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Medway to West Enfield. The best smallmouth float water in the Northeast. 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.
Traced from the shoreline, Penobscot River runs 2,127 acres with 74.9 miles of edge, broken up by 6 islands. An index of 11.6 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. The basin spans about 25.1 mi end to end and 10.5 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Penobscot County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Mattanawcook Pond, 5 mi south of here.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 12 ft, and they winter in 4 to 12 ft. Spring smallmouth bass concentrate at Riffle & run (mile 5.0), a prime-rated rock pile around 4 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 5.0) (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 5.0) (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 5.0) (4 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 11.2) (7 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring chain pickerel on Penobscot River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 2 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 12 ft. Put Current seam (mile 11.2) first on the milk run — a current seam near 7 ft that grades good for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Mill Pond Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 11.2) (7 ft) | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Current seam (mile 11.2) (7 ft) | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 11.2) (7 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: white perch in 3 to 12 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 12 ft through summer, 4 to 12 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Mill Pond Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in the 10 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Mill Pond Dam tailrace (10 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Tailout eddy (mile 23.4) (7 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 23.4) (7 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 23.4) (7 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
The chart marks 23 structure features on Penobscot River; the deepest is Mill Pond Dam tailrace at about 10 ft.
Access data: Maine GeoLibrary — Boat Launches (Maine IF&W / DACF). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Maine waters are set by the Maine IFW — and special regulations can apply to Penobscot River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Penobscot River 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 smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch on Penobscot River.
Riffle & run (mile 5.0) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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.
Fishing on Penobscot River is regulated by the Maine IFW. Check the official Maine regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Mattanawcook Pond 5 mi · Upper Pond 8 mi · Silver Lake 10 mi · Cold Stream Pond 11 mi · Big Madagascal Pond 12 mi · Eskutassis Pond 12 mi · Nollesemic Lake 13 mi · Number Three Pond 14 mi · Endless Lake 16 mi · Cedar Lake 16 mi · Molunkus Lake 19 mi · Trout Pond 20 mi
See how Penobscot River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best chain pickerel lakes in Maine · best white perch lakes in Maine
More water nearby: Penobscot County fishing maps (34 charts). Browse all Maine 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.