Smith Pond Fishing in Franklin County, Ohio

• Overview

  Franklin County, Ohio, is where Smith Pond sits. Height above sea level is 942 feet. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Franklin County list. The nearest town is Huber Ridge, 2.5 miles away. The big place round here is Columbus, 11 miles distant. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Smith Pond

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Open biodiversity records for Franklin County list rainbow darter, greenside darter, bluebreast darter, banded darter and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Smith Pond repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 26°F in January to roughly 74°F in July. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It holds true on Smith Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Blendon Ravines Metro Park runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Thoreau Pond, 1.2 miles away. Check the position on Smith Pond before loading the car.