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Fishing Menominee River: what the data says
The MI/WI border river. trophy smallmouth and one of the Midwest's best musky fisheries. The river tops out around 15 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Menominee River
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 3.1): a rock pile around 5 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Walleye fishing at Menominee River
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Ten Creek 2WP1486 Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Muskellunge fishing at Menominee River
In spring, muskellunge run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 5 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. Riffle & run (mile 3.1) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for fall muskellunge. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Tie on a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dusk | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Rock Bass fishing at Menominee River
Spring rock bass on Menominee River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 4 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 3.1), a rock pile in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for rock bass in spring. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Notable structure
- Ten Creek 2WP1486 Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Emebonwon Dam (Historical) tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- First Marinette Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Third Marinette WP 139 Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Little Quinnesec Falls Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Chalk Hill Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Sturgeon Falls Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Kingsford Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Big Quinnesec Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- White Rapids Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Grand Rapids Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Twin Falls Auxiliary Spillway tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.0): creek channel, around 11 ft
Common questions
How deep is Menominee River?
Menominee River is about 15 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 Menominee River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, rock bass on Menominee River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Menominee River?
Riffle & run (mile 3.1) 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 Menominee River?
For smallmouth bass, 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
Resort Lake · Baker Lake · Hayward Lake · North Lake · Antoine, Lake · Carney Lake
See how Menominee River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best walleye lakes in Michigan · best muskellunge lakes in Michigan · best rock bass lakes in Michigan
Browse all Michigan fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.