Page 12 - Mid America Boating - March 2023 issue

Ohio Division of Wildlife (1.7 million), brown trout (17,719), and hybrid- via the DataOhio portal in the Fish Stock-
striped bass (505,961).
ing Database. Anglers can explore a map of
Advanced fi ngerling (6 to 10 inches
stocked more than 52 million fi sh long): blue catfi sh (210,414), channel catfi sh stocking locations and use stocking data to
MARCH 2023 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] 12
plan their next outing.
Ohio’s state fi sh hatcheries are open
(59,198), muskellunge (20,505), and yellow
throughout Ohio in 2022 perch (3,396). to the public and offer activities such as
birding, hiking, and target shooting. Find
Catchable fi sh (8 inches or longer): channel
catfi sh (10,514), bluegill (26,094), and rainbow fi shing reports and forecasts, species
trout (104,244). specifi c information, and learning modules
The Ohio Department of Natural Resourc- wide. The total represents a 15% increase over Yearling fi sh (8 to 12 inches long): brown through wildohio.gov. Anglers ages 16 and
es (ODNR) Division of Wildlife stocked 52.3 the annual production and stocking goal of
million fi sh of 11 species in Ohio waters 44 million fi sh, thanks to excellent production trout (21,200), channel catfi sh (30,730), and older are required to hold a valid Ohio
fi shing license on all public waters. Check
steelhead trout (470,912).
throughout 2022. Fish were stocked during conditions that resulted in surplus walleye,
The Division of Wildlife’s current and
spring, summer, and fall at 203 locations state- saugeye, and yellow perch fry. historical fi sh stocking records can be viewed the current fi shing regulations booklet
before your next trip. MAB
“Raising, transporting, and releasing 52
million fi sh is a huge undertaking and provides
great fi shing statewide for Ohio’s more than 1
million anglers,” said Division of Wildlife Chief
Kendra Wecker. “I’m proud of the dedicated
fi sh management staff who work to keep our
state the fi shing hotspot that it is.”
The Division of Wildlife operates six state
fi sh hatcheries that raise sport fi sh for stock-
ing in Ohio waters, enhancing recreational
opportunities for anglers. Ohio’s hatcheries
raise saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, rainbow
trout, steelhead trout, brown trout, muskel-
lunge, hybrid-striped bass, blue catfi sh,
channel catfi sh, and bluegill.
The 52 million fi sh stocked in Ohio last year
were of fi ve life stages: 38.2 million fry, 13.1
million fi ngerlings, 293,513 advanced fi nger-
lings, 140,852 catchable fi sh, and 522,842
yearling fi sh. These life stages included the
following sport fi sh:
Fry (less than 1 inch long): saugeye (19
million), walleye (12.5 million), yellow perch (4.2
million), and hybrid-striped bass (2.5 million).
More than 400,000 steelhead trout in Fingerling (1 to 2 inches long): saugeye (5.6 Muskellunge are released in Ohio’s public waters as advanced fi ngerlings, up to 10
Ohio waters last year. million), walleye (5.2 million), yellow perch inches long.

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