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Fishing Brandywine Creek: what the data says
Pennsylvania line to Wilmington: Delaware's best moving-water fishery. stocked trout and smallmouth. The river tops out around 6 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Brandywine Creek
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 6 ft. Lower Hagley Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 1 to 6 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Brandywine Creek
Spring smallmouth bass on Brandywine Creek hold shallow, usually 2 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 4.4), a eddy pocket in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Brandywine Creek
Spring channel catfish on Brandywine Creek hold shallow, usually 2 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 4.4), a eddy pocket in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in spring. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday |
Common Carp fishing at Brandywine Creek
Spring common carp on Brandywine Creek hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 4.4), a eddy pocket in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 1 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Lower Hagley Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Walkers Mill Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Eleutherian Mills Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Kentmere Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Rockford Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Broom Street Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Augustine Mill Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Doeskin Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 4.4): eddy pocket, around 3 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 4.8): eddy pocket, around 3 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 3.8): eddy pocket, around 3 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 3.4): eddy pocket, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Brandywine Creek?
Brandywine Creek is about 6 ft 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.
What fish are in Brandywine Creek?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, common carp on Brandywine Creek.
Where is the best fishing spot on Brandywine Creek?
Lower Hagley Dam tailrace is the top-rated area: a dam tailrace in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Brandywine Creek?
For rainbow trout, 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.
Nearby waters
Becks Pond · Lums Pond · Garrisons Lake · Masseys Mill Pond · Moores Lake · Derby Pond
See how Brandywine Creek stacks up: best channel catfish lakes in Delaware · best common carp lakes in Delaware
Browse all Delaware fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.