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LOCATION
Antrim Lake is located in Franklin County just east of Rt. 315 in northwest Columbus. Access to Antrim Park is located off of Olentangy River Road approximately one mile north of Bethel Rd.
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION
Antrim Lake was originally a quarry pit before it was filled and the surrounding area designated as a city park. The resulting water body has a tremendous variation in depth up to 30 feet, a primarily gravel bottom, and extremely clear water.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks manages the lake and surrounding park. Features include athletic fields, basketball courts, greenway trail access, playground, shelterhouse, tennis courts, and walking/bike trail. A handicap accessible fishing pier is located on the west side of the lake. The Olentangy bike trail feeds onto a paved trail which circles the lake. The trail is heavily used by exercise enthusiasts, including walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, and cyclists. Boats are not permitted on the lake. There is access to the Olentangy River that flows along the east side of the lake.
FISHES OF INTEREST TO ANGLERS
Antrim Lake has populations of bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and carp. Catchable (10-12 inch) rainbow trout are stocked by the Division of Wildlife in April and October. Brood stock rainbow trout (2-6 lbs.) are stocked annually in November the day before Thanksgiving. Yearling channel catfish are also stocked every other year.
METHODS OF FISHING AND BEST FISHING SITES
Fish for rainbow trout after stocking events. Try using trout bait, corn, cheese, nightcrawlers, or waxworms fished under a bobber or on the bottom. Also try casting for these cool-water fish using spinners and twister tails. Bluegill can be caught throughout the year using redworms, waxworms, or nightcrawlers under a bobber. For channel catfish use nightcrawlers, minnows, or shrimp fished on the bottom. Use soft plastic baits to catch largemouth bass along shoreline drop-offs. The current state record saugeye (14.04 lbs) was caught in Antrim in 2004. Saugeye are not stocked in the lake and this fish likely entered the lake during a high water period from the adjacent Olentangy River or was transported there by an angler.
FISH OHIO
Anglers who catch a big fish should enter their prize in the Fish Ohio angler recognition program. A fish qualifies for an award if it meets the minimum size requirement set for the Fish Ohio program. Applications are available online at FishOhio.org.
FISH MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
The ODNR Division of Wildlife’s fish management activities include stocking, conducting angler creel surveys, constructing fishing piers, renovating boat ramps and parking areas, and monitoring fish populations with nets, seines, and electrofishing gear. These activities are vital to providing adequate public access and determining the management practices necessary to produce quality fishing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The nearest district office is Wildlife District One, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215 telephone 614-644-3925. To get other maps or publications call toll free, 1-800-WILDLIFE.
TURN IN A POACHER
Ohio’s TIP, “Turn In a Poacher,” program is helping to control poaching throughout the state. TIP is designed to involve the public in reporting wildlife violations. Citizens who observe wildlife violations should call the TIP toll-free hotline, 1-800-POACHER.
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Major Sportfish
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