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Fishing Duck River: what the data says
North America’s most biodiverse river. and a sleeper smallmouth float. The river tops out around 10 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Duck River
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold 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. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Duck River
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0): a creek channel around 8 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Duck River
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday |
Freshwater Drum fishing at Duck River
Start shallow in spring: freshwater drum sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for summer freshwater drum. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Tie on a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Notable structure
- Shelbyville Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.0): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 21.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 30.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 38.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 41.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 45.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 48.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 53.4): creek channel, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is Duck River?
Duck River is about 10 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 Duck River?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, freshwater drum on Duck River.
Where is the best fishing spot 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.
When is the best time to fish Duck River?
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.
Nearby waters
Whippoorwill Lake · Harpeth River · VFW Lake · J. Percy Priest Lake · Laurel Hill Lake · Marrowbone Lake
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 or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.