Little Miami River Fishing Guides
A designated state and national scenic river through southwest Ohio, with limestone riffles, a good smallmouth fishery and the state's best-known canoe corridor.
Guides on the Little Miami River
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About the Little Miami River
The Little Miami is Ohio’s showpiece stream. It rises in Clark County, runs south through the glacial gorge country around Yellow Springs and Xenia, and continues past Morrow and Loveland to enter the Ohio River east of Cincinnati. It carries both state and national scenic river designation for essentially its whole length, and the corridor is protected by a long chain of parks and by the bike trail that follows it. The gauge near Oldtown sits on the upper river above Xenia and is the reference for the upper float water.
Smallmouth bass are the primary gamefish and the river fishes well for them over its limestone riffles, gravel bars and undercut banks. The upper river near the gauge is small and wadable, with fish that are numerous rather than large; the middle and lower reaches around Morrow and Loveland grow bigger bass and are better suited to a canoe or kayak. Rock bass are abundant in the riffle water, longear sunfish and bluegill fill the pools, and channel catfish and carp occupy the deeper bends. The upper river also runs cold enough in places to support limited trout stocking in some years.
This is a busy corridor and that is worth planning around. The canoe liveries between Oldtown and Morrow put a lot of boats on the water on summer weekends, and the bike trail brings people to nearly every access point. Anglers do best early in the morning, on weekdays, or in the shoulder seasons. The river is flashy and responds quickly to rain across a partly agricultural, partly suburban watershed, so it can go from clear to chocolate in a day. This station reports water temperature as well as discharge, which is useful for judging late-summer conditions on the upper reaches.
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Access
Oldtown access near the gauge - upper river wading and a small launch north of Xenia.
John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs - developed park access in the gorge with parking.
Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve - upper river access above the park.
Corwin and Waynesville accesses - popular middle river canoe launches.
Morrow canoe access - the heart of the livery corridor with ample parking.
Loveland access on the bike trail - lower river access with a launch and services.
Milford and Terrace Park accesses - the lowest reaches above the Ohio River confluence.
Seasons
Spring: high and stained from spring rain, clearing into a strong smallmouth prespawn through May.
Summer: the prime fishing months but the busiest for paddling, so fish early for topwater smallmouth.
Fall: falling clear water, aggressive smallmouth on the riffles and far fewer boats after Labor Day.
Winter: cold and often high, with slow deep presentations in the larger pools and almost no competition.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Little Miami River?
As of Sep 17, 6:30 am, the USGS gauge Little Miami River near Oldtown OH reads 76 cfs, with water temperature 70.3 F. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Little Miami River?
Anglers target Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, Longear Sunfish, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass on the Little Miami River in Ohio.
Where can you access the Little Miami River?
Oldtown access near the gauge - upper river wading and a small launch north of Xenia. John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs - developed park access in the gorge with parking. Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve - upper river access above the park. Corwin and Waynesville accesses - popular middle river canoe launches. Morrow canoe access - the heart of the livery corridor with ample parking. Loveland access on the bike trail - lower river access with a launch and services. Milford and Terrace Park accesses - the lowest reaches above the Ohio River confluence.
When is the best time to fish the Little Miami River?
Spring: high and stained from spring rain, clearing into a strong smallmouth prespawn through May. Summer: the prime fishing months but the busiest for paddling, so fish early for topwater smallmouth. Fall: falling clear water, aggressive smallmouth on the riffles and far fewer boats after Labor Day. Winter: cold and often high, with slow deep presentations in the larger pools and almost no competition.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Little Miami River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Ohio agency site: https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/hunting-fishing-boating/fishing-resources/fishing-regulations