Upper Dam Impoundment
General Information
County: Winneshiek
Location: This dam is located approximately 7.1 miles east of Decorah on the Upper Iowa River.
Acres: 22.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions:
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Upper Dam Impoundment include:
You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes
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.
- 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 dam was built in 1895 and impounds the Upper Iowa River upstream of lower dam. Boaters and paddlers must portage around this dam. This impoundment contains several scenic limestone walls but limited habitat for a quality fishery. Much of the substrate is depositional sand filling the deep holes and gravel bars.(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.