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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
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. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 1,379 acres wrapped in 61.2 miles of bank. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 11.8) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Tip to tip the water measures near 26.3 mi with a 1.4-mi widest point. It sits in Delaware County. Antrim Lake sits 5 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 12 ft; the winter hold is 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 early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 21.2) (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 21.2) (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Current seam (mile 3.7) (7 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 3.7) (7 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
When the water first warms, largemouth bass slide up into 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 4 to 12 ft game here, winter a 4 to 12 ft one. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6). It's a creek channel holding about 9 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 3.7) (7 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. Riffle & run (mile 21.2) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring walleye. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 21.2) (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rock bass in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 3 to 12 ft, wintering in 4 to 12 ft. Top water on the chart: Riffle & run (mile 21.2), a rock pile in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for the evening. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 21.2) (4 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Riffle & run (mile 21.2) (4 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 22 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 21.2) (4 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 30 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 21.2) (4 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
When the water first warms, channel catfish slide up into 3 to 12 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 12 ft, winter 4 to 12 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6). It's a creek channel holding about 9 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) |
Come spring, look for crappie tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 4 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 9 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | 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.
Olentangy River carries 15 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), about 9 ft down.
Access data: Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Ohio waters are set by the Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Olentangy River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ohio fishing regulations →
Olentangy River is about 12 ft (4 m) deep 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.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, rock bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, freshwater drum 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.
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.
Fishing on Olentangy River is regulated by the Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife. Check the official Ohio regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Antrim Lake 5 mi · O'Shaughnessy Reservoir 6 mi · Griggs Reservoir 8 mi · Alum Creek Lake 9 mi · Hoover Reservoir 9 mi · Anderson Lake 16 mi · Delaware Lake 17 mi · Madison Lake 26 mi · Mount Gilead Lake 30 mi · Buckeye Lake 34 mi · Kokosing Lake 35 mi · Clark Lake 35 mi
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
More water nearby: Delaware County fishing maps (5 charts). Browse all Ohio fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.