More than 84,000 rainbow trout are released every spring in public lakes and ponds across Ohio. This year, 38 new sites will be stocked, along with more than 50 sites that are normally stocked.
Rainbow trout releases will take place from March through May, as long as areas are ice free and accessible to anglers. Stockings of these public lakes and ponds are excellent opportunities for families to fish together. Fishing for catchable-sized trout is a great way to introduce young people to the outdoors.
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 harvest limit for inland lakes is five trout per angler. New adjustments to the catchable rainbow trout stocking program have resulted in several changes in stocking locations. For current stocking locations, please refer to the list below.
Yellow Highlight Indicates a new trout release location for 2023.
** Indicates a special angler event is planned for the trout release.