Mascots Wylie Walleye and Spike Attend Legislative Hearing on Ohio’s State Fish
SHORES & ISLANDS OHIO, October 17, 2025 --- Ohio Lawmakers are considering a bill to make walleye the official state fish of Ohio. The Ohio House of Representatives Arts, Athletics and Tourism Committee held a hearing at the Ohio Statehouse on September 30 to consider the legislation. House Bill 312, introduced by Representatives Sean Brennan (D-Parma) and D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron), proposes to honor the local fish hero. While Ohio has many official state symbols, like our state bird (cardinal) and state flower (scarlet carnation), at present there is no state fish.
More than a dozen pieces of proponent testimony from a diverse group of advocates were submitted for the hearing. Several attended in person to present their positions including Larry Fletcher, President of Shores & Islands Ohio. Mr. Fletcher’s testimony focused on the economic impact of walleye fishing. “Lake Erie fisheries contribute nearly $1billion in impact to Ohio annually,” stated Fletcher, “with 79% of the fishing targeted at walleye, one can easily see this species’ importance to Ohio’s economy.”
Fletcher credited the Ohio Division of Wildlife fisheries team for their expert management to ensure Ohio’s population of walleye is solid and sustainable, noting that the 2024 harvest of walleye at 9.31 million fish was the highest documented since 1988. With more than 70 million keeper-length walleye in the lake, it’s no wonder Lake Erie is known as the Walleye Capital of the World.
Testimony had also been submitted by representatives of the Toledo Walleye hockey team and the Mayor of Port Clinton, the city that holds an annual New Year’s Eve “Walleye Drop” event featuring a 20 ft.- long fiberglass walleye that is lowered from a crane at midnight. As an added “splash” to the hearing, Port Clinton’s Walleye Drop mascot, Wylie, and Spike, the mascot of the Toledo Walleye attended and were revered by the committee members with the committee chair even attempting to interview them. At a minimum, they provided a fun and unique photo opportunity.
Sandusky County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Peggy Courtney’s testimony mentioned the significant economic impact to her community from the spring walleye run in the Sandusky River. Charter Captain and Lake Erie Charter Boat Association representative Peg VanVleet referenced the more than 250,000 fishing trips that take place annually in Lake Erie, most targeting walleye, and many from
out-of-state anglers. Science and biology-based rationale for why the walleye should be Ohio’s choice was presented by Peter Bode, who serves as a committee member for the Society for Ecological Restoration, a global network of professionals and organizations that promotes ecological restoration to sustain biodiversity and resilience.
Next steps for this bill will be to move from committee to the full Ohio House for vote. Should it pass there, it will move to the Ohio Senate and be assigned for committee hearings. Ohio lawmakers may therefore get a return visit from Wylie and Spike, and hopefully they will help hook our lawmakers on designating the walleye as Ohio’s “Offishial” State Fish!
Click here to learn more about House Bill 312 and view all pieces of testimony.
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