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Interior Rivers

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)

General Information

Location: This stretch is located in Linn and Jones County. A popular access on this stretch is in Pinicon Ridge Park, just off Hwy 13 by Central City.
Length in miles: 53.00
Motoring Restrictions:

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Boat Rental
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Gravel Boat Ramp
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Carry Down Boat Launch
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Walleye - Fair:
Northern Pike - Fair:
Download Printable River Map

  • 6/8/22 - 11,268 Walleye (1.7)
  • 6/3/22 - 7,592 Northern Pike (2.1)
  • Spring 2021 - 44,448 Walleye (1.53)
  • 07/09/2021 - 5,486 Smallmouth Bass (2.8)
  • 05/29/2020 - 21,000 Walleye (1.3)
  • 05/31/2019 - 34,706 Walleye (1.3)
  • 05/30/2019 - 7,372 Northern Pike (2.2)
  • 06/06/2018 - 7,351 Northern Pike (2.8)
  • 06/04/2018 - 22,805 Walleye (1.1)
  • 05/24/2018 - 1,085 Smallmouth Bass (3)
  • 05/24/2018 - 187 Walleye (4)
  • 5/25/2017 - 12,297 Walleye (1.5")
  • 5/26/16 - 54,370 Walleye (Fingerling)
  • 4/20/16 - 6,400 Northern Pike (1.4")
  • 05/19/2015 - 10,610 Northern Pike (2.9")
  • 06/04/2014 - 10,600 Northern Pike (2-3")
  • 06/04/2014 - 37,000 Walleye (2")
  • Rusty Crawfish
  • Silver Carp
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Bigmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Black Buffalo
    • 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.
  • Black Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Black Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Bluegill
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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.
  • Green Sunfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Largemouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 12-inch minimum
    • Other:
  • Northern Pike
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 6 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Quillback
    • 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:
  • Shorthead redhorse
    • 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.
  • 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:
  • Smallmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • 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 Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • 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.
  • Yellow Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
The Wapsipinicon River is one of the best interior rivers for fishing in the state. The walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass populations that inhabit this stretch of river are impressive. Also impressive is the size that these species can achieve. Walleye of 30", northern pike of 40", and smallmouth bass of 20" are all possible. There are also good populations of bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass in the backwaters and other areas of slower moving water. Channel catfish are also plentiful in this stretch.(2016)
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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