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Fishing Olentangy River: what the data says
A state-designated Scenic River and "exceptional warmwater habitat" running from below Delaware Dam through Worthington into downtown Columbus. central Ohio's signature smallmouth-bass stream, with saugeye below the low-head dams plus rock bass, channel catfish and drum. The river tops out around 12 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Olentangy River
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 21.2): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Olentangy River
Spring largemouth bass on Olentangy River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 4 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Walleye fishing at Olentangy River
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 21.2): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Rock Bass fishing at Olentangy River
Spring rock bass on Olentangy River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 3 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 21.2), a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for rock bass in spring. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Channel Catfish fishing at Olentangy River
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday |
Crappie fishing at Olentangy River
Spring crappie on Olentangy River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 12 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 12 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for fall crappie. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Olentangy River also holds bluegill (3 to 12 ft in summer), freshwater drum (3 to 12 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.9): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.8): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.7): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.6): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.5): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.3): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.7): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Current seam (mile 3.7): current seam, around 7 ft
- Current seam (mile 8.1): current seam, around 7 ft
- Current seam (mile 24.9): current seam, around 7 ft
- Current seam (mile 26.8): current seam, around 7 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 21.2): rock pile, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Olentangy River?
Olentangy River is about 12 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Olentangy River?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, freshwater drum, rock bass on Olentangy River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Olentangy River?
Riffle & run (mile 21.2) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Olentangy River?
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Antrim Lake · O'Shaughnessy Reservoir · Griggs Reservoir · Alum Creek Lake · Hoover Reservoir · Delaware Lake
See how Olentangy River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Ohio · best smallmouth bass lakes in Ohio · best walleye lakes in Ohio · best crappie lakes in Ohio
Browse all Ohio fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.