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5 km of the Saugatuck River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 15 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, Saugatuck River draws 727 acres inside 5.6 miles of shoreline. Index 1.5 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. The basin spans about 2.3 mi end to end and 1.1 mi across at its widest. The nearest mapped water is Saugatuck Reservoir, 10 mi to the north.
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 4 to 15 ft covers summer, 3 to 15 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 0.1), a rock pile in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 3 to 15 ft | dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 15 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. Spring smallmouth bass concentrate at Riffle & run (mile 0.1), a prime-rated rock pile around 6 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 0.1) (6 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: landlocked salmon sit in 1 to 15 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 5 to 15 ft covers summer, 4 to 15 ft covers winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | dawn | open water | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
Spring brown trout on Saugatuck River hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 5 to 15 ft in summer, 2 to 15 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Riffle & run (mile 0.1) — rock pile, 6 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in after dark and early morning. The summer box starts with a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | night & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.1) (6 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 15 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 2 features, led in depth by Riffle & run (mile 0.1) at roughly 6 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Connecticut waters are set by the Connecticut DEEP — and special regulations can apply to Saugatuck River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Connecticut fishing regulations →
Saugatuck River is about 15 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, landlocked salmon, brown trout on Saugatuck River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Riffle & run (mile 0.1) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 6 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 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.
Fishing on Saugatuck River is regulated by the Connecticut DEEP. Check the official Connecticut regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Saugatuck Reservoir 10 mi, CT · Frash Pond 13 mi, CT · Mamanasco Lake 16 mi, CT · Cross River Reservoir 17 mi, NY · Lake Kenosia 19 mi, CT · Titicus Reservoir 19 mi, NY · Kensico Reservoir 20 mi, NY · Lake Housatonic 20 mi, CT · Muscoot Reservoir 21 mi, NY · Blydenburgh Lake 21 mi, NY · Lake Zoar 21 mi, CT · East Branch Reservoir 22 mi, NY
See how Saugatuck River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Connecticut · best rainbow trout lakes in Connecticut · best brown trout lakes in Connecticut · best landlocked salmon lakes in Connecticut
Browse all Connecticut fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.