the Ohio Division of Wildlife drawing get to fish for trout in the half-mile section of Cold Creek that runs through Castalia State Fish Hatchery.
Interested persons should go to the Wild Ohio Customer Center and click “Lottery Applications.” Applicants 16 years old and older must hold a valid fishing license to apply.
Anglers may apply only once annually. All applications will be disqualified if the same name appears on multiple applications. The application fee is $3. Application fees are non-refundable. Each person must submit a separate application.
Independent drawings will be held for both youth season and adult seasons. Adults are not permitted to fish during the youth season. The youth season takes place during the summer and includes youths 15 years old and younger. The adult season takes place in the spring and fall and includes anglers 16 years old and older.
Permit holders may bring two adults and three youths; you may participate only once per season as either the permittee or a partner.
Anglers will know if they were chosen by checking the Department of Wildlife website in the Wild Ohio Customer Center under a customer number. Applicants not selected to participate will not be notified. Anglers selected to participate will receive instructions on how to download the necessary permit and instructions from the website, including the fishing date. The permit to fish applies to the successfully drawn applicant and his/her partner(s). Permits are transferable (adult to adult, youth to youth). All participants must be properly licensed.
The annual stocking of rainbow trout for Ohio’s put-and-take fishing at 63 bodies of water around the state usually begins in March. For the second straight year, the stocking has been altered because of the harsh winter. The stocking continues through May. More than 98,000 trout in the 10- to 13-inch range will be stocked.
Several locations will hold special angler events during the scheduled releases, including youth only fishing. Contact the Wildlife District Two office at 419-424-5000 for specific times and locations.
A number of bodies of water in Limaland will receive their annual stocking of fish. Among them are Schoonover Lake and Lima Lake in Allen County on April 9 and April 17, Davis Lake in Auglaize County on April 17, Van Wert Reservoir 2 in Van Wert County on April 17, Tawawa Lake in Shelby County on April 22 and Giertz Lake in Hancock County on May 2. A special angler event is planned at the Giertz Lake trout release.
More information about trout releases can be found at wildohio.gov or by calling 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).
Rainbow trout are a cold water species that do not naturally reproduce in Ohio waters. With these put-and-take fish, anglers have a chance to pursue a species they may not otherwise have the opportunity to catch.The daily catch limit for inland lakes is five trout.
Although we are thinking open water, the reality is there is still ice fishing going on and numerous anglers are taking advantage of what has been another prolonged season. And it has been a good one for panfish and walleyes. As the season wears down, there are key elements of safety that should always be a concern.
Ice becomes rotten and soft as the season draws to a close. Even if the ice is a foot or more thick, it can deteriorate to the point where is may not be strong enough to hold someone safely. Ice will shift (usually due to wind conditions) and you can almost always count on ice anglers being caught on floes on Lake Erie as well as the other Great Lakes or Lake St. Clair.
Remember the follow precautions:
• Don’t forget to still carry the appropriate safety items, such as ice picks and a throw rope. Carry the picks around your neck so they are easily accessible should you fall in. And remember to wear a personal flotation device when heading out.
• Continue to use the buddy system and know you’ll have someone with you to help if you fall through the ice.
• Carry a fully charged cell phone in a waterproof plastic bag. Make sure it is easily accessible on your person in case of an emergency.
• Pay attention to the weather. If it hasn’t been consistently cold or if there has been a lot of wind you can’t guarantee there will be solid ice to head out on.
