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58 km of the Monongahela River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 42 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Monongahela River maps at 3,915 acres behind 127.1 miles of shoreline. The 14.5 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 82% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 36.2 mi, about 7.5 mi across. Cheat Lake sits 10 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring rainbow trout on Monongahela River hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. The chart's best answer is Current seam (mile 10.6) — current seam, 9 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 10.6) (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 10.6) (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 13.0) (14 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 10.6) (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 13 to 42 ft before dropping to 5 to 35 ft for winter. Summer brown trout concentrate at Current seam (mile 13.0), a prime-rated current seam around 14 ft. Fish it in after dark and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Slackwater eddy (mile 42.8) (19 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 13 to 42 ft | night & dawn | Current seam (mile 13.0) (14 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Slackwater eddy (mile 42.8) (19 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Slackwater eddy (mile 42.8) (19 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 13 to 42 ft one. Start at Channel bar / point (mile 19.9). It's a point holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 10.6) (9 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 13.0) (14 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 19.9) (11 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 13 to 42 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 13.0) (14 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Structure-wise the chart holds 28 features, led in depth by Current seam (mile 50.9) at roughly 25 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for West Virginia waters are set by the West Virginia DNR — and special regulations can apply to Monongahela River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official West Virginia fishing regulations →
Monongahela River is about 42 ft (13 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass on Monongahela River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Current seam (mile 10.6) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
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.
Fishing on Monongahela River is regulated by the West Virginia DNR. Check the official West Virginia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cheat Lake 10 mi, WV · Pedlar Mason Lake 12 mi, WV · Pedlar Dixon Lake 13 mi, WV · Fairfax Ponds Lake 24 mi, WV · Youghiogheny River 29 mi, PA · Dents Run Lake 29 mi, WV · Huey Run Lake 31 mi, WV · Dunkard Fork Lake 31 mi, WV · Youghiogheny River Lake 31 mi, MD/PA · Curtisville Lake 33 mi, WV · Bear Rock Lakes 35 mi, WV · Tygart Lake 37 mi, WV
See how Monongahela River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in West Virginia · best rainbow trout lakes in West Virginia
Browse all West Virginia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.