Pool 12, Mississippi River
General Information
County: Jackson
Location: Between Dubuque and Bellevue, Iowa
Acres: 12349.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions: In a few selected places no wake and no motor
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Pool 12, Mississippi River include:
- Boat Access
- Fishing Jetty
- Accessible Pier
- Picnic Area
- Beach
- Trails
- Accessible Facilities
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Camping
- Good/Excellent Shorefishing
- Gravel Boat Ramp
- Hard Surface Boat Ramp
- Carry Down Boat Launch
- Accessible Shoreline
- Fish Cleaning Station
| A much needed bump in the River this week but river levels are still extremely low. When boating, please be careful to not back trailers off the back of ramps. Use the minimum amount of water to float boats off trailer. Water temps are in the lower 70's. Good fishing continues throughout the district and it is a perfect time to get out. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. |
| The river is low and rising at Dubuque and the level at Lock and Dam 11 is at 5.7 feet and 8.3 feet at the RR bridge. Water temperature is around 69 degrees, and the water clarity is good. Be careful not to back off the ramps in this very low water. Use the minimum amount of water to float boats on our ramps. |
| Bluegill - Good: People pitching small jigs with worms are catching gills off rock lines. Gills seem to be moving around a bit so keep moving if they do not bite right away. |
| White Bass - Good: Try minnows or small spinners in the tailwater areas for abundant white bass. They have been seen blowing up minnows in the tailwater areas. |
| Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut-bait or stink bait in the current seams or above tree falls. Move often if not getting fish. |
| Flathead Catfish - Fair: Most anglers are using trot lines baited with live Green Sunfish or Carp. |
| Freshwater Drum - Good: Simple egg sinker with a worm rig is the best way to catch abundant drum. Use large crayfish to catch larger drum. |
| Largemouth Bass - Good: As we move into the fall months Largemouth Bass fishing will improve as they start feeding heavily on bass. |
| Smallmouth Bass - Good: Casting inline spinners or crank baits just off rock points has been good for smallmouth feeding in the rocks. Lots of small fish so use light tackle. |
| Walleye - Slow: Most anglers are pulling or throwing crankbaits at higher speeds to initiate the bite. Catch has been up and down like walleye angling tends to be. |
| Northern Pike - Fair: Fishing for pike should pick up in the cooler weather. Use gaudy white spinners. |
| Yellow Perch - Fair: An occasional yellow perch has been reported and we know from surveys their populations are very strong in the river now. |
- 05/01/2018 - 50,000 Walleye (Fry)
- Bighead Carp
- Brittle Naiad
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Flowering Rush
- Silver Carp
- Zebra Mussel
The
Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.
- Black Crappie
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 25 fish
- Possession Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 50 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur
- Bluegill
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 25 fish
- Possession Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 50 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur
- Channel Catfish
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: none
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
- Flathead Catfish
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: none
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
- Largemouth Bass
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 5 fish
- Possession Limit: combined black bass, 10 fish
- Length Limit: 14-inch minimum
- Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur
- Northern Pike
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 fish
- Possession Limit: 10 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
- Sauger
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 6 fish
- Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 12 fish
- Length Limit: 15-inch minimum length limit; all walleye from 20 to 27-inches must be immediately released alive
- Other: No more than one walleye longer than 27 inches may be taken per day on these pools
- Smallmouth Bass
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 5 fish
- Possession Limit: combined black bass, 10 fish
- Length Limit: 14-inch minimum
- Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur
- Walleye
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 6 fish
- Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 12 fish
- Length Limit: 15-inch minimum length limit; all walleye from 20 to 27-inches must be immediately released alive
- Other: No more than one walleye longer than 27 inches may be taken per day on these pools
- White Bass
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined yellow and white bass, 25 fish
- Possession Limit: combined yellow and white bass, 50 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of the Mississippi River are included where intermittent or constant flow occur. In these areas, the daily bag and possession limit for the Mississippi River apply.
- Yellow Perch
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
- Possession Limit: 50 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
Fishery is in good shape. Excellent spawn of yellow perch and walleye in 2015 bode well for the future. Lots of nice crappies up to 13 inches were caught in the fall. Northern pike numbers were very high and a substantial fishery for this species developed. Largemouth and smallmouth bass support excellent numbers and should provide a quality fishery for years to come. The Sunfish Lake habitat restoration project is complete and should provide quality angling well into the future. The next major restoration work with begin in Tippy's Lake and Stone Lake. (2016)
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.