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Lower river walleye and smallmouth to Green Bay. The river tops out around 9 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Peshtigo River runs 249 acres with 28 miles of edge. An index of 12.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Tip to tip the water measures near 8.8 mi with a 1.7-mi widest point. You'll find it in Marinette County. For a second option, Upper Scott Flowage 4060 lies 5 mi northeast.
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 2 to 9 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 9 ft, winter 3 to 9 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 0.6): a rock pile around 3 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 | 2 to 9 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (3 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | dusk & night | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 2 to 9 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 9 ft through summer, 3 to 9 ft in winter. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 0.6), a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. 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 | 2 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (3 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (3 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (3 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 11.2) (5 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 2 to 9 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 9 ft covers summer, 3 to 9 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5), a creek channel in the 7 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) |
Spring puts freshwater drum in skinny water — 2 to 9 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 9 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 9 ft. Summer freshwater drum concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5), a prime-rated creek channel around 7 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. A jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
5 pieces of structure are mapped here — Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5), around 7 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Wisconsin DNR — Boat Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearling) | 8,067 | ~5.6" |
| 2025* | Brown Trout (yearling) | 2,520 | ~9" |
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearling) | 8,183 | ~6.2" |
| 2025* | Muskellunge (large fingerling) | 1,000 | ~10.8" |
| 2024* | Brown Trout (yearling) | 12,749 | ~6.3" |
| 2024* | Rainbow Trout (yearling) | 17,544 | ~6.1" |
| 2024* | Muskellunge (large fingerling) | 999 | ~11.5" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Wisconsin waters are set by the Wisconsin DNR — and special regulations can apply to Peshtigo River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
Peshtigo River is about 9 ft (3 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 walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, freshwater drum on Peshtigo River.
Riffle & run (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary records, Peshtigo River was most recently stocked 2025 with 8,067 rainbow trout (yearling). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Peshtigo River is regulated by the Wisconsin DNR. Check the official Wisconsin regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Upper Scott Flowage 4060 5 mi, WI/MI · Scott Flowage, Lower 5 mi, WI/MI · Lake Michigan - Green Bay South 11 mi · Lake Noquebay 18 mi · Bass Lake 18 mi · Horseshoe Lake 18 mi · Lake Julia 18 mi · Left Foot Lake 19 mi · Lake Mary 19 mi · Mud Lake 20 mi · Montana Lake 20 mi · Stephenson Lake 20 mi
See how Peshtigo River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best channel catfish lakes in Wisconsin · best freshwater drum lakes in Wisconsin
More water nearby: Marinette County fishing maps (146 charts). Browse all Wisconsin 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.