Article presented by Pike County Career & Technology Center …
COLUMBUS, Ohio – More than 36 million fish were stocked by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (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. 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 saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, rainbow trout, steelhead trout, brown trout, muskellunge, hybrid-striped bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, and bluegill.
Most of Ohio’s fish populations are sustained through natural spawning, such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, and walleye in Lake Erie; however, stocking expands and diversifies fishing opportunities in waters where existing habitats do not support some fish reproduction…