Fly Fish the Scioto River in Columbus

Urban fly fishing, a unique and exciting way to explore any city. Whether it is for bass, trout, carp, or panfish almost every city has a pond or river that offers the chance to connect with nature and experience nearby adventures.

The Scioto River in Columbus, Ohio is just one of four major rivers that runs through the city and can be an exciting place to chase smallmouth bass on the fly. The best seasons to fish the river are late spring through late fall and, for the most part, only require a fly rod, reel, and a handful of flies.

Public access to fish the river are best at the Kiwanis Riverway Park, Amberleigh Park, and Hoover Park all located within a twenty-five minute drive of downtown. When the river runs low enough, which is usually July-October, these areas can be waded or if the river is too high then fishing from the bank is doable. Using a kayak or stand-up paddle board is also a fun way to fly fish the river and can help you to reach spots that other anglers cannot get to.

Useful fly fishing equipment is a five to seven weight fly rod, a floating fly line, and an inexpensive reel. Effective fly patterns include: clouser minnows (chartreuse or pink colored), crawfish patterns, and deer-hair poppers. Fly pattern sizes for any of those are best in the #4-8 range.