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The big tailwater below Croton Dam. Trout, walleye and smallmouth in one float. The river tops out around 12 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
On the chart, Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) draws 245 acres inside 26.4 miles of shoreline. A development index of 12.1 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. End to end it runs roughly 7 mi, about 1.9 mi across. You'll find it in Newaygo County. The nearest mapped water is Brooks Lake, 2 mi to the southwest.
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 12 ft, and they winter in 2 to 12 ft. Current seam (mile 6.2) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 3 to 12 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 12 ft, winter 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Croton Dam tailrace: a dam tailrace around 10 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Keep a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & night | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 12 ft through summer, 4 to 12 ft in winter. The spot to know is Inside bend (mile 8.8), a point in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Inside bend (mile 8.8) (9 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for steelhead tight to the bank in 2 to 12 ft. Through summer count on 1 to 12 ft; the winter hold is 3 to 12 ft. Start at Current seam (mile 6.2). It's a current seam holding about 9 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. An orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Spring puts chinook salmon in skinny water — 2 to 12 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. Croton Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring chinook salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
When the water first warms, brown trout slide up into 1 to 12 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 12 ft, winter 2 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 6.2): a current seam around 9 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. Keep a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dawn | Current seam (mile 6.2) (9 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Croton Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) also holds rock bass (3 to 12 ft in summer), crappie (4 to 12 ft in summer), burbot (4 to 12 ft in summer), common carp (2 to 12 ft in summer), largemouth bass (4 to 12 ft in summer), northern pike (4 to 12 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), yellow perch (4 to 12 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 12 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Croton Dam tailrace, sits near 10 ft.
Access data: Michigan DNR — Michigan Boating Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) is about 12 ft (4 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 rainbow trout, walleye, smallmouth bass, steelhead, chinook salmon, brown trout, rock bass, crappie, burbot, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch on Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater).
Current seam (mile 6.2) 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 Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) 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.
Brooks Lake 2 mi · Hess Lake 3 mi · Sylvan Lake 4 mi · Bills Lake 4 mi · Pickerel Lake 5 mi · Ransom Lake 5 mi · Croton Pond 5 mi · Kimball Lake 5 mi · Ryerson Lake 7 mi · Baptist Lake 10 mi · Robinson Lake 10 mi · Englewright Lake 10 mi
See how Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan · best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best walleye lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Newaygo County fishing maps (28 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.