Rainbow Trout fishing at Monksville Reservoir

Spring rainbow trout on Monksville Reservoir hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 41 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.

Largemouth Bass fishing at Monksville Reservoir

Spring largemouth bass on Monksville Reservoir hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring largemouth bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Monksville Reservoir

Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 45 ft. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.

Chain Pickerel fishing at Monksville Reservoir

In spring, chain pickerel run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 18 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for chain pickerel in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait and you're in the game.

Brown Bullhead fishing at Monksville Reservoir

In spring, brown bullhead run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 3 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.

Channel Catfish fishing at Monksville Reservoir

Spring channel catfish on Monksville Reservoir hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 41 ft of water that rates good for channel catfish in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.

How deep is Monksville Reservoir?

Monksville Reservoir is about 90 ft (27 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.

What fish are in Monksville Reservoir?

Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, yellow perch, chain pickerel, brown bullhead on Monksville Reservoir.

Where is the best fishing spot on Monksville Reservoir?

Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Monksville Reservoir?

For rainbow trout, 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.