The right to fish public Cleveland waterways
According to a 2023 special report by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, 57.7 million anglers aged 6 and above went fishing in the United States, accounting for 19% of the population. In Ohio, about 18% of adults, or roughly 1.7 million individuals, participate in fishing, as reported by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
The most popular counties for anglers are those along Lake Erie and the Ohio River. These waterways, along with most rivers, streams and lakes in the state, are open to the public for fishing if they are accessed from publicly owned areas such as a public boat launch.
According to Cuyahoga County Division of Wildlife Officer Michael Gill, Ohio waterways are governed by “riparian rights.” This doctrine allows landowners whose property borders a waterway to use the water for their land but does not grant them ownership of the water itself. Riparian, derived from the Latin word “ripa” (meaning bank or shore), dictates that riparian owners can use water if it does not interfere with the reasonable uses of other riparian owners and the public’s access to these bodies of waters.
To gain riparian rights, a landowner must own property adjacent to a source of water that fits the definition of a waterway, which varies by state. Some bodies of water are private and not subject to public access if riparian owners own all the land below and around the waterbody.
When fishing in public waterways, remember to purchase an Ohio fishing license. An Ohio resident license costs $25, is valid for one year from its purchase date, and is required for all anglers aged 16 and older. A license is not required when fishing in a private pond.
In general, the public has the right to fish all navigable waterways in Ohio, excluding those on private property.
About Hooked
“Hooked” is a comic strip based on characters taken from the book “Learn To Fish, A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginning Anglers.” It features a multicultural cast of teens who love to fish and decide to form a fishing club in Cleveland. See “Hooked” monthly right here on the Signal Cleveland website produced in partnership with Dennis James Knowles and Gail Ann Grizzell of Cleveland’s The Fishing Foundation.
Ohio does not require those under 16 to have a fishing license. Read more on Ohio fishing laws here.
