Ohio lakes and reservoirs

O'Shaughnessy Reservoir Fishing

A 896-acre Ohio reservoir in Delaware County, unlimited horsepower.

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Photo of Griggs Reservoir: JlNPhotos, CC BY-SA 4.0

Delaware County

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.

896acres
19.1shoreline miles
4public launches
unlimited horsepowermotor rule

ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines (acres and shoreline miles), horsepower and fish hot-spot layers, Census places, retrieved October 26, 2026.

Launches

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.

Level

How high O'Shaughnessy Reservoir sits today

USGS gaugeLatest readingTime (ET)
O'shaughnessy Reservoir Near Dublin Oh848.50 ft lake elevationOct 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.

Limits

Daily limits for O'Shaughnessy Reservoir

SpeciesDaily limit and sizeSeason
Blue & Flathead Catfish (under 35 inches)No daily limitOpen year-round
Blue & Flathead Catfish (35 inches or larger)1 of each (statewide); minimum 35 inchesOpen year-round
Channel Catfish (under 28 inches)No daily limitOpen year-round
Channel Catfish (28 inches or larger)1 (statewide); minimum 28 inchesOpen year-round
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inchesOpen year-round
Muskellunge1Open year-round
Striped, Hybrid-Striped, & White Bass30 (singly or in combination); minimum No more than 4 over 15 inchesOpen year-round
Trout5 (singly or in combination)Open year-round
Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye6 (singly or in combination)Open year-round
Yellow Perch30Open 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 printedSpeciesLimit and sizeSeason
O'ShaughnessyBlack & White Crappie30; minimum 9 inchesOpen 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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Compare

How O'Shaughnessy Reservoir stacks up locally in Ohio

Among the nearby lakes listed, Alum Creek Lake covers the most water, 3,331 acres.

LakeDistanceAcresLaunchesMotor ruleHot-spot species
O'Shaughnessy Reservoir8964unlimited horsepower0
Griggs Reservoir10 miles south38700
Antrim Lake10 miles southeast4200
Alum Creek Lake10 miles east3,3315unlimited horsepower7
Hoover Reservoir14 miles east2,884510 HP limit0
Delaware Lake15 miles north1,2153unlimited horsepower4

ODNR lake outlines, horsepower and hot-spot layers and the launch inventory, retrieved October 26, 2026.

Nearby

Surrounding O'Shaughnessy Reservoir

Still water near O'Shaughnessy Reservoir in Ohio

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
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Pictures

Camera views of fishing water by O'Shaughnessy Reservoir

Alum Creek Lake, Ohio
Alum Creek Lake 10 mi
Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hoover Reservoir, Ohio
Hoover Reservoir 14 mi
Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Delaware Lake, Ohio
Delaware Lake 15 mi
Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alum Creek, Ohio
Alum Creek 13 mi
Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers

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.