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North America’s most biodiverse river. And a sleeper smallmouth float. The river tops out around 10 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, Duck River draws 11,678 acres inside 265.3 miles of shoreline. A development index of 17.5 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Figure 60.8 mi of water from one end to the other, 8.6 mi at the beam. The water lies in Maury County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Blue Cat Lake, 14 mi northwest of here.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 10 ft, and they winter in 3 to 10 ft. Riffle & run (mile 23.2) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
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 | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 23.2) (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 23.2) (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Current seam (mile 11.3) (6 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 11.3) (6 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts largemouth bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Fall largemouth bass concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0), a prime-rated creek channel around 8 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
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 | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shelbyville Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 11.3) (6 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) (8 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) (8 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 10 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Summer channel catfish concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0), a prime-rated creek channel around 8 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.
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 | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.7) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) (8 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: freshwater drum in 3 to 10 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 10 ft through summer, 3 to 10 ft in winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0), a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for freshwater drum in summer. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) gets it done.
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 | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Shelbyville Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) (8 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) (8 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday | Shelbyville Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Come spring, look for spotted bass tight to the bank in 3 to 10 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 10 ft; the winter hold is 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 11.3): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot over brush or an underspin + fluke (schoolers) is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 11.3) (6 ft) | Ned rig on gravel points, Shaky head |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 11.3) (6 ft) | Drop shot over brush, Underspin + fluke (schoolers) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 11.3) (6 ft) | Walking topwater, Underspin |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 50 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 11.3) (6 ft) | Damiki/hover rig, Jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Tailout eddy (mile 0.7), an eddy pocket in the 6 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
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 | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shelbyville Dam tailrace (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shelbyville Dam tailrace (9 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.7) (6 ft) |
Count 54 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Shelbyville Dam tailrace, sits near 9 ft.
Access data: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - Boating and Fishing Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Tennessee waters are set by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency — and special regulations can apply to Duck River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Tennessee fishing regulations →
Duck River is about 10 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, largemouth bass, channel catfish, freshwater drum, spotted bass, common carp on Duck River.
Riffle & run (mile 23.2) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Duck River is regulated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Check the official Tennessee regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Blue Cat Lake 14 mi · Whippoorwill Lake 14 mi · Shellcracker Lake 15 mi · Harpeth River 33 mi · VFW Lake 35 mi · Laurel Hill Lake 38 mi · J. Percy Priest Lake 39 mi · Bedford County Lake 42 mi · Normandy Lake 44 mi · Elk River 45 mi · Marrowbone Lake 46 mi · Buffalo River 47 mi
See how Duck River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Tennessee · best smallmouth bass lakes in Tennessee · best channel catfish lakes in Tennessee · best freshwater drum lakes in Tennessee
Browse all Tennessee fishing maps. 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.