Waterbody · Pennsylvania · Michigan · New York · Ohio
Lake Erie Fishing Regulations 2026
Lake Erie fishing regulations as of 2026-05-08: 881 current rules across 4 states (Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Ohio). Anglers target smallmouth bass, steelhead, walleye.
Species pages for Lake Erie
Dedicated rule pages for the most-targeted species at this water.
Pennsylvania waters
391 rules from Fish & Boat Commission, 48 species.
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Erie -
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
Jun 13-Dec 31, Combined Species
Lake ErieIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
Beaverdam Run ReservoirCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Blue Marsh LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Bradys Run LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Bridgeport ReservoirCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Canoe Creek Lake (State Park) To Include Two Small Ponds And Raceway Adjacent To Canoe LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Carsonia LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Chambers LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Colyer LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Commonwealth Inland Waters
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
Jan 1 – Apr 11 / Oct 1 – Dec 31
Commonwealth Inland Waters -
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Oct 1-Dec 31, Combined Species Oct 1-Dec 31
Conowingo Reservoir
- Min size
- 12"
Conowingo Reservoir Up To Holtwood DamOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
combined species
Conowingo Reservoir, Combined Species
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
Cross Creek LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Delaware RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
NO HARVEST - immediate release only combined species
Delaware River -
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
Jun 13-Dec 31, Combined Species
Delaware River And EstuaryCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
NO HARVEST combined species
Delaware River, West Branch Delaware River And Delaware River Tributaries, From The Mouths Of The Tributaries Upstream To The Limit Of The Tidal Influence And The Lehigh River From Its Mouth Upstream To The First Dam In Easton, PennsylvaniaCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
NO HARVEST - immediate release only combined species
Donegal Lake - Big Bass Program
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
Jan 1-Apr 10 And Jun 13-Dec 31
Duman LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Frances Slocum Lake (State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Glade Run LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Gouldsboro LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Harris PondCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Hinckston Run ReservoirCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Hopewell LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Hunters Lake — Commonwealth Inland Waters
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day combined
Jun 13–Sept 30
Indian Creek Reservoir (Mill Run Reservoir)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Indian LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Juniata RiverClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
From April 12 to June 13: No tournaments permitted.
Juniata River (31.7 Miles) From Sr0075 Bridge At Port Royal Downstream To The Mouth Including All Tributaries To A Point ½ Mile Upstream From The Confluence.Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
January 1 to December 31: NO HARVEST CATCH AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE ONLY. It is unlawful for an angler to cast repeatedly into a clearly visible bass spawning nest or redd in an effort to catch or take bass as with Commonwealth Inland Waters fishing regulations. From January 1 to April 11 and June 14 to December 31: Catch-measure-immediate release tournaments permitted. From April 12 to June 13: No tournaments permitted.
Kaercher Creek DamCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Keystone LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Keystone Lake (State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lackawanna Lake (State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lake Arthur (Moraine State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lake ChillisquaqueCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lake Marburg (Codorus State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lake NessmukCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lake RedmanCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lake TowheeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lake WilliamsCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lakes (Big Bass Program)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
NO HARVEST - Catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. combined species
Lakes, Rivers And StreamsCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Jun 14
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
NO HARVEST - Catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted); begins at 12:01 a.m. combined species
Leaser LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Lily LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Little Bufalo Lake(Holman Lake)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Mammoth DamCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Marsh Creek Lake (State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Marshall LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Mauch Chunk LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Nockamixon Lake (State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
North Park LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Northmoreland LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Opossum LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Peters Twp. Lake(Res. #2)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Pinchot Lake(State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Pymatuning ReservoirOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 5
- Min size
- 12"
Quemahoning ReservoirCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Rose Valley LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Shawnee Lake (State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Shenango River LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Speedwell Forge LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Stevens LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Stevens Lake (Big Bass Program)
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
Sugar LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Susquehanna RiverClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
From April 12 to June 13: No tournaments permitted.
Susquehanna River (98.0 Miles) From The Inflatable Dam Near Sunbury Downstream To Holtwood Dam Including All Tributaries To A Point ½ Mile Upstream From The Confluence.Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
January 1 to December 31: NO HARVEST CATCH AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE ONLY. It is unlawful for an angler to cast repeatedly into a clearly visible bass spawning nest or redd in an effort to catch or take bass as with Commonwealth Inland Waters fishing regulations. From January 1 to April 11 and June 14 to December 31: Catch-measure-immediate release tournaments permitted. From April 12 to June 13: No tournaments permitted.
Tamarack LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Tamarack Lake – Big Bass Program
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
Twin Lake Number Two Reservoir(Upper)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Twin Lakes Number One Reservoir (Lower)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Two Mile Run Reservoir (Justus Lake)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Upper, Middle And Lower Deer LakesCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Virgin Run Lake – Commonwealth Inland Waters
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
(combined species); June 13–Sept 30
Wilmore DamCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Yellow Creek Lake (State Park)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 4 combined species
- Min size
- 15"
April 12 through June 13 (no tournaments permitted). NO HARVEST begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1 through April 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31
Walleye
Lake ErieIn season
- Season opens
- May 3
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
- Min size
- 15"
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
Commonwealth Inland WatersIn season
- Season opens
- May 3
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Min size
- 15"
Conowingo Reservoir Up To Holtwood DamOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 5
- Min size
- 15"
Delaware River
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Delaware River - Nj/Pa Border Portion
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Delaware River And Estuary
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Delaware River Between Nj And Pa
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Delaware River Between Ny And Pa
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Hunters Lake — Commonwealth Inland Waters
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day combined
Jan 1–Mar 14 And May 2–Dec 31
Pymatuning ReservoirOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Min size
- 15"
The Portion Of The Delaware River Between New Jersey And PennsylvaniaOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
open year-round
The Portion Of The Delaware River Between New York And PennsylvaniaIn season
- Season opens
- May 3
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
until midnight
Pennsylvania statewide
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Pymatuning Reservoir (Combined With Saugeye)
All Species
Lake Erie Tributary Streams
- Gear
- Prohibited
Archery fishing or spear fishing is prohibited in or along Lake Erie tributary streams.
All Lake Erie Tributary StreamsClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Sep 3
From September 3 until the opening day of trout season in April, all Lake Erie tributary streams are closed to fishing from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on the following day except for Walnut Creek north of Manchester Bridge Road and Elk Creek north of Route 5. closed to fishing from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on the following day except for Walnut Creek north of Manchester Bridge Road and Elk Creek north of Route 5
Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Permitted
All anglers fishing in the waters of Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries including waters that flow into those tributaries are required to possess a valid Lake Erie permit or Combination Trout Lake Erie permit.
Lake Erie ShorelineClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
It is unlawful to fish from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on the following day within 50 yards of the mouth of both Trout Run and Godfrey Run while fishing the Lake Erie shoreline.
Tributaries Of Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Permitted
All anglers fishing in the waters of Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries including waters that flow into those tributaries are required to possess a valid Lake Erie permit or Combination trout/Lake Erie permit.
Lake Erie And Tributary StreamsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Regulations by Location
Yellow Perch
Lake Erie -
- Min size
- 7"
Dec 1-Apr 7
Lake ErieIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 30 fish
- Min size
- 7"
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
Lake Erie Tributary Streams
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
Lake Trout
Lake Erie Tributary Streams
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
(combined trout/salmon)
Lake ErieClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 15"
over 30” Do Not Eat Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
Lake Erie (Erie Co.)Closed
- Status
- Prohibited
Open waters, over 30 inches, Do Not Eat
Largemouth Bass
Lake Erie -
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
Jun 13-Dec 31, Combined Species
Lake ErieIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Jun 13
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
Muskellunge
Lake Erie Tributary Streams
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 40"
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
Rainbow Trout
Lake Erie, Combined With Salmon
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Lake Erie Tributary Streams (Post-Labor Day Period)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
(combined trout/salmon)
Lake Erie
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 15"
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.; (combined species) Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
Burbot
Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Open
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
when taken by hook and line. Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries. when taken by scuba divers by use of nonmechanical spears or gigs at a depth of at least 60 feet. Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
American Eel
Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 25 fish
- Min size
- 9"
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
Brown Trout
Lake Erie Tributary Streams
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
(combined trout/salmon)
Lake Erie
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 15"
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.; (combined species) Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
Brown Trout / Brook Trout
Lake Erie Tributary Streams (Opening Day–Labor Day, Combined)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Lake Erie Tributary Streams - Class A (Opening Day Through Labor Day, Combined)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Lake Erie Tributary Streams - Class A (After Labor Day, Combined)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Plus 36 more species. See the Pennsylvania pillar page for the full list.
Michigan waters
90 rules from DNR, 2 species.
Walleye
Banks
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Baptist L.Closed
- Status
- Closed
Reshaped from bag_limit=0 (closure marker)
Black R.Out of season
- Season opens
- May 15
- Season closes
- Mar 15
from Alverno Dam downstream to its confluence with the Cheboygan R.
Cheboygan R.Out of season
- Season opens
- May 15
- Season closes
- Mar 15
Clair Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Clark
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Corey
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Craig Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Crooked Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Crystal L.Closed
- Status
- Closed
Reshaped from bag_limit=0 (closure marker)
Cub
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Deer Island
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Dorothy
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
East Bear
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Elsie
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Fisher
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Florence
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Germain
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Glimmerglass
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Golden Silence
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Hay
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Helen
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
High
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Honey
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Jay
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Johnston Springs
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Katherine
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Keewaydin Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Kerr
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Lac Vieux Desert
- Possession
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 18"
Liluis
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Lois
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Loon
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Louise
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Marsh
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Moss
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Mountain
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Nelligan Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Snap Jack
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Teddy Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Thomas Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Trapper
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
West Bear
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Whitefish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Michigan statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 10 fish
- Min size
- 15"
combined with Sauger
Smallmouth Bass
L. Michigan
- Season opens
- Jul 1
within one-half mile of the following islands of the Beaver Island Archipelago: Beaver, Garden, High and Hog
Lake Of The CloudsClosed
- Status
- Closed
no possession of Smallmouth Bass
Michigan statewideCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 27
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 10 fish
- Min size
- 14"
CIR fishing for bass is allowed all year on all waters, unless otherwise closed to fishing. All bass caught must be immediately returned to the water. Southern Zone combined with Largemouth Bass
New York waters
284 rules from DEC, 15 species.
Walleye
Lake Erie And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
All Finger LakesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
All Fresh WatersIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 5
Ashokan ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Ashokan Reservoir (Ulster County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Black LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Black Lake (St. Lawrence County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Boyd Corners ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Boyd Corners Reservoir (Putnam County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Butterfield LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Butterfield Lake (Jefferson County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Canadarago LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Canadarago Lake (Otsego County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Cayuta LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Cayuta Lake (Schuyler County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Cazenovia LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Cazenovia Lake (Madison County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Clear LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Clyde River / Erie Canal (Seneca/Wayne Counties)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Clyde River From The Confluence With Seneca River Upstream To Lock 26 On The Erie CanalIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Cross LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Cross Lake (Cayuga/Onondaga Counties)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Delaware River
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Delaware River & Wes (Ny/Pa Border Water)
- Season closes
- Mar 14
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
East Branch ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
East Branch Reservoir (Putnam County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Eaton Brook ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Eaton Brook Reservoir (Madison County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Erie Canal From The Confluence With Seneca River Upstream To Lock 26 On The Erie CanalIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Fort PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Grass LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Greenwood Lake (New York/New Jersey Border Water)
- Season opens
- May 1
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Harris LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Horseshoe LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Horseshoe Lake (St. Lawrence County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Hyde LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Indian River (St. Lawrence County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Indian River From Black Lake Upstream To The Falls In RossieIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Indian River From The Confluence With The Oswegatchie River Upstream To Black LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Jamesville ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Jamesville Reservoir (Onondaga County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Kiwassa LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake Champlain
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Lake Champlain And Tributaries To The First Impassible Barrier (New York/Vermont Border Water)
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake Ontario And St. Lawrence River
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, And Their TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake PleasantIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake Pleasant TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake RonkonkomaIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Little Wolf PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lower Niagara River And TributariesOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Mohawk River From The Confluence With The Hudson River Upstream To The Rte. 32 BridgeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Niagara River - Lower Section
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
May 1 - Dec 31
Niagara River - Upper Section
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Otselic River (Broome/Cortland Counties)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Otselic River From Whitney Point Reservoir Upstream To The Cortland County Rte. 169 Bridge At Landers CornersIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Pleasant Lake (St. Lawrence County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Pleasant Lake (Town Of Macomb)In season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Putnam PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Redfield Reservoir (Oswego County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Rio ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Rio Reservoir (Orange County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Sacandaga LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Sacandaga Lake OutletIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Sacandaga Lake TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Seneca River (Seneca/Wayne Counties)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Seneca River From Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef – Onondaga County) Upstream To Seneca LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Seneca River From Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef) Upstream To Seneca LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Seneca River From The Confluence With Oneida River Upstream To Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef) Oswego Countyredfield ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Sixtown PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Sixtown Pond (Jefferson County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Skaneateles LakeOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Min size
- 12"
St. Regis Falls ImpoundmentIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Swinging Bridge Reservoir (Sullivan County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Swinging Bridge Reservoir Ulster County Alder LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Titicus ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Titicus Reservoir (Westchester County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Upper Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Waterport ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Waterport Reservoir (Livingston/Orleans Counties)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
White PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
White Pond (Putnam County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Whitney Point ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Whitney Point Reservoir (Broome County)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
New York statewide
- Min size
- 15"
All Species
All Other Lake Erie Tributaries From Bridge Closest To The Mouth Upstream To The 1st Barrier Impassable By FishClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Mar 31
- Gear
- Free Swinging
Fishing only permitted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset (fishing at night is prohibited). Hooks attached to any lure must be free-swinging, except on an artificial fly (page 68) or jigs.
Muskellunge
Lake Erie And TributariesOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 15
- Season closes
- Dec 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 54"
Rainbow Trout
Lake Erie And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
in any combination
Chinook Salmon
Lake Erie And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
in any combination
Lake Trout
Lake Erie And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
Northern Pike
Lake Erie And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 22"
Tiger Muskellunge
Lake Erie And TributariesOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 15
- Season closes
- Dec 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 54"
Brown Trout
Lake Erie And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 12"
All year Daily Limit 3 in any combination Minimum Length 12"
Coho Salmon
Lake Erie And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 12"
All year Daily Limit 3 in any combination Minimum Length 12"
Brook Trout
Lake Erie And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- Oct 15
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
April 1-Oct 15 Daily Limit 5
Smallmouth Bass
New York statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
Plus 3 more species. See the New York pillar page for the full list.
Ohio waters
116 rules from DNR, 22 species.
Yellow Perch
Lake Erie West ZoneOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Daily bag
- 30
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Lake Erie East ZoneOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Daily bag
- 30
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Min size
- 13"
safe to eat two meals per week May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Lake Erie Central ZoneOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Daily bag
- 10
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Lake Erie, West Zone
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Lake Erie, Central Zone
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Lake Erie, East Zone
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Lake Erie And Areas Immediately Upstream In Creeks, Rivers, And TributariesOpen
- Status
- Open
May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026, daily limit to be announced late April
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.In season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; to be announced late April
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Erie
- Min size
- 19"
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
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 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
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"
Ohio statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Min size
- 12"
singly or in combination with Largemouth, & Spotted Bass
Walleye
Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Permitted
safe to eat one meal per week
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.In season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; to be announced late April
Lake Erie And Areas Immediately Upstream In Creeks, Rivers, And Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
singly or in combination, March 1 - April 30, 2025
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
- 6 fish/day
singly or in combination; March 1 - April 30, 2025
Maumee RiverClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
All fish may be taken by hand except walleye
Ohio River On Its Embayments And Tributaries To The First Riffle Or Dam In The Western Unit
- Min size
- 14"
Pymatuning Lake
- Daily bag
- 6
Sandusky RiverClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
All fish may be taken by hand except walleye
Ohio statewide
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
- Min size
- 15"
singly or in combination with Sauger, & Saugeye
Trout
Lake Erie Proper And The Entire Length Of All Lake Erie Creeks, Rivers, And TributariesOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
Sept. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026 singly or in combination; Sept. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Lake Erie Proper And The Entire Length Of All Lake Erie Creeks, Rivers, And Tributaries.Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 12"
Sept. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; singly or in combination with Salmon Sept. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Largemouth Bass
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
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
Spotted Bass
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
Sauger
Lake Erie And Areas Immediately Upstream In Creeks, Rivers, And Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
singly or in combination, March 1 - April 30, 2025 May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026, daily limit to be announced late April
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
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
singly or in combination; March 1 - April 30, 2025 May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; daily limit to be announced late April
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.In season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Min size
- 15"
May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; to be announced late April May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Saugeye
Lake Erie And Areas Immediately Upstream In Creeks, Rivers, And Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
singly or in combination, March 1 - April 30, 2025 May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026, daily limit to be announced late April
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
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
singly or in combination; March 1 - April 30, 2025 May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; daily limit to be announced late April
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.In season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Min size
- 15"
May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; to be announced late April May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Salmon
Lake Erie Proper And The Entire Length Of All Lake Erie Creeks, Rivers, And Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
singly or in combination; Sept. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026 Sept. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Lake Erie Proper And The Entire Length Of All Lake Erie Creeks, Rivers, And Tributaries.Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 12"
Sept. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; singly or in combination with Trout Sept. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
All Species
Lake Erie Fishing District
- Gear
- Minnow Dip Net
Minnow Dip Net: Lake Erie * 6 feet, each side All public fishing waters
Lake Erie
- Max size
- 6 length
- Gear
- Minnow Dip Net
Minnow Dip Net All public fishing waters
Lake Erie - All Public Fishing Waters
- Gear
- Minnow Dip Net
Including East and West harbors in Ottawa County, and waters where fishing with nets is licensed by law.
Lake Erie - Minnow Dip Net
- Max size
- 6 dimensions
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass
Lake ErieOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 28
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Walleye, Saugeye, & Sauger
Lake ErieIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026 singly or in combination; March 1 - April 30, 2025
Plus 10 more species. See the Ohio pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Which states regulate fishing on Lake Erie?
Lake Erie spans 4 states (Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Ohio). Each state's wildlife agency sets rules for its own waters; Fish & Boat Commission / DNR / DEC / DNR.
What species can I target on Lake Erie?
Lake Erie is best known for smallmouth bass, steelhead, walleye. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
When was this last updated?
These rules were last verified against Fish & Boat Commission / DNR / DEC / DNR on 2026-05-08. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch. Last verified .