Rule 1501:31-13-02 | Fishing methods other than angling; areas affected.
(A) Trotlines in the inland fishing district:
It shall be unlawful for any person to set, use or maintain a trotline in the inland fishing district except:
(1) In streams;
(2) North of the causeway in Mosquito lake to the southern boundary of the waterfowl refuge;
(3) In that part of Charles Mill lake lying north of state route 430;
(4) In Seneca lake in all areas extending south of state route 147;
(5) In Clendening lake in all areas extending east of state route 799;
(6) In Tappan lake in all areas extending above gas line causeway and state route 646;
(7) In Atwood lake in the area north and east of state route 542 north at Delroy, Ohio;
(8) In Piedmont lake in all areas in sections 11 and 12 of Kirkwood township;
(9) In Wills creek lake, provided it is unlawful to set, use or maintain a trotline in that area directly in front of the Muskingum conservancy district boat landing;
(10) In Berlin lake in that area lying south and west of state route 225;
(11) In Grand lake St. Marys in that area bounded on the west by Prairie creek, on the east by Big Chickasaw creek, and on the north by a line of buoys extending east to west between Big Chickasaw creek and Prairie creek. In such area it is unlawful to set, use or maintain a trotline in channels, or across the mouths of channels or streams;
(12) In the inland part of Sandusky bay, commonly called Mud creek bay.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1) Set, use, or maintain a trotline composed all or in part of wire or cable;
(2) Set, use, or maintain a trotline which can be removed from the water by pulling from the shore;
(3) Set, use, or maintain a trotline within a distance of one thousand feet downstream from any dam;
(4) Set, use, or maintain more than three trotlines in any one body of water in the inland fishing district;
(5) Set, use, or maintain a trotline having more than fifty hooks attached in any tributary of lake Erie;
(6) Fail to inspect or maintain their trotline once every twenty-four hour period;
(7) Disturb or molest a legally placed trotline of another without permission from the trotline owner or user.
(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to set, use, or maintain a float line except:
(1) In streams;
(2) In Sandusky bay west of the railroad bridge;
(3) In Berlin lake in that area lying south and west of state route 225;
(4) In Mosquito lake north of the causeway and south of a line of buoys designating the waterfowl refuge;
(5) Charles Mill lake north of state route 430;
(6) Clendening lake east of state route 799;
(7) Seneca lake south of state route 147;
(8) Tappan lake above the gas line causeway and state route 646;
(9) Atwood lake in all areas north and east of state route 542 north at Delroy;
(10) Piedmont lake in sections 11 and 12 of Kirkwood township;
(11) Wills creek lake except that part directly in front of Muskingum watershed conservancy district boat landing;
(12) In all public waters of the state of Ohio unless specifically prohibited by the owner in authority of said body of water.
(13) In privately owned ponds, lakes, or reservoirs to or from which fish are not accustomed to migrate.
(D) In any waters in the state wherein an Ohio fishing license is required by section 1533.32 of the Revised Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1) Set, use, or maintain any float line unless the user is present within a distance from which he can observe and attend such line at all times;
(2) Set, use, or maintain a float line anchored, fastened, or otherwise restricted from moving, floating or drifting freely and independent of any other line whatsoever;
(3) Set, use, or maintain more than six float lines in all public waters of the state of Ohio less than seven hundred surface acres.
(4) Set, use, or maintain a float line with a treble hook or more than one single hook attached.
(E) Set or bank lines
(1) Set or bank lines may be used to take fish or turtles only as herein provided.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(a) Set, use, or maintain in excess of fifty set or bank lines; or
(b) Set, use, or maintain any set or bank line with more than one single hook or with a treble hook attached to it;
(c) Set, use, or maintain a set or bank line from a dock, wharf, pier, boat, dam or artificially constructed retaining wall, or attach such lines to fishing rods or fishing poles;
(d) Set, use, or maintain a set or bank line which is attached to any stake placed or present in or under the water;
(e) Set, use, or maintain more than six set or bank lines in all public waters of the state of Ohio less than seven hundred surface acres.
(f) Fail to inspect or maintain their set or bank lines once every twenty-four hour period.
(g) Leave any part of a set or bank line which was brought to the site upon completion of use.
(h) Disturb or molest a legally placed set or bank line of another without permission from the set or bank line owner or user.
(F) Snag or snatch fishing
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(a) Use snatch hooks, snag hooks, snag lines, or to catch fish in any manner other than by mouth, within a distance of one thousand feet downstream from any dam in the Muskingum river.
(b) Engage in snag fishing within a distance of one thousand feet down stream from any dam posted with division of wildlife signs indicating snagging is prohibited.
(c) Snag a fish or engage in snagging while using a hook exceeding five-eighths inches in space between the point and shank of the hook.
(d) Use snatch hooks, snag hooks, snag lines, or to catch fish in any manner other than the mouth, during the period from September first through April thirtieth in the entire drainage basins of the Rocky river, Grand river, Chagrin river, Conneaut creek, Ashtabula river, Vermilion river, Arcola creek, Cowles creek, Euclid creek, Indian creek, Turkey creek, or Wheeler creek.
(e) Use snatch hooks, snag hooks, snag lines, engage in snag fishing or possess any fish taken by snagging in any waters of the state within the eastern or western fishing units of the Ohio river, as described in rule 1501:31-13-11 of the Administrative Code.
(G) Minnow seines - minnow dip nets
(1) In the lake Erie fishing district and other waters wherein fishing with nets is licensed by law, and in East and West harbors, Ottawa county, it is lawful for any person to use a minnow seine of any length or width, or a minnow dip net not exceeding seventy-two inches on a side to take minnows, crayfish, and larval aquatic insects; however, it shall be unlawful for any person:
(a) To have in possession or use a seine or dip net with a square mesh larger than one-half inch on a side;
(b) To have in possession or use a dip net having any side greater than seventy-two inches;
(c) To have in possession or use a seine having other than straight sides.
(2) In the inland fishing district it is lawful to use a minnow seine or a minnow dip net to take minnows, crayfish, and larval aquatic insects. However, it shall be unlawful for any person:
(a) To have in possession or use a minnow seine exceeding ninety-six inches in length or exceeding forty-eight inches in depth except in such waters wherein fishing with nets is licensed by law, and excepting East and West harbors, Ottawa county, Ohio;
(b) To use a seine or dip net with a square mesh larger than one-half inch on a side;
(c) To have in possession or use a dip net having any side greater than forty-eight inches, except in such waters wherein fishing with nets is licensed by law, and excepting East and West harbors, Ottawa county, Ohio;
(d) To have in possession or use a seine having other than straight lines;
(e) To use two or more seines fastened together the combination of which exceeds ninety-six inches in length or forty-eight inches in width;
(f) To use a minnow seine from nine p.m. to four a.m. except in East and West harbors, Ottawa county, and in such waters wherein fishing with nets is licensed by law.
(H) Minnow or bait fish traps may only be used to take those bait fish and crayfish listed in paragraph (A)(1) of rule 1501:31-13-04 of the Administrative Code and are subject to the following:
It shall be unlawful for any person:
(1) To have in possession or use a minnow or bait fish trap which measures more than twenty-four inches in its greatest overall length, or measures more than twelve inches in its greatest overall width;
(2) To have in possession or use a minnow or bait fish trap having an opening larger than one inch in diameter.
(I) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code apply to this rule.
Last updated July 2, 2024 at 9:42 AM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10, 1533.02, 1533.37
Five Year Review Date: 6/30/2029
Prior Effective Dates: 2/27/1975, 6/1/1980, 6/1/1982, 11/12/1982, 6/1/1985, 6/1/1986, 6/1/1987, 3/1/1990, 3/1/1991, 3/1/1997, 3/1/1998, 3/1/2004, 7/1/2011, 7/1/2012, 3/1/2015, 3/1/2016, 1/1/2023