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Sandstone-ledge smallmouth float below Black River Falls. The river tops out around 9 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
On the chart, Black River draws 677 acres inside 45.3 miles of shoreline. An index of 12.4 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. End to end it runs roughly 14 mi, about 2.4 mi across. You'll find it in Jackson County. For a second option, Horse Shoe Lake lies 4 mi south.
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 2 to 9 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 9 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 9 ft. Current seam (mile 11.1) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 11.1) (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 11.1) (5 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Current seam (mile 11.1) (5 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 11.1) (5 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 2 to 9 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 9 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 9 ft. Put Black River Falls Dam tailrace first on the milk run — a dam tailrace near 8 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dusk & dawn | Black River Falls Dam tailrace (8 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | dusk & dawn | Black River Falls Dam tailrace (8 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | dusk & night | Black River Falls Dam tailrace (8 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | dusk & dawn | Black River Falls Dam tailrace (8 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 2 to 9 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 9 ft, and they winter in 3 to 9 ft. Summer channel catfish concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8), a prime-rated creek channel around 7 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (5 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (7 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 2 to 9 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 9 ft covers summer, 3 to 9 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Tailout eddy (mile 0.3), an eddy pocket in the 5 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (5 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (5 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (5 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (5 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: freshwater drum sit in 2 to 9 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 9 ft covers summer, 3 to 9 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8), a creek channel in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for freshwater drum in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. Throw a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Black River Falls Dam tailrace (8 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (7 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (7 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Black River Falls Dam tailrace (8 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 10 features, led in depth by Black River Falls Dam tailrace at roughly 8 ft.
Access data: Wisconsin DNR — Boat Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearling) | 648 | ~12" |
| 2024* | Rainbow Trout (adult) | 500 | ~12" |
| 2024* | Lake Sturgeon (small fingerling) | 3,504 | ~2.2" |
| 2024* | Lake Sturgeon (fry) | 14,000 | ~1" |
| 2024* | Lake Sturgeon (fry) | 7,000 | ~1" |
| 2024* | Lake Sturgeon (small fingerling) | 1,751 | ~2.2" |
| 2024* | Brown Trout (adult) | 200 | ~12" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Wisconsin waters are set by the Wisconsin DNR — and special regulations can apply to Black River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
Black River is about 9 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum on Black River.
Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary records, Black River was most recently stocked 2025 with 648 rainbow trout (yearling). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Black River is regulated by the Wisconsin DNR. Check the official Wisconsin regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Horse Shoe Lake 4 mi · Shallow Lake 5 mi · Deep Lake 5 mi · Mud Lake 6 mi · Douglas Pond 6 mi · Cranberry Flowage, Lower 7 mi · Cranberry Flowage 7 mi · Stevens Lake 8 mi · Black River Flowage 9 mi · North Flowage 13 mi · Lee Lake 13 mi · Levis Flowage 14 mi
See how Black River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best channel catfish lakes in Wisconsin · best flathead catfish lakes in Wisconsin
More water nearby: Jackson County fishing maps (39 charts). Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.