Official State of Iowa Website Here is how you know

Interior Rivers

Turkey River (below Clermont)

General Information

Location: This stretch is found in Fayette and Clayton County. A popular scenic and historical area is the Motor Mill Access about 8 miles southeast of Elkader on Galaxy Road.
Length in miles: 65.00
Motoring Restrictions: None

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Turkey River (below Clermont) include:
  • Boat Access
  • Boat Rental
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Gravel Boat Ramp
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Carry Down Boat Launch
No recent updates
Download Printable River Map

  • 6/2/22 - 7,230 Walleye (1.4)
  • 05/27/2021 - 7,080 Walleye (1.42)
  • 05/28/2020 - 6,674 Walleye (1.3)
  • 05/30/2019 - 7,200 Walleye (1.5)
  • 05/31/2018 - 7,200 Walleye (1.5)
  • 5/26/2017 - 9,680 Walleye (1.5")
  • 5/25/16 - 10,661 Walleye (Fingerling)
  • 05/29/2015 - 3,294 Walleye (2")
  • 05/28/2014 - 9,600 Walleye (2")
    No known aquatic invasive species have been found
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Channel Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Common Carp
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
  • Rock Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Smallmouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 12-inch minimum
    • Other:
  • Walleye
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 5 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 10 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • White Sucker
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
This 65-mile stretch starts below the dam at Clermont. This dam must be portaged around, but good access to the river is available from both sides. Another dam at Elkader must also be portaged around. Downstream from the dam at Elkader is a whitewater park completed summer 2013 that provides recreational opportunities and off channel areas and eddies for fish to hide. Between Clermont and Elkader is a cold water section of stream stocked with trout and detailed under Where To Fish, Trout Streams. Paddling a kayak or canoe is the best way to fish this river. A small john boat with a shallow draft motor is also possible if the water levels are up. There are convenient sand and gravel bars along the way to get out and toss a line in to see what bites. Trophy sized Walleye have been caught in this section and if one of these fish taps your lure, hang on. This stream is stocked each year with Walleye fingerlings through IA DNR's interior river Walleye stocking program. This stream also supports an amazing Smallmouth Bass fishery. Below the Elkader dam, Channel Catfish can be caught.(2022)
Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

Contacts

Water Quality

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.

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