Turkey River (above Clermont)
General Information
County: Fayette
Location: This section of river includes the headwaters in Howard county and flows through Winneshiek and Fayette Counties. A popular access is at Vernon Springs Park just 2.5 miles southwest of Cresco.
Acres: 89.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions:
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Turkey River (above Clermont) include:
- Boat Access
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Accessible Facilities
- Restrooms
- Camping
- Good/Excellent Shorefishing
- Hard Surface Boat Ramp
- Carry Down Boat Launch
- Accessible Shoreline
- 05/27/2021 - 35,972 Walleye (1.2)
- 05/28/2020 - 28,807 Walleye (1.3)
- 05/30/2019 - 34,614 Walleye (1.5)
- 05/29/2019 - 1,413 Northern Pike (2.12)
- 06/06/2018 - 19,359 Walleye (1.6)
- 06/05/2018 - 1,447 Northern Pike (2.8)
- 5/26/2017 - 4,000 Walleye (1.4")
- 5/26/2017 - 20,200 Walleye (1.5")
- 5/26/2017 - 21,000 Walleye (1.4")
- 5/23/2017 - 1,431 Northern Pike (2.5")
- 5/25/16 - 44,655 Walleye (Fingerling)
- 4/20/16 - 840 Northern Pike (1.4")
- 06/01/2015 - 6,088 Walleye (1.7")
- 05/29/2015 - 14,204 Walleye (2")
- 05/19/2015 - 1,400 Northern Pike (2.9")
- 06/05/2014 - 1,730 Northern Pike (2-3")
- 06/05/2014 - 4,700 Walleye (2")
- 06/05/2014 - 9,400 Walleye (2")
- 06/05/2014 - 14,100 Walleye (2")
- 05/28/2014 - 41,400 Walleye (2")
- 06/21/2013 - 8,036 Walleye (1.7")
- 05/29/2013 - 4,044 Northern Pike (2.7")
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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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:
- 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 89 mile stretch of river includes the headwaters west of Cresco in Howard County and ends above the dam in Clermont. In 2010, the Vernon Springs dam southwest of Cresco was modified to allow fish to pass through and improve safety. Trophy sized Northern Pike have been taken from the impoundment and nice size Walleye and Smallmouth Bass are often caught. Annual stocking of Northern Pike and Walleye support these popular fisheries. Boats are a great way to get around the impoundment, but canoes and kayaks are best below. Most fishing in the upper reaches takes place from Fort Atkinson upstream or from Eldorado downstream to the Clermont dam. Shore fishing is popular as this stream flows though several small towns.(2022)
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.