COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife awarded 9,723 Fish Ohio pins to successful anglers with qualifying catches in 2022. The Fish Ohio program recognizes 25 species of fish, and anglers who catch a qualifying fish receive a commemorative Fish Ohio pin and a Master Angler pin for catching qualifying fish of four different species in one year.
Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker says, “Fish Ohio inspires anglers to go fishing, and then celebrates their success. Congratulations to the thousands of people who landed a trophy fish in 2022. We look forward to another outstanding year in 2023.” The Fish Ohio pin for 2023 features a walleye, which can be found in great numbers in Lake Erie, known as the Walleye Capital of the World.
Largemouth bass, saugeye, and crappie were among the most popular species caught at Ohio’s inland lakes. The top lakes for largemouth bass were Portage Lakes (Summit County), Nimisila Lake (Summit County), and Alum Creek Lake (Delaware County). Saugeye were most often caught at Buckeye Lake (Fairfield, Licking, and Perry counties), Indian Lake (Logan County), and Tappan Lake (Harrison County). The best lakes for crappie were Mosquito Creek Lake (Trumbull County), Hoover Reservoir (Delaware and Franklin counties), and Alum Creek Lake (Delaware County).
The Division of Wildlife offers a wealth of resources to assist anglers, including lake maps, fishing tips, and fishing forecasts through the HuntFish OH mobile app. To get started fishing, anglers can also participate in the Wild Ohio Harvest Community, which provides online learning modules, in-person classes, recipes, and more.
Remember to purchase an Ohio fishing license, which is required for all anglers aged 16 and older, and costs $25 for Ohio residents. For more information on fishing tips and forecasts, visit wildohio.gov.