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Fishing Kennebec River: what the data says
Madison to Waterville: landlocked salmon and brown trout below the dams. The river tops out around 12 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.
Landlocked Salmon fishing at Kennebec River
Start shallow in spring: landlocked salmon sit in 1 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 12 ft. Current seam (mile 3.7) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for summer landlocked salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
Brown Trout fishing at Kennebec River
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 1 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 3.7): a current seam around 7 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Kennebec River
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 3.7), a current seam in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Kennebec River
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 7.4), a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Notable structure
- Lockwood Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Weston - South Channel Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Shawmut Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Abenaquis Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Anson Station Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Mill Stream Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Hydro-Kennebec (Old Canal Gatehouse) Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- T and A Mills Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.5): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 29.8): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Shawmut Dam tailrace: creek channel, around 8 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 34.4): eddy pocket, around 7 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 14.9): eddy pocket, around 7 ft
Common questions
How deep is Kennebec River?
Kennebec River is about 12 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 Kennebec River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, landlocked salmon on Kennebec River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Kennebec River?
Current seam (mile 3.7) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Kennebec River?
For landlocked salmon, 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
Great Pond · Messalonskee Lake · China Lake · Embden Pond · Cobbosseecontee Lake · Sebasticook Lake
See how Kennebec River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best rainbow trout lakes in Maine · best brown trout lakes in Maine · best landlocked salmon lakes in Maine
Browse all Maine fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.