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Fishing Penobscot River: what the data says
Medway to West Enfield. the best smallmouth float water in the Northeast. 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.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Penobscot River
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 5.0): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 |
Chain Pickerel fishing at Penobscot River
In spring, chain pickerel run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 2 to 12 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 11.2): a current seam around 7 ft that scores good in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
White Perch fishing at Penobscot River
Spring white perch on Penobscot River hold shallow, usually 3 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 Mill Pond Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for white perch in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Notable structure
- Mill Pond Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- West Enfield Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Weldon Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Run Around Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.1): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.7): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.4): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 29.3): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 23.4): eddy pocket, around 7 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 36.5): eddy pocket, around 7 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 7.2): eddy pocket, around 7 ft
Common questions
How deep is Penobscot River?
Penobscot River 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 Penobscot River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch on Penobscot River.
Where is the best fishing spot 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. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Penobscot River?
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.
Nearby waters
Schoodic Lake · Pushaw Lake · Phillips Lake · Sebec Lake · East Grand Lake · Green Lake
See how Penobscot River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best chain pickerel lakes in Maine · best white perch lakes in Maine
Browse all Maine fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.