Local map guide · Ohio

Fishing lakes near Columbus

Columbus has a rare mix of urban reservoirs, state-park lakes and small close-to-home water. This pilot keeps the radius practical: the first choices sit inside the metro, while the farthest example is still a realistic day trip.

10 useful waters10 survey-backed maps9 with verified access records

Interactive context map. Green-ringed markers have survey-backed contours; white-ringed markers are approximated. Select a marker to open its lake page.

How to narrow the list

Griggs and O'Shaughnessy reward a river-reservoir reading; Hoover and Alum Creek offer more water and depth choices; Buckeye and Deer Creek call for a shallower-scale approach. Use access and wind exposure to break ties.

Ohio DNR's access layer identifies ramps and several carry-in or shore-oriented sites. Those records are stronger than a generic 'public lake' label, but they still do not grant access across unlisted shoreline.

Ten fishing waters to compare

Drive times are planning estimates derived from straight-line distance, not live routes or traffic. Check your navigation app before leaving.

Antrim Lake
8 mi · about 20 min
Map
Survey-backed · 34 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout
Access
No verified access point attached; check locally
Open the depth map →
Griggs Reservoir
8 mi · about 20 min
Map
Survey-backed · 23 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
Access
3 public access sites; 2 carry-in or shore-oriented · Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access
Open the depth map →
Hoover Reservoir
16 mi · about 30 min
Map
Survey-backed · 69 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
Access
5 public access sites; 1 carry-in or shore-oriented · Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access
Open the depth map →
O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
18 mi · about 35 min
Map
Survey-backed · 49 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
Access
4 public access sites; 1 carry-in or shore-oriented · Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access
Open the depth map →
Alum Creek Lake
21 mi · about 40 min
Map
Survey-backed · 63 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill
Access
8 public access sites; 3 carry-in or shore-oriented · Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access
Open the depth map →
Hargus Creek Lake
24 mi · about 45 min
Map
Survey-backed · 45 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
Access
1 public boat-access site; bank access not confirmed · Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access
Open the depth map →
Deer Creek Lake
26 mi · about 50 min
Map
Survey-backed · 39 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
Access
2 public boat-access sites; bank access not confirmed · Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access
Open the depth map →
Delaware Lake
30 mi · about 55 min
Map
Survey-backed · 33 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
Access
4 public access sites; 1 carry-in or shore-oriented · Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access
Open the depth map →
Buckeye Lake
28 mi · about 50 min
Map
Survey-backed · 16 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
Access
7 public boat-access sites; bank access not confirmed · Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access
Open the depth map →
Lake Logan
41 mi · about 1 hr 10 min
Map
Survey-backed · 22 ft max
Species
Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
Access
2 public boat-access sites; bank access not confirmed · Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access
Open the depth map →