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6 km of the Cheboygan River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 48 ft. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The outline encloses 1,808 acres, worked by 9.5 miles of shoreline. With a 1.6 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. About 64% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 3.7 mi, about 1.5 mi across. Its nearest charted neighbour, Lake Sixteen, is 8 mi to the east.
Spring brook trout on Cheboygan River hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 20 ft. The chart's best answer is Channel current seam (mile 1.9) — current seam, 9 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
In spring, steelhead run shallow here, mostly 3 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 45 ft before dropping to 4 to 15 ft for winter. Summer steelhead concentrate at Channel current seam (mile 1.9), a prime-rated current seam around 9 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than an orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
When the water first warms, chinook salmon slide up into 5 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 14 to 48 ft, and by winter most fish are in 14 to 48 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Channel current seam (mile 1.9): a current seam around 9 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Slackwater eddy (mile 3.7) (24 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 90 ft | midday | Slackwater eddy (mile 3.7) (24 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 40 ft. Put Channel current seam (mile 1.9) first on the milk run — a current seam near 9 ft that grades prime for spring. 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The chart marks 3 structure features on Cheboygan River; the deepest is Slackwater eddy (mile 3.7) at about 24 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 13 | Rainbow trout | 11,692 | ~18.6" |
| May 11 | Chinook salmon | 76,109 | ~9.5" |
Source: Michigan DNR fish-stocking database, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Cheboygan River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Cheboygan River is about 48 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target brook trout, steelhead, chinook salmon, rainbow trout on Cheboygan River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Channel current seam (mile 1.9) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For brook 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.
Yes — per Michigan DNR fish-stocking database records, Cheboygan River was most recently stocked May 13 with 11,692 rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Cheboygan River is regulated by the Michigan DNR. Check the official Michigan regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Sixteen 8 mi · Long Lake 8 mi · Mullett Lake 9 mi · Mullett Lake 10 mi · Devereaux Lake 10 mi · Munro Lake 10 mi · Twin Lake (north) 11 mi · Douglas Lake 11 mi · Lancaster Lake 11 mi · Lake Paradise 14 mi · Arnott Lake 15 mi · Burt Lake 15 mi
See how Cheboygan River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Michigan · best chinook salmon lakes in Michigan · best steelhead lakes in Michigan · best brook trout lakes in Michigan
Browse all Michigan fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 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.