Conundrum

[wakina]

Actually questioned a DNR officer about this one day while being inspected. Was told that on Lake Erie in Ohio there is a 30 per person possession limit on perch. Cannot have more than that number with you no matter when you caught them. He even pointed out that if you caught your limit and went back to your car and put them in a cooler then went back out again and caught another limit....if you were to be checked while at your car you would get a ticket. Now a step even further, you go out one day and limit out, have them cleaned and put in a cooler in your car, then next day go again and do the same thing.....if you get stopped....you have more than one days limit in your possession and will get a ticket. He was very nice in explaining even though I don't necessarily agree with it.

"have them cleaned and put in a cooler in your car"

So long as you have that cleaning ticket the cleaners give you which is dated for the day when you have fish cleaned the ODNR will not ticket you. The cleaners are also required by the ODNR to maintain a log of who had fish cleaned at their facility along with the address of that person presenting the fish to be cleaned and the date the service was provided, so there is a backup system built into the cleaning industry for proof of service beyond just the ticket. Having more than one days limit in your possession while on the lake (key words are on the water/lake) whether the lake is frozen or not will result in a ticket unless you are on some form of commercial passenger transport(Ferry or Airplane) the ODNR does not leave the book work of when they are caught up to the individual fishermen.