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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
De Pere to Green Bay. World-class trophy walleye water. The river tops out around 41 ft. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Drawn out, this is 691 acres of water rimmed by 14.4 miles of bank. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 3.9) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 61% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 6.8 mi with a 0.8-mi widest point. You'll find it in Brown County. For a second option, Bay Beach Lagoons lies 4 mi northeast.
Spring walleye on Fox River (Lower) hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. The chart's best answer is De Pere Dam tailrace — dam tailrace, 21 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (16 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | De Pere Dam tailrace (21 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | De Pere Dam tailrace (21 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | De Pere Dam tailrace (21 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Start shallow in spring: muskellunge sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Riffle & run (mile 2.5), a rock pile in the 16 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Tailout eddy (mile 0.7) (22 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (16 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.7) (22 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 12 to 41 ft for winter. Summer smallmouth bass concentrate at Riffle & run (mile 2.5), a prime-rated rock pile around 16 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (16 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (16 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (16 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 12 to 41 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.7) (22 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
In spring, white bass & hybrids run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 20 to 40 ft for winter. Summer white bass & hybrids concentrate at De Pere Dam tailrace, a prime-rated dam tailrace around 21 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | De Pere Dam tailrace (21 ft) | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | De Pere Dam tailrace (21 ft) | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | De Pere Dam tailrace (21 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 6.0) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 27 ft, rated prime for fall channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 6.0) (27 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 6.0) (27 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 6.0) (27 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: flathead catfish in 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 12 to 41 ft for winter. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 0.7), an eddy pocket in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for flathead catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
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 | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.7) (22 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.7) (22 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.7) (22 ft) | |
| Winter | 12 to 41 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.7) (22 ft) |
Fox River (Lower) also holds freshwater drum (8 to 30 ft in summer), longnose gar (1 to 12 ft in summer), yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Fox River (Lower) carries 5 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Riffle & run (mile 4.2), about 30 ft down.
Access data: Wisconsin DNR - Boat Access Sites, Shore Fishing Sites, and DNR Parking Lots; Wisconsin DNR - Public Access Lands Shoreline Geometry; Wisconsin DNR - Public Access Lands Shoreline Geometry; Wisconsin DNR - Public Access Lands Shoreline Geometry; Wisconsin DNR - Public Access Lands Shoreline Geometry. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Muskellunge (large fingerling) | 1,897 | ~10.7" |
| 2024* | Brown Trout (large fingerling) | 14,790 | ~3.4" |
| 2024* | Muskellunge (large fingerling) | 2,999 | ~11.6" |
* 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 Fox River (Lower) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
Fox River (Lower) is about 41 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target walleye, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, white bass & hybrids, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, longnose gar, yellow perch, common carp on Fox River (Lower).
Riffle & run (mile 2.5) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For walleye, 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.
Yes — per Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary records, Fox River (Lower) was most recently stocked 2025 with 1,897 muskellunge (large fingerling). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Fox River (Lower) 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.
Bay Beach Lagoons 4 mi · Lilly Lake 10 mi · Shea Lake 18 mi · Engledinger Lake 19 mi · Heidmann Lake 19 mi · Harpt Lake 20 mi · Tuma Lake 21 mi · Little Mud Lake 21 mi · Round Lake 23 mi · White Lake 24 mi · Boot Lake 24 mi · Long Lake 25 mi
See how Fox River (Lower) stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best channel catfish lakes in Wisconsin · best muskellunge lakes in Wisconsin
Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 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.