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27 km of the Detroit River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 49 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Detroit River runs 8,471 acres with 42 miles of edge. The 3.3 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 17% of this chart. Call it 17.7 mi long by 6.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Flat Rock Impoundment, 18 mi southwest of here.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 20 to 45 ft. Top water on the chart: Channel current seam (mile 2.5), a current seam in the 29 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 2.5) (29 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 2.5) (29 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 13.6) (30 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Channel current seam (mile 2.5) (29 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Main-channel hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Slackwater eddy (mile 4.3) (33 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (30 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (30 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (30 ft) |
Spring puts white perch in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 40 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 49 ft. Slackwater eddy (mile 4.3) is the standout, an eddy pocket at roughly 33 ft, rated prime for summer white perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | dawn | Slackwater eddy (mile 4.3) (33 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 15 to 45 ft | midday | Slackwater eddy (mile 4.3) (33 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 49 ft | dusk | Slackwater eddy (mile 4.3) (33 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
11 pieces of structure are mapped here — Main-channel hole (mile 8.0), around 37 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Detroit River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Detroit River is about 49 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, channel catfish, white perch on Detroit 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.
Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in fall. 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.
Fishing on Detroit 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.
Flat Rock Impoundment 18 mi · Belleville Lake 24 mi · Gilbert Lake 25 mi · Meadow Lake 25 mi · Lake St. Clair 25 mi, MI/ON · Clinton River 26 mi · Orange Lake 27 mi · Pine Lake 28 mi · Ford Lake 28 mi · Square Lake 29 mi · Orchard Lake 29 mi · Walled Lake 30 mi
See how Detroit River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best channel catfish lakes in Michigan · best white perch lakes in Michigan
Browse all Michigan fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.