Pool 13, Mississippi River
General Information
Location: Between Bellevue and Clinton, Iowa. Pool 13 Starts at River Mile 556.7
Acres: 28117.00
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
| Quality fishing is ramping up on the Mississippi River for multiple species so please take some time and enjoy the bounty the Mississippi River has to offer. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. |
| Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish can be caught especially in rising and dirty water. Any of the prepared smelly baits should attract abundant catfish. Move often if you do not get bites. |
| Rainbow Trout - Excellent: The kids trout pond north of the DNR fisheries station is stocked with trout and can provide fun action for your kids throughout early Spring. Time is running out though as the pond will soon weed over and fishing becomes difficult. |
| The water level in Pool 13 is rising and is near 9.1 feet at Bellevue. Water clarity is good and the water temperature is around 57 degrees. |
| Walleye - Slow: Walleye usually bite poorly after they are done spawning for a few weeks. |
| Black Crappie - Good: Black Crappie are being caught on wood in deeper backwater lakes. Most anglers are using small minnows for bait. |
| Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are starting to bite well and can be caught on worm rigs. |
| Brown Bullhead - Good: Bullhead bite in the lower Pool 13 can be real good with most people catching Black and Brown Bullhead and egg sinker and worm rigs. |
| Northern Pike - Good: A few pike have been reported hitting on minnow imitation lures. Some real nice pike over 30 inches are being reported. |
| Paddlefish - No Report: Paddlefish season is now closed for the year. |
| Smallmouth Bass - Good: Look for feeding smallmouth on rocky habitats with good flows. Wingdams and day markers provide excellent habitat for this species. |
| Yellow Perch - Fair: Some reports of yellow perch being caught on worm rigs in the backwater lakes or even small tributary streams. |
| Largemouth Bass - Good: The bite for Largemouth bass is also picking up nicely with anglers using small jigs and spinners. |
| Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Fish Drum in areas of modest current using an egg sinker worm rig. |
- 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)
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.