Meigs County Trout Fishing Not This Year

Meigs County Trout Fishing Not This Year

ODNR Division of Wildlife will release 84,000 rainbow trout in 88 lakes and ponds beginning Thursday, March 16, 2023. If you are thinking of doing your annual trip to Forked Run State Park to catch a rainbow trout think again, Meigs County has been taken off the list of lakes and ponds in Ohio to be stocked.
Meigs Independence Press spoke with Meigs County Game warden Chris Gilkey and he confirmed that this is true for Meigs County and other Rural areas across the state. When ask if Gilkey had any part in the slection of areas that the trout would be stocked in he stated he had no part in that. Gilkey pointed out a list of alternate places that would receive trout in our area that can be found on the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s website.

Jimmy Will Meigs County Commissioner when ask about the new trout stocking procedures stated “its’s absolutely disgusting to me that Forked Run will not be stocked this year with trout and our youth will miss out on this fanstastic opportunity to learn and enjoy fishing at our local state park. Forked Run trout stocking has been happening for decades and hundreds of folks fish the lake every year and look forward to this event.” Will continued with saying “My first time trout fishing was at Forked Run, many years ago when a friends dad from church took me along. He has continued to mentor his many grandchildren in trout fishing every spring at Forked Run. Sadly it appears that only memories may remain.”

The ODNR has adjusted the stocking to lakes less than 25 acres with 75% shoreline accessibility . Redistribute stockings among counties in proportion to the number of people that reside in them to better serve more people. Adjusting opportunities to focus on more populous counties to reach a more diverse group of anglers.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife will release 84,000 rainbow trout in 88 lakes and ponds beginning Thursday, March 16, 2023. Locations have changed this year to bring more people an opportunity to catch these feisty fish in March, April, and May. Trout releases are designed for high angler success and harvest.

Find a complete list of release dates and locations at ohiodnr.gov/troutstockings. Fishing techniques can be found on wildohio.gov.

All fish are stocked during the date listed for each location. Some locations feature a special event on the day of the scheduled release, including youth-only fishing. Information about the trout releases, including a complete list of dates, stocking locations, event information, and any changes to the schedule because of weather is available at wildohio.gov or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543)

Where to fish
Rainbow trout are stocked throughout Ohio. A few of the most popular fishing locations are:

Central Ohio: Antrim Lake, Whetstone Park, Heritage Park Pond, Sunbury Upground Reservoir, and Delaware State Park Pond

Northwest Ohio: East Harbor State Park Pond, Giertz Lake, Maumee Bay State Park Nature Center Pond, Olander Lake, Pearson Metropark Ponds, and Sleepy Hollow Park Pond

Northeast Ohio: Beartown Lake, Brushwood Lake, Little Turtle Pond, Munroe Falls Lake, Rowland Nature Preserve Lake, and Westlake Nature Center Pond

Southeast Ohio: Buckeye Park Lake, Penrod Lake, Rose Lake, St. Clairsville Reservoir, Turkey Creek Lake, and Yoctangee Park Lake

Southwest Ohio: Adams Lake, Caesar Creek Youth Pond, Cowan Lake Youth Pond, Home of the Brave Park Pond, Rocky Fork State Park Beach Pond, Rush Run Lake, and Sycamore State Park Pond

By stocking these and other water areas across the state, the Division of Wildlife provides anglers the opportunity to enjoy quality spring rainbow trout fishing in a family-friendly environment. The daily limit is five rainbow trout per angler.

Rainbow trout are raised at Ohio’s state fish hatcheries and measure between 10-13 inches when they are released by the Division of Wildlife. Rainbow trout are coldwater species and are stocked primarily near metropolitan areas and where they are likely to be caught within two weeks of release. Trout are sensitive to warm temperatures and typically do not survive through late spring.

Anglers ages 16 and older are required to have an Ohio fishing license to fish in state public waters. An annual license is $25 and is valid for one year after purchase. A one-day fishing license costs $14 and may be redeemed for credit toward the purchase of a one-year fishing license. Licenses and permits can be purchased online at wildohio.gov, through the HuntFish OH app, and at participating license sales agents.

Sales of fishing licenses along with the federal Sport Fish Restoration program support the operation of Division of Wildlife fish hatcheries. The Sport Fish Restoration program is a partnership between federal and state governments, the fishing industry, anglers, and boaters. When anglers purchase rods, reels, fishing tackle, fish finders, and motorboat fuel, they pay an excise tax. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers and disburses funds from these taxes to state fish and wildlife agencies. These funds are used to acquire habitat, produce and stock fish, conduct research and assessment surveys, provide aquatic education, and secure fishing access.