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Fishing Rock River (WI): what the data says
The Wisconsin reach below Indianford Dam through Janesville and Beloit to the Illinois line. one of southern Wisconsin's most popular walleye and sauger fisheries, with smallmouth bass, catfish, white bass and panfish. The river tops out around 14 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.
Walleye fishing at Rock River (WI)
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 14 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 8.7): a rock pile around 5 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Rock River (WI)
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. They move out to 4 to 14 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 14 ft. Riffle & run (mile 8.7) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Rock River (WI)
Spring largemouth bass on Rock River (WI) hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 11 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Northern Pike fishing at Rock River (WI)
Spring northern pike on Rock River (WI) hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 14 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 5.0): a current seam around 8 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Rock River (WI)
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 11 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Rock River (WI)
Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 4 to 14 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 11 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 14 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday |
Rock River (WI) also holds white bass (4 to 14 ft in summer), crappie (4 to 14 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 14 ft in summer), freshwater drum (4 to 14 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.8): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.5): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.5): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.7): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.2): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Current seam (mile 5.0): current seam, around 8 ft
- Current seam (mile 16.7): current seam, around 8 ft
- Current seam (mile 32.2): current seam, around 8 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 8.7): rock pile, around 5 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 12.4): rock pile, around 5 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 14.9): rock pile, around 5 ft
Common questions
How deep is Rock River (WI)?
Rock River (WI) is about 14 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 Rock River (WI)?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum on Rock River (WI).
Where is the best fishing spot on Rock River (WI)?
Riffle & run (mile 8.7) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 5 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 Rock River (WI)?
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.
Nearby waters
Lake Koshkonong · Lake Kegonsa · Lake Waubesa · Delavan Lake · Lake Monona · Lake Mendota
See how Rock River (WI) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best northern pike lakes in Wisconsin
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