Olentangy River Fishing Guides
A State Scenic River through Delaware County below Delaware Dam, shallow and rocky, with a strong smallmouth bass fishery within reach of Columbus.
Guides on the Olentangy River
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About the Olentangy River
The Olentangy is a designated State Scenic River and one of the most accessible pieces of moving water in central Ohio. The reach below Delaware Dam runs south through Delaware County toward Columbus over a bed of exposed shale and limestone, shallow enough to wade across in most places and clear enough in normal flow to see the bottom. Shale ledges step across the channel in places, forming the riffle-and-pool structure the river is known for. The Columbus suburbs encroach on the lower river, but the Delaware County reach keeps a wooded corridor along much of its length.
Smallmouth bass are the fish that define it. The Olentangy holds good numbers in the riffles, ledge pools and current seams, and a wading angler working upstream with tubes, small crankbaits or a fly rod can cover a lot of productive water in an afternoon. Rock bass are abundant and often outnumber everything else, longear and green sunfish fill the slower pockets, and largemouth bass turn up in the deeper slack water. Channel and flathead catfish hold in the bigger holes. Saugeye and white bass come up from the reservoir system seasonally, and common carp and freshwater drum are common enough to be a regular part of the day.
Flow from Delaware Dam upstream shapes conditions more than rainfall alone, so the gauge near Delaware is worth checking before planning a wade. High releases make the river pushy and stained; low summer flow concentrates fish in the deeper ledge pools and makes for easy wading. Most fishing here is wade fishing, though a kayak float through the Delaware County reach works well at moderate levels and the river has a well-used paddling community.
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Access
Delaware - the gauge location and the county seat, with river parks and full services.
Delaware State Park - public land and the reservoir immediately upstream of the reach.
Highbanks Metro Park - a large metro park on the river south of Delaware, with trails and river access.
Shale Hollow Park - a preserve with shale ledges and a short walk to the water.
Panhandle Road - a crossing giving wade access to the middle reach.
Stratford Ecological Center - a riverside preserve south of Delaware.
Worthington - the northern Columbus suburb downstream, with parks along the lower river.
Seasons
Spring: high and often stained from releases and runoff, with smallmouth active as the water warms.
Summer: the prime wading season, with low clear flow and the best smallmouth fishing of the year.
Fall: cooling water brings smallmouth onto the feed hard and the corridor thins out of people.
Winter: cold and high, with the deeper ledge pools and the catfish and saugeye the realistic targets.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Olentangy River?
As of Nov 2, 6:15 am, the USGS gauge Olentangy River near Delaware OH reads 24 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Olentangy River?
Anglers target Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Flathead Catfish, Freshwater Drum, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Longear Sunfish, Rock Bass, Saugeye, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass on the Olentangy River in Ohio.
Where can you access the Olentangy River?
Delaware - the gauge location and the county seat, with river parks and full services. Delaware State Park - public land and the reservoir immediately upstream of the reach. Highbanks Metro Park - a large metro park on the river south of Delaware, with trails and river access. Shale Hollow Park - a preserve with shale ledges and a short walk to the water. Panhandle Road - a crossing giving wade access to the middle reach. Stratford Ecological Center - a riverside preserve south of Delaware. Worthington - the northern Columbus suburb downstream, with parks along the lower river.
When is the best time to fish the Olentangy River?
Spring: high and often stained from releases and runoff, with smallmouth active as the water warms. Summer: the prime wading season, with low clear flow and the best smallmouth fishing of the year. Fall: cooling water brings smallmouth onto the feed hard and the corridor thins out of people. Winter: cold and high, with the deeper ledge pools and the catfish and saugeye the realistic targets.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Olentangy River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Ohio agency site: https://ohiodnr.gov/rules-and-regulations/recreation-rules/fishing-rules