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
Fishing Report
| Water is back down from recent flood but slightly rising again throughout the district. Quality fishing has returned to the river. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. |
| Water level at Dubuque Lock and Dam is rising and is at 7.9 feet and water level at the RR Bridge is 10.2 feet. Boat ramps on Pool 12 are back to working operation after recent flooding but some campgrounds may still need debris cleanup. |
| Channel Catfish - Excellent: The post flood bite on channel cats has been phenomenal with most anglers using stink bait. |
| White Bass - Good: White bass have been a consistent in the creel. Try some flashy spinners in the tailwater areas. |
| Flathead Catfish - Fair: Anglers are back to using trot lines where they can find a non-flooded banks. |
| Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Bass are stacked up along shoreline weed edges. |
| Walleye - Fair: Many anglers are targeting smaller flowing sloughs with crankbaits. |
| Northern Pike - Good: Pike like the other predator's are seen feeding on the abundant forage along the shorelines. |
| Bluegill - Good: Fish along the weed line edges that are beginning to show back up after the flood receded. |
| Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try fishing along rock lines with small crankbaits or spinners |
| Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Big drum are caught often on big crayfish. |
Popular Fish Species at this Lake
- Black Crappie
- Bluegill
- Channel Catfish
- Flathead Catfish
- Largemouth Bass
- Northern Pike
- Sauger
- Smallmouth Bass
- Walleye
- White Bass
- Yellow Perch
Lake Maps
Download Printable Lake Map
You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes
Fish Stocking
- 05/01/2018 - 50,000 Walleye (Fry)
Aquatic Invasive Species
- Bighead Carp
- Brittle Naiad
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Flowering Rush
- Silver Carp
- Zebra Mussel
Regulations
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:
Fishing Forecast
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)
Fish Survey Data
Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.
Contacts
- Lucas Dever, Conservation Officer; 319-480-0397; Lucas.Dever@dnr.iowa.gov
- Scott Gritters, Fisheries Biologist; 563-880-8781; Scott.Gritters@dnr.iowa.gov
- Andrew Keil, Conservation Officer; 563-590-1945; Andrew.Keil@dnr.iowa.gov
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.
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