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Rating depth structure for brown trout.
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The "Kinni". A spring-fed Class I trout stream and Outstanding Resource Water flowing through River Falls to the St. Croix River, holding one of the highest-density brown-trout fisheries in the country plus brook trout in its headwaters and tributaries. The river tops out around 7 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
The drawn water covers 859 acres wrapped in 63.2 miles of bank. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 15.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. Tip to tip the water measures near 22.4 mi with a 4.4-mi widest point. St. Croix County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Dry Dam Lake, is 6 mi to the north.
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 7 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 7 ft, and they winter in 1 to 7 ft. Current seam (mile 2.5) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Time it for after dark and early morning. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (3 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (3 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Early season brook trout use the shallows, holding in 1 to 7 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 7 ft; winter keeps them in 1 to 7 ft. The chart's best answer is Current seam (mile 2.5) — current seam, 4 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Come spring, look for coho salmon tight to the bank in 1 to 7 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 7 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 7 ft. Start at Current seam (mile 2.5). It's a current seam holding about 4 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Spring puts lake sturgeon in skinny water — 1 to 7 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. Fall lake sturgeon concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0), a prime-rated creek channel around 5 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dusk & night | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (5 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (5 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (5 ft) |
Spring rainbow trout on Kinnickinnic River hold shallow, usually 2 to 7 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 7 ft in summer, 1 to 7 ft once it turns cold. Put Current seam (mile 2.5) first on the milk run — a current seam near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The chart marks 14 structure features on Kinnickinnic River; the deepest is Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) at about 5 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Lake Sturgeon (yearling) | 12 | ~12" |
| 2025* | Coho Salmon (large fingerling) | 14,333 | ~6.4" |
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearling) | 5,119 | ~6.7" |
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearling) | 5,105 | ~6.7" |
| 2025* | Brown Trout (yearling) | 32,755 | ~6.2" |
| 2025* | Brook Trout (large fingerling) | 26,273 | ~6.3" |
| 2025* | Coho Salmon (yearling) | 7,500 | ~6.3" |
| 2025* | Lake Sturgeon (large fingerling) | 790 | ~9" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Wisconsin waters are set by the Wisconsin DNR — and special regulations can apply to Kinnickinnic River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
Kinnickinnic River is about 7 ft (2 m) deep 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.
Anglers target brown trout, brook trout, coho salmon, lake sturgeon, rainbow trout on Kinnickinnic River.
Current seam (mile 2.5) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark 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.
Yes — per Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary records, Kinnickinnic River was most recently stocked 2025 with 12 lake sturgeon (yearling). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Kinnickinnic River is regulated by the Wisconsin DNR. Check the official Wisconsin regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Dry Dam Lake 6 mi · Kinnickinnic Pond, Upper 6 mi · Little Falls Lake 7 mi · Mallalieu Lake 8 mi · Bass Lake 9 mi · Perch Lake 9 mi · St. Croix River 9 mi, MN · Edith 10 mi, MN · St. Croix River 11 mi, WI/MN · Pine Lake 12 mi · New Richmond Flowage 13 mi · Horseshoe 13 mi, MN
See how Kinnickinnic River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Wisconsin · best brown trout lakes in Wisconsin · best brook trout lakes in Wisconsin · best lake sturgeon lakes in Wisconsin
More water nearby: St. Croix County fishing maps (11 charts). Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Shoreline: Published shoreline. This is a shoreline guide. Modeled depth contours have been retired. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.