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Fishing Shiawassee River: what the data says
A large warmwater river winding ~40 miles from the Owosso and Corunna millpond reaches down through Chesaning to the Saginaw River confluence. a smallmouth bass, northern pike and channel-catfish stream that also draws a spring walleye run up from Saginaw Bay. 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Shiawassee River
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. 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 24.8): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 |
Walleye fishing at Shiawassee River
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. Riffle & run (mile 24.8) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring walleye. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Northern Pike fishing at Shiawassee River
Spring northern pike on Shiawassee River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 4 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 12 ft. Current seam (mile 34.7) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for fall northern pike. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Shiawassee River
Spring channel catfish on Shiawassee 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. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 9 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday |
Rock Bass fishing at Shiawassee River
Start shallow in spring: rock bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They move out to 3 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 12 ft. Riffle & run (mile 24.8) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring rock bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Yellow Perch fishing at Shiawassee River
In spring, yellow perch 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. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 34.7), a current seam in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Shiawassee River also holds bluegill (3 to 12 ft in summer), common carp (2 to 12 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 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.1): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.8): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.3): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.4): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 20.4): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 22.9): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.6): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.8): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 32.8): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Current seam (mile 34.7): current seam, around 7 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 24.8): rock pile, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Shiawassee River?
Shiawassee 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 Shiawassee River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, bluegill, channel catfish, yellow perch, common carp, rock bass on Shiawassee River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Shiawassee River?
Riffle & run (mile 24.8) 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 Shiawassee 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
Lake Ovid · Mott Lake · Lobdell Lake · Byram Lake · Lake Ponemah · Lake Fenton
See how Shiawassee River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best walleye lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best bluegill lakes in Michigan
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