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Fishing Rifle River: what the data says
Rec-area headwaters to Omer. trout up top, spring walleye and smallmouth below. The river tops out around 7 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Rifle River
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 2 to 7 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 7 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 5.0): a current seam around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 1 to 7 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Rifle River
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. Riffle & run (mile 3.1) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Walleye fishing at Rifle River
Spring walleye on Rifle River hold shallow, usually 2 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. The spot to know is Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 7 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Steelhead fishing at Rifle River
Spring steelhead on Rifle River hold shallow, usually 1 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 5.0), a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 1 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Brown Trout fishing at Rifle River
Spring brown trout on Rifle River hold shallow, usually 1 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 7 ft. Current seam (mile 5.0) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 7 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 7 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Rock Bass fishing at Rifle River
In spring, rock bass run shallow here, mostly 1 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. Riffle & run (mile 3.1) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring rock bass. Plan around the evening in the warm months. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Rifle River also holds crappie (2 to 7 ft in summer), bluegill (2 to 7 ft in summer), common carp (1 to 7 ft in summer), largemouth bass (2 to 7 ft in summer), yellow perch (2 to 7 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (1 to 7 ft in summer), chinook salmon (2 to 7 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 6 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 6 ft
- Channel swing (mile 32.0): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Channel swing (mile 31.0): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 33.1): current seam, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 9.0): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.9): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.4): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.3): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.1): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.7): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 29.9): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 36.5): creek channel, around 5 ft
Common questions
How deep is Rifle River?
Rifle River is about 7 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 Rifle River?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, rainbow trout, yellow perch, common carp, chinook salmon, steelhead, brown trout, rock bass, pumpkinseed on Rifle River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Rifle River?
Current seam (mile 5.0) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 4 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 Rifle River?
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
Stylus Lake · Sage Lake · West Londo Lake · George Lake · South Dease Lake · Grebe Lake
See how Rifle River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan · best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best walleye lakes in Michigan · best crappie lakes in Michigan
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