Ohio regulations
Smallmouth Bass Regulations in Ohio 2026
Ohio Smallmouth Bass regulations as of 2026-05-08: Min size 19 inches; Daily bag 5 fish/day; Min size 14 inches. Sourced from DNR.
Rules (14)
Ohio statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Min size
- 12"
singly or in combination with Largemouth, & Spotted Bass
Lake Erie
- Min size
- 19"
Lake Erie And Areas Immediately Upstream In Creeks, Rivers, And Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
singly or in combination, June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026 June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Lake Erie And Its Embayments Including Maumee Bay, Sandusky Bay, East Harbor, Middle Harbor, And West Harbor, And From Where Lake Erie Tributaries Enter The Lake Upstream To The Following End Points
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
singly or in combination; June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026 June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Lake Erie And Its Embayments Including Maumee Bay, Sandusky Bay, East Harbor, Middle Harbor, And West Harbor, And From Where Lake Erie Tributaries Enter The Lake Upstream To The Following End Points: Arcola, Wheeler, Cowles, And Indian Creeks : U.s. Route 20 Bridges; Ashtabula River: E. 24th Street Bridge; Black River: State Route 611 Bridge; Conneaut Creek: Main Street Bridge (Downtown To Conneaut); Euclid Creek And Chagrin River: State Route 283 Bridges; Rocky River: Detroit Road Bridge; Sandusky River: Waterworks Dam In Tiffin; Maumee River: First Dam Upstream (Grand Rapids, Ohio); Vermilion River: State Route 2 Bridge; Grand River: State Route 535 Bridge; Cuyahoga River: Harvard Road Bridge.Out of season
- Season opens
- Jun 28
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Min size
- 14"
June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Ohio Waters, Ohio Shoreline, And All Ohio Embayments And Tributaries Within The Western Unit
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
singly or in combination
Ohio Waters, Ohio Shoreline, And Ohio Embayments And Tributaries Within The Western Unit
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
singly or in combination
Ohio Waters, Shoreline Anglers When Fishing On The Ohio Shoreline, And All Anglers In Ohio Embayments And Tributaries Within The Western Unit
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
singly or in combination with Largemouth, & Spotted Bass
Rivers, Lakes, Ponds
- Min size
- 18"
Also known as
Smallmouth Bass is also called smallies. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Ohio.
Frequently asked questions
When is Smallmouth Bass season in Ohio?
Smallmouth Bass season in Ohio runs from Jun 28 to Feb 28 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Smallmouth Bass in Ohio?
Minimum size for Smallmouth Bass in Ohio is 19 inches in Lake Erie, per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Ohio?
Daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Ohio is 5 fish/day in Lake Erie And Areas Immediately Upstream In Creeks, Rivers, And Tributaries, per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25OHFW_LR.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/ohio/fishing/pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/resources/OH/25OHFW_LR.pdf
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch. Last verified .