Rainbow Lake Fishing near Johnstown, Ohio

• Overview

  Rainbow Lake is listed under Delaware County, Ohio. The water sits 1,106 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Delaware County list. The closest town, Johnstown, is 4.6 miles away. Beyond it, New Albany at 5.5 miles and Sunbury at 7.5 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Delaware County include rainbow darter, black crappie, bluegill and white crappie. The county list is broader than any single water. On Rainbow Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 26°F to 72°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan any trip to Rainbow Lake around it. Water temperature lags behind air temperature by days, not hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Sunbury Boat Ramp is 5.5 miles distant. For Rainbow Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.