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Fishing Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater): what the data says
The big tailwater below Croton Dam. trout, walleye and smallmouth in one float. The river tops out around 12 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.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater)
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 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 spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Walleye fishing at Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater)
Spring walleye on Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. 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 walleye. 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater)
Spring smallmouth bass on Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. Inside bend (mile 8.8) is the standout, a point at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for fall smallmouth bass. Best bite is 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 | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Steelhead fishing at Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater)
Start shallow in spring: steelhead sit in 2 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 1 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 6.2), a current seam in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater)
Spring chinook salmon on Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Croton Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Brown Trout fishing at Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater)
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 6.2), a current seam in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | 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.
Notable structure
- Croton Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 7.2): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.4): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.6): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 5.0): eddy pocket, around 9 ft
- Inside bend (mile 8.8): point, around 9 ft
- Current seam (mile 6.2): current seam, around 9 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 3.8): eddy pocket, around 9 ft
- Inside bend (mile 11.4): point, around 9 ft
- Channel swing (mile 1.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 7 ft
Common questions
How deep is Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater)?
Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) is about 12 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 Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater)?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, crappie, rainbow trout, yellow perch, common carp, chinook salmon, steelhead, brown trout, burbot, rock bass, pumpkinseed on Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater).
Where is the best fishing spot 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. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater)?
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.
Nearby waters
Brooks Lake · Hess Lake · Bills Lake · Pickerel Lake · Croton Pond · Kimball Lake
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
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