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The MI/WI border river. Trophy smallmouth and one of the Midwest's best musky fisheries. The river tops out around 15 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Menominee River runs 9,148 acres with 207 miles of edge, broken up by 6 islands. The 15.4 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Figure 58.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 13.2 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Marinette County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Chalk Hill Flowage, 4 mi northeast of here.
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Riffle & run (mile 3.1) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 3.1) (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 3.1) (5 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 3.1) (5 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 28.0) (8 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Even in summer they hold at 5 to 15 ft; winter keeps them in 5 to 15 ft. Put Ten Creek 2WP1486 Dam tailrace first on the milk run — a dam tailrace near 13 ft that grades prime for 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Ten Creek 2WP1486 Dam tailrace (13 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Ten Creek 2WP1486 Dam tailrace (13 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & night | Ten Creek 2WP1486 Dam tailrace (13 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Ten Creek 2WP1486 Dam tailrace (13 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: muskellunge in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 15 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 3.1), a rock pile in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for muskellunge in fall. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 53.2) (8 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Tailout eddy (mile 53.2) (8 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 3.1) (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 53.2) (8 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
When the water first warms, rock bass slide up into 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 4 to 15 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. Start at Riffle & run (mile 3.1). It's a rock pile holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run the evening. Keep a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 3.1) (5 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Riffle & run (mile 3.1) (5 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 3.1) (5 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 3.1) (5 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
55 pieces of structure are mapped here — Ten Creek 2WP1486 Dam tailrace, around 13 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Michigan DNR — Michigan Boating Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11 | Rainbow trout | 10,100 | ~18.9" |
Source: Michigan DNR fish-stocking database, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Menominee River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Menominee River is about 15 ft (5 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 smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, rock bass 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. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
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.
Yes — per Michigan DNR fish-stocking database records, Menominee River was most recently stocked May 11 with 10,100 rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Menominee River is regulated by the Michigan DNR. Check the official Michigan regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Chalk Hill Flowage 4 mi, WI/MI · Birch Lake 4 mi, WI · Resort Lake 5 mi · Moose Lake 5 mi, WI · Little Wolf Lake 5 mi, WI · Wolf Lake 5 mi, WI · Baker Lake 5 mi · Island Lake 6 mi, WI · Lake Mary 6 mi · Lake Ann 6 mi · Fence Lake 6 mi, WI · Grass Lake 6 mi, WI
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
More water nearby: Marinette County fishing maps (146 charts). Browse all Michigan fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.