Ohio Wildlife Council Approves New Saugeye Fishing Regulations

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The Ohio Wildlife Council voted to approve changes to site-specific regulations for walleye, saugeye, and sauger fishing as well as to set the spring 2025 wild turkey hunting season during its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 30, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The council approved amendments to Ohio’s inland fishing regulations that will begin on Jan. 1, 2025. The 15-inch minimum length requirement for walleye, saugeye, and sauger was removed on Acton Lake, Alum Creek Lake, Atwood Lake, Buckeye Lake, Caesar Creek Lake, Ferguson Reservoir, Findlay Reservoir 1, Findlay Reservoir 2, Indian Lake, Metzger Reservoir, Piedmont Lake, Pleasant Hill Lake, Rocky Fork Lake, Seneca Lake, and Tappan Lake.

In addition, the Ohio Wildlife Council approved adding a 15-inch minimum length requirement for walleye, saugeye, and sauger at Mosquito Creek Lake and LaDue Reservoir.

Wild turkey hunting season
The 2025 spring wild turkey hunting seasons are:

  • Youth: Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 2025
  • South zone: Saturday, April 19 to Sunday, May 18, 2025
  • Northeast zone: Saturday, May 3 to Sunday, June 1, 2025

Ohio’s spring turkey season is split into two zones to align with the timing of turkey nesting in those regions. The south zone is the majority of Ohio, comprising 83 counties. The northeast zone includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties.

A complete list of fishing, hunting, and trapping season dates and regulations is available at wildohio.gov.

Ohio Wildlife Council  
The Ohio Wildlife Council is an eight-member board that approves all Division of Wildlife proposed rules and regulations. Council meetings are open to the public. Individuals interested in providing comments are asked to call 614-265-6304 at least two days prior to the meeting to register. All comments are required to be three minutes or less.

The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.

In 2024, join ODNR as we celebrate 75 years of protecting Ohio’s natural resources and providing outstanding and award-winning recreational opportunities.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.