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Fishing Grand River: what the data says
Michigan's longest river. Lansing to the 6th Street Dam smallmouth and catfish water. The river tops out around 14 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Grand River
Spring smallmouth bass on Grand River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 4 to 14 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 14 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 8.7), a rock pile in about 5 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Walleye fishing at Grand River
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 14 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. Lowhead weir tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 12 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 | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Channel Catfish fishing at Grand River
Spring channel catfish on Grand River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 4 to 14 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 14 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1), a creek channel in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Grand River
In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 4 to 14 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) is the standout, a eddy pocket at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring flathead catfish. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 14 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday |
Freshwater Drum fishing at Grand River
Spring freshwater drum on Grand River hold shallow, usually 4 to 14 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1), a creek channel in about 11 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dusk | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Steelhead fishing at Grand River
Spring steelhead on Grand River hold shallow, usually 2 to 14 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. Current seam (mile 36.0) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for summer steelhead. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Grand River also holds chinook salmon (4 to 14 ft in summer), rock bass (4 to 14 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Lowell Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Sixth Street Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Grand Ledge Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Weber Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Wagar Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Portland Municipal Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Ada Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Chou-Cannon Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 11 ft
Common questions
How deep is Grand River?
Grand River is about 14 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 Grand River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, chinook salmon, steelhead, rock bass on Grand River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Grand River?
Riffle & run (mile 8.7) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 5 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 Grand 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
Jordan Lake · Long Lake · Leach Lake · Thornapple Lake · Big Pine Island Lake · Algonquin Lake
See how Grand River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best walleye lakes in Michigan · best channel catfish lakes in Michigan · best chinook salmon lakes in Michigan
Browse all Michigan fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.