Wildlife division announces tentative fishing revisions Fair attraction
Citizens are expected to obey all rules laid out by their public officials, although keeping up with changes can be tricky.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife offered fishermen a heads-up recently about tentative revisions beginning Jan. 1. The proposals require approval by the eight-member Ohio Wildlife Council.
Among the proposed rule changes:
• Designating Father’s Day weekend in June to replace an early May weekend as free fishing days, during which no state license is required.
• Increasing to three from two the number of lines an angler may use when fishing the Ohio waters of Lake Erie and its immediate upstream areas in creeks, rivers and tributaries. The number of lines will remain no more than two in other waters statewide.
• Reducing the combined daily bag limit of sauger, saugeye and walleye to six fish from 10 along the entire Ohio River length to conform with limits set by West Virginia and Kentucky. In addition, a 14-inch minimum length limit would be established along the river length shared with Kentucky.
• Maintaining the fishing regulations in existence at American Electric Power’s Recreation Lands at Jesse Owens State Park and Wildlife Area. The park and wildlife area formerly were part of the AEP property.
Before the council vote scheduled in October, citizens will have a chance to comment. A public hearing is scheduled Sept. 12 in Columbus. During August, comments will be accepted at the website wildohio.gov, where a detailed list of the proposals can be found.
For more information, call 614-265-6304.
Controlled update The deadline for submitting applications to participate in lotteries for numerous controlled hunting events throughout the state concludes Wednesday. Cost per application is a nonrefundable $3.
Applications can be found at wildohio.gov, under the dropdown entitled Hunting, Trapping, and Shooting Sports. Additionally, the booklet “Ohio Controlled Hunting Opportunities 2019-2020” can be viewed and/or downloaded. Also known as “Publication 5478,” the 26-page booklet offers information about each available hunt as well as instructions on how to apply.
Duck lotteries
Lotteries for 133 permits to construct duck blinds at state parks in central Ohio are scheduled Aug. 17. Locations, permits available and lottery times follow:
• 24 at Alum Creek in Delaware County. Applications will be accepted at 3305 S. Old State Road, Delaware, starting at 8 a.m., with the drawing at 8:30 a.m. Phone 740-548-4631.
• 3 at A.W. Marion in Pickaway County. Applications will be accepted at the park office, 20635 State Park Road 20, Mt. Sterling, beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the drawing at 9 a.m. Phone 740-69-3124.
• 19 at Buck Creek in Clark County. Applications will be accepted at the park office, 1976 Buck Creek Lane, Springfield, starting at 7:30 a.m., with the drawing at 8 a.m. Phone 937-322-5284.
• 13 at Buckeye Lake in Fairfield and Licking counties. Applications will be accepted at the park office, 2905 Liebs Island Road, Millersport, beginning at 7:30 a.m., with the drawing at 8 a.m. Phone 740-467-2690.
• 14 at Deer Creek in Pickaway and Fayette counties. Applications will be accepted at the park office, 20635 State Park Road, Mt. Sterling, beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the drawing at 9 a.m. Phone 740-869-3124.
• 25 at Delaware in Delaware County. Applications will be accepted at the marina, 5202 Route 23 North, Delaware, starting at 8 a.m., with the drawing at 8:30 a.m. Phone 740-548-4631.
• 35 at Indian Lake in Logan County. Applications will be accepted at the campground office, 13156 Route 235 North, Lakeview, starting at 8 a.m., with the drawing at 8:30 a.m. Phone 937-843-2717.
Applicants must meet requirements that can be viewed at wildohio.gov or obtained by phoning one of the numbers listed for drawing information.
outdoors@dispatch.com