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Fishing Fox River (Lower): what the data says
De Pere to Green Bay. world-class trophy walleye 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.
Walleye fishing at Fox River (Lower)
Spring walleye on Fox River (Lower) hold shallow, usually 4 to 14 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. De Pere Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 12 ft, rated prime for spring walleye. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| 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 |
Muskellunge fishing at Fox River (Lower)
Start shallow in spring: muskellunge sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 2.5): a rock pile around 5 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is the evening and early morning. A double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dusk | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Fox River (Lower)
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. 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 2.5), 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 |
White Bass & Hybrids fishing at Fox River (Lower)
In spring, white bass & hybrids run shallow here, mostly 3 to 14 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. De Pere Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 12 ft, rated prime for spring white bass & hybrids. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Channel Catfish fishing at Fox River (Lower)
Spring channel catfish on Fox River (Lower) 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 6.0), a creek channel in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| 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 Fox River (Lower)
Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 4 to 14 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Tailout eddy (mile 0.7): a eddy pocket around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| 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 |
Fox River (Lower) also holds freshwater drum (4 to 14 ft in summer), longnose gar (1 to 12 ft in summer), yellow perch (4 to 14 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 14 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- De Pere Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 12 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.0): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.7): eddy pocket, around 8 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 2.5): rock pile, around 5 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 4.2): rock pile, around 5 ft
Common questions
How deep is Fox River (Lower)?
Fox River (Lower) 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 Fox River (Lower)?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, muskellunge, white bass & hybrids, yellow perch, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, common carp, longnose gar on Fox River (Lower).
Where is the best fishing spot on Fox River (Lower)?
Riffle & run (mile 2.5) 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 Fox River (Lower)?
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.
Nearby waters
Shawano Lake · Lake Michigan - Green Bay South · Wolf River · Lake Winnebago · Peshtigo River · Lake Butte des Morts
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
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