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Fishing Elk River: what the data says
Tims Ford tailwater trout down through Fayetteville. The river tops out around 9 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Elk River
Spring rainbow trout on Elk River hold shallow, usually 2 to 9 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 9 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 9 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for summer rainbow trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 9 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Elk River
Spring smallmouth bass on Elk River hold shallow, usually 2 to 9 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 9 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 9 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 26.1), a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Brown Trout fishing at Elk River
Spring brown trout on Elk River hold shallow, usually 1 to 9 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 9 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 9 ft. Riffle & run (mile 26.1) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for fall brown trout. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 9 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 9 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 4.7): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.8): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.8): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.6): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.0): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 21.1): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.6): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 30.8): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 34.8): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 37.0): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 41.1): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 44.2): creek channel, around 7 ft
Common questions
How deep is Elk River?
Elk River is about 9 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 Elk River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout on Elk River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Elk River?
Riffle & run (mile 26.1) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 3 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 Elk River?
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
Bedford County Lake · Duck River · Nickajack Lake · J. Percy Priest Lake · Whippoorwill Lake · Center Hill Lake
See how Elk River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Tennessee · best rainbow trout lakes in Tennessee · best brown trout lakes in Tennessee
Browse all Tennessee fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.