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Fishing Maumee River: what the data says
Defiance to Maumee Bay. home of the legendary spring walleye run. The river tops out around 20 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.
Walleye fishing at Maumee River
Spring walleye on Maumee River hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Maumee Bay mouth: a inflow / creek mouth around 12 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Maumee River
Spring smallmouth bass on Maumee River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Buttonwood/Bluegrass Island rapids (walleye run), a rock pile in about 6 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 | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
White Bass & Hybrids fishing at Maumee River
Start shallow in spring: white bass & hybrids sit in 3 to 15 ft that time of year. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Maumee Bay mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for white bass & hybrids in spring. Best bite is 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 15 ft | midday & dawn | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Channel Catfish fishing at Maumee River
Spring channel catfish on Maumee River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Maumee Bay mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in spring. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday |
Freshwater Drum fishing at Maumee River
Spring freshwater drum on Maumee River hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. Summer fish stay in 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5), a creek channel in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for freshwater drum in summer. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Tie on a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Common Carp fishing at Maumee River
In spring, common carp run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 33.2), a eddy pocket in about 11 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 10 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday |
Maumee River also holds rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Lock Number 44 tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Grand Rapids Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Providence Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Stevens Pond Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- East Candlewood Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Independence Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.8): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.0): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.8): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.7): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.5): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.4): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.3): creek channel, around 15 ft
Common questions
How deep is Maumee River?
Maumee River is about 20 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 Maumee River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids, freshwater drum, common carp, rock bass on Maumee River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Maumee River?
Maumee Bay mouth is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Maumee River?
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
Wauseon 2 Reservoir · Harrison Lake · Defiance Reservoir · Lamberjack Reservoir · Veterans Memorial Lake · Findlay 2 Reservoir
See how Maumee River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ohio · best walleye lakes in Ohio · best channel catfish lakes in Ohio · best white bass & hybrids lakes in Ohio
Browse all Ohio fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.