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Cedar River (above Nashua)

General Information

County: Floyd
Location: This stretch is found in Chickasaw, Floyd, and Mitchell Counties. A popular multi-use location is the Charles City Whitewater Park in downtown Charles City on Hwy 14.
Acres: 63.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions: None

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Cedar River (above Nashua) include:
  • Boat Access
  • Accessible Pier
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Gravel Boat Ramp
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Carry Down Boat Launch
  • Accessible Shoreline

A front passes Friday into Saturday bringing a possibility of mixed precipitation with high winds overnight. Temperatures ranging from mid 60's to 20's. Majority of ice is gone from area waterbodies. Parking lots and gravel roads sloppy. Use care when parking on roadsides. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563.382.8324.
Black Crappie - Slow: Use minnow fished in a backwater or near current breaks finding fish.
Channel Catfish - Slow: Anglers using a dead chub or worm fished near bottom near current breaks finding catfish.
River conditions relatively steady with good clarity. Alot of chop on the water. Fish activity slowed with this front coming through.
Walleye - Slow: Use minnow or worm below dams or eddies. Try using a 3-way with just enough weight to keep weight on bottom or use a worm harness for the nightcrawlers.

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map

You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes

  • 06/10/2021 - 29,571 Walleye (1.49)
  • 05/27/2021 - 60,183 Walleye (1.42)
  • 05/28/2020 - 57,596 Walleye (1.2)
  • 05/30/2019 - 66,348 Walleye (1.4)
  • 05/29/2019 - 9,814 Northern Pike (2.12)
  • 06/06/2018 - 38,021 Walleye (1.9)
  • 06/05/2018 - 10,037 Northern Pike (2.8)
  • 6/1/2017 - 11,100 Walleye (1.6")
  • 5/26/2017 - 63,616 Walleye (1.4")
  • 5/23/2017 - 10,000 Northern Pike (2.5")
  • spring 2016 - 9,100 Northern Pike (2.2")
  • 5/25/16 - 62,377 Walleye (Fingerling)
  • 07/14/2015 - 11,557 Walleye (2.68")
  • 05/29/2015 - 20,912 Walleye (2")
  • 04/09/2015 - 10,000 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 05/28/2014 - 60,950 Walleye (2")
  • 04/18/2014 - 10,000 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 05/30/2013 - 63,900 Walleye (1.2")
  • 04/18/2013 - 12,000 Northern Pike (Fry)

  • Rusty Crawfish

The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Black Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • 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:
  • Northern Pike
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 6 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Rock Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Smallmouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: Catch and release only
    • Possession Limit: Catch and release only
    • Length Limit: Catch and release only
    • Other: Mitchell County, extending downstream from below the Otranto Dam as posted to the bridge on count yroad T26 south of St. Ansgar
  • 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.
  • Yellow Perch
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: 50 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

This 63-mile stretch extends from the Minnesota state line to Nashua. There are several dams impounding water providing boat access to the river. Paddling and wading downstream of the dams are great activities that commonly yield nice catches of a variety of fish including Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye. The Charles City Whitewater course completed in early 2011 improved access for river users and provided passage for a variety of fish species. This stream is stocked each year with Northern Pike and Walleye fingerlings.(2021)

Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

Contacts

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.