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Fishing St. Joseph River: what the data says
Elkhart through South Bend. Skamania steelhead runs summer through spring. The river tops out around 15 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at St. Joseph River
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Twin Branch Dam tailwater (Mishawaka): a rock pile around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. 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 | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Walleye fishing at St. Joseph River
Spring walleye on St. Joseph River hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. Summer fish stay in 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. Lowhead weir tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 13 ft, rated prime for spring walleye. 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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Channel Catfish fishing at St. Joseph River
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 5 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it South Bend holding pools: a creek channel around 12 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Steelhead fishing at St. Joseph River
Spring steelhead on St. Joseph River hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Lowhead weir tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Coho Salmon fishing at St. Joseph River
Start shallow in spring: coho salmon sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Lowhead weir tailrace: a dam tailrace around 13 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Chinook Salmon fishing at St. Joseph River
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Lowhead weir tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
St. Joseph River also holds rock bass (4 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Ball Band Dam (In-Channel) tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Twin Branch Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Elkhart Hydro Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- South Bend holding pools: creek channel, around 12 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.5): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 21.9): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Twin Branch Dam tailwater (Mishawaka): rock pile, around 8 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.6): eddy pocket, around 8 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 19.4): eddy pocket, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is St. Joseph River?
St. Joseph River is about 15 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 St. Joseph River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, rock bass on St. Joseph River.
Where is the best fishing spot on St. Joseph River?
Twin Branch Dam tailwater (Mishawaka) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 8 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 St. Joseph 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
Pinhook Lake · Riddles Lake · South Chain Lake · Worster Lake (Potato Creek) · Rupel Lake · Dixon Lake
See how St. Joseph River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Indiana · best walleye lakes in Indiana · best channel catfish lakes in Indiana · best rock bass lakes in Indiana
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