Trout Releases Scheduled to Begin on March 7

COLUMBUS, OH – More than 98,000 rainbow trout will be released this spring at 63 Ohio public lakes and ponds, creating excellent opportunities for anglers all across Ohio. The first rainbow trout releases will be Friday, March 7, at Adams Lake in Adams County and Barnesville Reservoir No. 3 in Belmont County.

“By stocking these ponds, we hope to create an opportunity for anglers to be successful, especially young anglers that might be fishing for the very first time,” said ODNR Division of Wildlife Chief Scott Zody. “Trout fishing provides the ideal introduction to the outdoors for our children and can help foster a lifetime love of fishing.”

Many stocked locations will feature special angler events, including youth-only fishing, on the day of the scheduled trout release. Rainbow trout releases will take place across Ohio from March 7 – May 16. Contact the nearest wildlife district office for specific information. Additional information about trout releases is available at wildohio.com or by calling 800-WILDLIFE.

Rainbow trout are raised at state fish hatcheries and measure 10-13 inches before they are released by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. The daily catch limit for inland lakes is five trout.

Anglers age 16 and older must have an Ohio fishing license to fish in state public waters. The 2014-2015 fishing license is now available and is valid through Feb. 28, 2015. An annual resident fishing license costs $19. A one-day fishing license costs $11 for residents and nonresidents. The one-day license may also be redeemed for credit toward the purchase of an annual fishing license.

Ohio residents born on or before Dec. 31, 1937, may obtain a free fishing license where licenses are sold. People age 66 and older who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1938, and have resided in Ohio for the past six months are eligible to purchase the reduced-cost resident senior license for $10.

Licenses and permits can be purchased online at wildohio.com and at hundreds of participating agents throughout the state. A complete list of participating license sales agents can be found at wildohio.com.

Sales of fishing licenses along with the Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) program continue to fund the operation of the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s fish hatcheries. No state tax dollars are used for this activity. This is a user-pay, user-benefit program.

The SFR is a partnership between federal and state government, industry and anglers and boaters. When anglers purchase rods, reels, fishing tackle, fish finders and motor boat fuel, they pay an excise tax. The federal government collects these taxes, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers and disburses these funds to state fish and wildlife agencies. These funds are used to acquire habitat, produce and stock fish, conduct research and surveys, provide aquatic education to youth and secure and develop boat accesses.

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.