36 million fish stocked in Ohio waters in 2025

Columbus — More than 36 million fish were stocked by the Ohio DNR (ODNR) Division of Wildlife in Ohio’s public lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams in 2025. Eleven different species of fish were stocked at 233 locations statewide.

Annual fish stockings play an important role in providing excellent fishing for Ohio’s 827,000 licensed anglers, according to the Division of Wildlife. The Division of Wildlife operates six state fish hatcheries that raise sport fish for stocking in Ohio waters, expanding fishing opportunities for anglers. Ohio’s hatcheries raise saugeyes, walleyes, yellow perch, rainbow trout, steelhead trout, brown trout, muskellunge, hybrid-striped bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, and bluegills.

Most of Ohio’s fish populations are sustained through natural spawning, such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappies, and walleyes in Lake Erie. However, stocking expands and diversifies fishing opportunities in waters where existing habitats do not support some fish reproduction, according to the Division of Wildlife.

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The 36 million fish stocked in Ohio last year were of five life stages: 25.5 million fry, 10 million fingerlings, 258,925 advanced fingerlings, 493,840 yearlings, and 117,942 catchable size fish. These life stages included the following sport fish:

Fry (less than 1 inch long): saugeyes (13.1 million), walleyes (8.5 million), yellow perch (2.1 million), hybrid-striped bass (1.2 million), and triploid saugeyes (449,595).

Fingerling (1 to 2 inches long): saugeyes (4.8 million), walleyes (2.9 million), yellow perch (1.9 million), triploid saugeyes (214,403), and hybrid-striped bass (119,256).

Advanced fingerlings (6 to 12 inches long): blue catfish (133,940), channel catfish (112,036), and muskellunge (12,949).

Yearling fish (7 to 12 inches long): brown trout (19,913), channel catfish (9,389), and steelhead trout (464,538).

Catchable size fish (6 inches or longer): channel catfish (7,275), bluegills (7,371), and rainbow trout (103,296).

In 2025, saugeyes were stocked in Grand Lake St. Marys for the first time. These specific saugeyes are sterile and unable to reproduce. The saugeyes in Grand Lake St. Marys should increase angling opportunities and are incapable of breeding with wild walleyes, according to the Division of Wildlife.

The Division of Wildlife’s current and historical fish stocking records can be viewed via the DataOhio portal in the Fish Stocking Database. Use the dataset to explore stocking locations and plan your next outing. Anglers ages 16 and older are required to hold a valid Ohio fishing license on all public waters. Check the current fishing regulations booklet before your next trip.

Ohio’s state fish hatcheries are open to the public and offer activities such as birding, hiking, and archery. Each fish hatchery will host an open house in 2026: March 28 (St. Marys), April 4 (Hebron and Senecaville), April 11 (Castalia), April 18 (Kincaid), and April 25 (London). Each open house runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Since 1950, the Sport Fish Restoration program has dedicated permanent funding to fishery conservation through federal excise taxes on sport fishing equipment.