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Pool 18, Mississippi River

General Information

County: Louisa
Location: Amenities listed are for the Toolsboro Ramp. The ramp at Toolsboro is paved but the road to the ramp is gravel. There is some shore fishing along the parking area and at the outlet of Lake Odessa. Amenities vary by location in pool 18
Acres: 13300.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions:

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Pool 18, Mississippi River include:
  • Boat Access
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp

Mississippi River Pools 16-19: Tailwater stages have risen since this past weekend but are forecasted to stay fairly steady. Main channel water temperature is around 33 degrees and water clarity is fair. There has been some tailwater fishing but ramp conditions may change. Unsafe ice conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston is 4.54 feet and has risen close to 2 feet since last weekend. Tailwater stage is forecasted to stay fairly steady. We have not received any ice condition reports for this pool.
Sauger - Fair: Tailwater fishing for saugers is being reported as hit or miss. Try fishing with jigs and minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows.
Walleye - Fair: Tailwater fishing for walleyes is being reported as hit or miss. Try fishing with jigs and minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows.

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map

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

  • April 2021 - 2,813,721 Walleye (Fry)
  • 04/30/2018 - 385,000 Walleye (Fry)

  • Bighead Carp
  • Brittle Naiad
  • Eurasian Watermilfoil
  • Silver Carp
  • Zebra Mussel

The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Bigmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Black Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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
  • Bowfin
    • 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.
  • Channel Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Common Carp
    • 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.
  • 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.
  • Green Sunfish
    • 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:
  • Quillback
    • 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.
  • 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
  • Shorthead redhorse
    • 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.
  • Shovelnose sturgeon
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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
  • Smallmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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.
  • White 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
  • Yellow 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:

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.