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Fishing Flambeau River: what the data says
Wild-forest float. muskies in the rapids pools. 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.
Muskellunge fishing at Flambeau River
Spring muskellunge on Flambeau River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Riffle & run (mile 21.1) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for fall muskellunge. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Flambeau 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. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 21.1), a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| 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 |
Walleye fishing at Flambeau River
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Ladysmith Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for spring walleye. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Crappie fishing at Flambeau River
Spring crappie on Flambeau River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Notable structure
- Ladysmith Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 7.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 9.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.4): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 30.3): eddy pocket, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 5.6): current seam, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 17.3): current seam, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Flambeau River?
Flambeau 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 Flambeau River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, muskellunge on Flambeau River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Flambeau River?
Riffle & run (mile 21.1) 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 Flambeau River?
For muskellunge, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Chippewa Flowage · Round Lake · Lac Courte Oreilles · Grindstone Lake · Lake Namekagon · Lake Chetek
See how Flambeau River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best crappie lakes in Wisconsin · best muskellunge lakes in Wisconsin
Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.