Ohio Bassers Want to Keep Some?

Looks like Ohio derby guys like to heat and eat 12-inchers.

In an article in the Dayton Daily News talking about possible reg changes was this:

The survey posed the following three ideas to bass anglers as possible changes:

• A 12-inch minimum size limit, which is quite common across the country.

• A split daily bag limit of two bass under 15 inches and two over 15 inches.

• Anglers would be able to keep two fish under 14 inches and one over 20 inches in what many anglers refer to as a slot limit.

“We have talked to a lot of tournament guys and they have expressed an interest in being able to keep at least a couple of smaller fish,” [said Scott Hale, administrator for inland fisheries for the DOW].

Some Ohio lakes have 15-inch limits, which makes it difficult for some tournament anglers to bring anything back to the dock. But if the limit were 12 inches, that would change.

“A lot” of tournament guys want to keep some smaller fish? Ohio guys – is that true?

If so, news to me. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – it might actually help improve bass size in some fisheries.

Anyhow, no reg changes are imminent. “We are not going to rush into it…we want to make sure we get it right,” Hale said. The article notes that although the official public input period is over, he’d still take a look at any e-mails sent to him about any future regs. Send ’em on to scott.hale AT dnr.state.oh.us.