Ohio wildlife officials are proposing changes that could simplify bass fishing regulations across the state beginning next year.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife presented the proposal to the Ohio Wildlife Council on August 26.

The proposal would remove many water specific length restrictions and daily bag limits for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass. ODNR says surveys found that many of the special regulations were not resulting in larger bass.

Under the proposal, most affected waterways would instead fall under the statewide limit of five bass per day with a minimum length of 12 inches.

The Wildlife Council also received proposed dates for Ohio’s 2027 spring wild turkey hunting seasons. The proposed South Zone season would run April 24 through May 23, while the Northeast Zone season would run May 1 through May 30. Separate youth seasons are also proposed for both zones.

The proposal would also eliminate the daily limit and nine inch minimum length requirement for crappies at Hoover Reservoir.

If approved, the fishing regulation changes would take effect March 1, 2027.

Public comments will be accepted at wildohio.gov from August 31 through September 30. The Ohio Wildlife Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed changes October 28.