November 3, 2005

INCREASE IN LAKE ERIE BAG LIMITS APPROVED FOR 2006

COLUMBUS, OH - Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch anglers will enjoy an increased bag limit next year as the fishing proposals for 2006 were approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.  

The daily bag limit on walleye will increase from three fish to four between March 1 and
April 30, with a six-fish bag limit the remainder of the year. The existing 15-inch size limit will remain.

Council also approved an increase for yellow perch from the current 30-fish daily bag limit to 40. Perch populations, which have been low since the mid-1990s, have rebounded to healthier levels since the bag limit was reduced in 1995.

State wildlife biologists will continue to monitor the walleye and perch populations and work with state and provincial partners to ensure the continued vitality of the Lake Erie fishery.

Finally, a proposal allowing anglers to keep only one channel catfish larger than 28 inches and one flathead catfish larger than 35 inches in a day was approved.

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For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:
Roger Knight, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(419) 625-8062
-or-
Gary Isbell, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6325