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Pool 13, Mississippi River

General Information

County: Clinton
Location: Between Bellevue and Clinton, Iowa. Pool 13 Starts at River Mile 556.7
Acres: 28117.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions:

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Pool 13, Mississippi River include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Carry Down Boat Launch
  • Accessible Shoreline
Angling has been concentrating in the tailwaters for walleyes and sauger but more species are starting to be reported as the water temperatures warm. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781.
Rainbow Trout - Excellent: The kids trout pond north of the DNR fisheries station is now stocked with trout and can provide fun action for your kids throughout the winter. If you plan to keep trout please limit yourself to 2 trout per child so we can keep good fishing in the pond throughout the winter.
The water level in Pool 13 is steady near 4.9 feet at Bellevue. Water clarity is good, and the water temperature is around 50 degrees.
Channel Catfish - Good: Some catfish are being caught. Seems early but anglers who are targeting them can have good catches.
Paddlefish - Good: Paddlefish are a bit spread out at times but anglers seem to be able to catch some. Rules can be a bit confusing for paddlefish snagging so please review them if you are unsure.
Walleye - Fair: Most anglers are catching small saugers with an occasional keeper mixed in. Anglers are largely using a jig and minnow rig.
Yellow Perch - Fair: Some reports of yellow perch being caught on worm rigs in the backwater lakes.
Northern Pike - Fair: Low water is making them a tad more difficult to find as places they normally spawn at are dry. Some reports of post spawned fish are coming in, but spawning season for Pike is probably not quite over with yet.
Download Printable Lake Map

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

  • 05/01/2018 - 150,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 04/09/2015 - 150,000 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 04/09/2015 - 250,000 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • Bighead Carp
  • Brittle Naiad
  • Eurasian Watermilfoil
  • Flowering Rush
  • Largemouth Bass Virus
  • 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:
  • Freshwater Drum
    • 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, 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.
Excellent Fishery! Good populations of Black Crappie were reported this fall, surveys indicated an excellent reproduction of yellow perch, and walleye. In fact walleye spawn may be the largest we have ever recorded. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass fisheries are going well and often the target of major fishing tournaments circuits. Channel catfish and freshwater drum also provide a strong viable fishery. (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.