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Elkhart through South Bend. Skamania steelhead runs summer through spring. The river tops out around 15 ft. Bathymetry on this water is estimated from its real outline and maximum depth. Use it to shortlist water, then verify with your electronics — and never navigate by it. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The drawn water covers 1,080 acres wrapped in 48.1 miles of bank, with 2 islands in the mix. The 10.4 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Figure 15.8 mi of water from one end to the other, 4.5 mi at the beam. St. Joseph County claims this one. If the bite dies, Garver Lake is 7 mi to the northeast.
Early season smallmouth bass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 5 to 15 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Twin Branch Dam tailwater (Mishawaka) first on the milk run — a rock pile near 8 ft that grades prime for spring. 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Twin Branch Dam tailwater (Mishawaka) (8 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Twin Branch Dam tailwater (Mishawaka) (8 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Twin Branch Dam tailwater (Mishawaka) (8 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Twin Branch Dam tailwater (Mishawaka) (8 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. The depth story barely changes: 5 to 15 ft through summer, 5 to 15 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Lowhead weir tailrace, a dam tailrace in the 13 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & night | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring channel catfish on St. Joseph River hold shallow, usually 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. The chart's best answer is South Bend holding pools — creek channel, 12 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | night & dusk | South Bend holding pools (12 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | South Bend holding pools (12 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | South Bend holding pools (12 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: steelhead sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 15 ft covers summer, 4 to 15 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Lowhead weir tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw an orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Spring coho salmon on St. Joseph River hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 5 to 15 ft in summer, 5 to 15 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Lowhead weir tailrace — dam tailrace, 13 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Early season chinook salmon use the shallows, holding in 2 to 15 ft. Even in summer they hold at 5 to 15 ft; winter keeps them in 5 to 15 ft. The chart's best answer is Lowhead weir tailrace — dam tailrace, 13 ft, prime for 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Lowhead weir tailrace (13 ft) | 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.
19 pieces of structure are mapped here — Lowhead weir tailrace, around 13 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Indiana DNR — Fishing Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Indiana waters are set by the Indiana DNR — and special regulations can apply to St. Joseph River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Indiana fishing regulations →
St. Joseph River is about 15 ft (5 m) deep 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.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, steelhead, coho salmon, chinook salmon, rock bass 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. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
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.
Fishing on St. Joseph River is regulated by the Indiana DNR. Check the official Indiana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Garver Lake 7 mi, MI · Pleasant Lake 8 mi, MI · Pinhook Lake 8 mi · Coberts Lake 9 mi, MI · Eagle Lake 9 mi, MI · CHRISTIANA Lake 10 mi, MI · South Chain Lake 13 mi · Riddles Lake 15 mi · Stone Lake 16 mi, MI · Worster Lake (Potato Creek) 16 mi · Baldwins Lake 16 mi, MI · Diamond Lake 16 mi, MI
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
More water nearby: St. Joseph County fishing maps (6 charts). Browse all Indiana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.