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Fast gravel-bottom river from Brookville to the Great Miami. The region's swiftest smallmouth float. The river tops out around 10 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Whitewater River draws 1,409 acres inside 67.4 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 12.8, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Tip to tip the water measures near 22.7 mi with a 3.5-mi widest point. You'll find it in Dearborn County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Mollenkramer, 16 mi west of here.
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Tailwater riffles (Brookville dam), a rock pile in the 5 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Tailwater riffles (Brookville dam) (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Tailwater riffles (Brookville dam) (5 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Inside bend (mile 29.8) (7 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 20.6) (6 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: channel catfish in 3 to 10 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 10 ft through summer, 3 to 10 ft in winter. The spot to know is Harrison deep bend, a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 31.8) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Harrison deep bend (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Harrison deep bend (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Lower pool (8 ft) |
Spring puts common carp in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Winter common carp concentrate at Lower pool, a prime-rated deep basin around 8 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Tumlin Lake Dam tailrace (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Tumlin Lake Dam tailrace (9 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Harrison deep bend (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Lower pool (8 ft) |
Early season rock bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 10 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 10 ft. The chart's best answer is Tailwater riffles (Brookville dam) — rock pile, 5 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is the evening. Tie on a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Tailwater riffles (Brookville dam) (5 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Tailwater riffles (Brookville dam) (5 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Tailwater riffles (Brookville dam) (5 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Tailwater riffles (Brookville dam) (5 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Count 27 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Tumlin Lake Dam tailrace, sits near 9 ft.
Access data: Ohio DNR — Boater & Stream Access. 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 Whitewater River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Indiana fishing regulations →
Whitewater River is about 10 ft (3 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, channel catfish, common carp, rock bass on Whitewater River.
Tailwater riffles (Brookville dam) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Whitewater 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.
Mollenkramer 16 mi, IN · Brookville Lake 17 mi, IN · Acton Lake 21 mi, OH · Winton Woods Lake 22 mi, OH · Whitewater Lake 22 mi, IN · Rush Run Lake 26 mi, OH · Woodland Trails 29 mi, OH · Ohio River - Markland Pool 29 mi, OH/KY · Decature County Park Lake 32 mi, IN · Brush Creek Reservoir 36 mi, IN · Bullock Pen Lake 38 mi, KY · Middle Fork Reservoir 39 mi, IN
See how Whitewater River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Indiana · best channel catfish lakes in Indiana · best common carp lakes in Indiana · best rock bass lakes in Indiana
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.