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Fishing Juniata River: what the data says
Lewistown to the Susquehanna at Duncannon. wade-and-float smallmouth water. The river tops out around 8 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 Juniata River
Spring smallmouth bass on Juniata River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 0.6): a rock pile around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Juniata River
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 11.2), a creek channel in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday |
Rock Bass fishing at Juniata River
Start shallow in spring: rock bass sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 0.6), a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for rock bass in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Tie on a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Muskellunge fishing at Juniata River
Start shallow in spring: muskellunge sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Riffle & run (mile 0.6) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 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 | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & dawn | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Common Carp fishing at Juniata River
Spring common carp on Juniata River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 3.4), a eddy pocket in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Pa-67 Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.9): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 36.9): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 38.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 40.6): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 44.7): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 3.4): eddy pocket, around 4 ft
- Current seam (mile 7.4): current seam, around 4 ft
- Current seam (mile 9.3): current seam, around 4 ft
- Current seam (mile 24.8): current seam, around 4 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 0.6): rock pile, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Juniata River?
Juniata River is about 8 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 Juniata River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, channel catfish, muskellunge, common carp, rock bass on Juniata River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Juniata River?
Riffle & run (mile 0.6) 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 Juniata 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
Susquehanna River · Youghiogheny River · Allegheny River · Delaware River (Upper) · Lake Erie - Eastern Basin · Lake Erie - Presque Isle Bay
See how Juniata River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Pennsylvania · best channel catfish lakes in Pennsylvania · best muskellunge lakes in Pennsylvania
Browse all Pennsylvania fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.