O'Shaughnessy Reservoir Fishing
A 896-acre Ohio reservoir in Delaware County, unlimited horsepower.
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Meet O'Shaughnessy Reservoir, an Ohio water
O’Shaughnessy Reservoir spreads across 896 acres of Delaware County, by the Division of Wildlife outline. The outline traces close to 19.1 miles of bank. Count on about 3 miles of driving to reach Shawnee Hills, the nearest town. Management runs through ODNR Wildlife District One (Columbus office).
The posted motor rule is unlimited horsepower. Boaters can use 4 public launches. The booklet prints 1 site-specific entry written for it.
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines (acres and shoreline miles), horsepower and fish hot-spot layers, Census places, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Public ramps serving O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
- O'Shaughnessy Reservoir – Marina and Launchconcrete ramp, 4 lanes, 79 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower; City of Columbus Water Division
- Bellepoint Launch Ramp on O'Shaughnessy Reservoirconcrete ramp, 1 lane, 9 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower; City of Columbus Water Division
- O'Shaughnessy Reservoir – Two Lakes West launchconcrete ramp, 2 lanes, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower; City of Columbus Water Division
- Public launch on O'Shaughnessy Reservoirboat ramp; public
Nearby launch sites from O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
- Alum Creek State Park – Campground/ChurchAlum Creek Lake, 9 miles east
- Alum Creek State Park- Hollenback Ramp and MarinaAlum Creek Lake, 9 miles east
- Alum Creek State Park – CheshireAlum Creek Lake, 10 miles east
- Alum Creek State Park – New GalenaAlum Creek Lake, 10 miles east
- Alum Creek State Park – Howard RoadAlum Creek Lake, 11 miles northeast
ODNR Parks and Watercraft boating facilities and DOW facility points, retrieved October 26, 2026.
How high O'Shaughnessy Reservoir sits today
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| O'shaughnessy Reservoir Near Dublin Oh | 848.50 ft lake elevation | Oct 28 7:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 28, 2026 8:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The USGS gauge at O'Shaughnessy Reservoir reports through the day; the reading above refreshes on its own.
Daily limits for O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Blue & Flathead Catfish (under 35 inches) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Blue & Flathead Catfish (35 inches or larger) | 1 of each (statewide); minimum 35 inches | Open year-round |
| Channel Catfish (under 28 inches) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Channel Catfish (28 inches or larger) | 1 (statewide); minimum 28 inches | Open year-round |
| Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches | Open year-round |
| Muskellunge | 1 | Open year-round |
| Striped, Hybrid-Striped, & White Bass | 30 (singly or in combination); minimum No more than 4 over 15 inches | Open year-round |
| Trout | 5 (singly or in combination) | Open year-round |
| Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye | 6 (singly or in combination) | Open year-round |
| Yellow Perch | 30 | Open year-round |
The baseline at O'Shaughnessy Reservoir is the inland table of the 2026-27 booklet.
The exceptions ODNR prints for O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
| Water as printed | Species | Limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Shaughnessy | Black & White Crappie | 30; minimum 9 inches | Open year-round |
Site-specific rules as printed in the 2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (ODNR Division of Wildlife Publication 5085, effective March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027) (booklet PDF), page numbers in the booklet.
Limits as printed in the 2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (ODNR Division of Wildlife Publication 5085, effective March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027) and the ODNR Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch daily limits sheet (May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027); retrieved October 26, 2026.
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Among the nearby lakes listed, Alum Creek Lake covers the most water, 3,331 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Hot-spot species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Shaughnessy Reservoir | 896 | 4 | unlimited horsepower | 0 | |
| Griggs Reservoir | 10 miles south | 387 | 0 | 0 | |
| Antrim Lake | 10 miles southeast | 42 | 0 | 0 | |
| Alum Creek Lake | 10 miles east | 3,331 | 5 | unlimited horsepower | 7 |
| Hoover Reservoir | 14 miles east | 2,884 | 5 | 10 HP limit | 0 |
| Delaware Lake | 15 miles north | 1,215 | 3 | unlimited horsepower | 4 |
ODNR lake outlines, horsepower and hot-spot layers and the launch inventory, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Surrounding O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
Still water near O'Shaughnessy Reservoir in Ohio
- Griggs Reservoir10 miles south
- Antrim Lake10 miles southeast
- Alum Creek Lake10 miles east
- Hoover Reservoir14 miles east
- Delaware Lake15 miles north
Tackle stops en route to O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
- Liberty Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Powell, 5 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Dublinsporting goods store, Dublin, 8 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Columbus, 1510 Polaris Parkwaysporting goods store, Columbus, 9 miles
- Cabela's Columbussporting goods store, Columbus, 10 miles
- Mad River Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Columbus, 11 miles
- Alum Creek Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Sunbury, 12 miles
Lodging handy for O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
- Powell4 miles
- Ostrander6 miles
- Dublin6 miles
Ohio county pages that take in O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
- Delaware Countyseat: Delaware
What to grab from Piscifun before O'Shaughnessy Reservoir
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Camera views of fishing water by O'Shaughnessy Reservoir

Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
What first-timers at O'Shaughnessy Reservoir want cleared up
In what part of Ohio is O'Shaughnessy Reservoir?
On an Ohio map it sits in Delaware County, ODNR Wildlife District One (Columbus office), about 3 miles from Shawnee Hills.
How many surface acres does Ohio map for O'Shaughnessy Reservoir?
The outline measures 896 acres, with about 19.1 miles of shoreline.
Does O'Shaughnessy Reservoir have a public ramp?
Ohio boaters can try O'Shaughnessy Reservoir – Marina and Launch, one of 4 public launches.
What bites for Ohio anglers at O'Shaughnessy Reservoir?
No species listing exists for it.
Which length limits apply on O'Shaughnessy Reservoir?
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass: 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches; Open year-round. A site-specific entry changes part of that here; see above.
Does Ohio want a trout stamp for O'Shaughnessy Reservoir?
Anglers 16 and older need an Ohio fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $76.96 for nonresidents and $10.00 for residents 65 and older.
What boats can use O'Shaughnessy Reservoir?
The rule is unlimited horsepower.
Which Ohio bait counter is handiest to O'Shaughnessy Reservoir?
Closest on our list: Liberty Bait and Tackle, 5 miles.
How high is O'Shaughnessy Reservoir by the latest Ohio gauge reading?
USGS measures it; the number is above.
Put O'Shaughnessy Reservoir on the Buckeye fishing list
Buy the Ohio license online before the trip.

