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Interior River Details

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Interior Rivers

Cedar River (above Nashua)

General Information

Location: This stretch is found in Chickasaw, Floyd, and Mitchell Counties. A popular multi-use location is the Charles City Whitewater Park in downtown Charles City on Hwy 14.
Length in miles: 63.00
Motoring Restrictions: None

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Cedar River (above Nashua) include:
  • Boat Access
  • Accessible Pier
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Gravel Boat Ramp
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Carry Down Boat Launch
  • Accessible Shoreline

Water levels on most area rivers and streams steady for this time of year. Weekend temperatures 60's to 30's at night. For more information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Mitchell dam in Mitchell will undergo a rehabilitation project on the powerhouse intake structure requiring the impoundment to be lowered by October 1. Desired levels will be maintained during the work. After completion, water levels will be allowed to return. Users should prepare for limited access due to lowered water levels. The river below the dam will not be dewatered.
Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Find smallies in deeper pools and off channel rocky areas. Use crank or spinner baits for best action.
Walleye - Good: Walleye in deeper pools and back eddies. Jigs tipped with minnows or worms working well.

River Maps

Download Printable River Map

  • 6/3/22 - 11,681 Northern Pike (1.8)
  • 6/2/22 - 49,795 Walleye (1.3)
  • 06/10/2021 - 29,571 Walleye (1.49)
  • 05/27/2021 - 60,183 Walleye (1.42)
  • 05/28/2020 - 57,596 Walleye (1.2)
  • 05/30/2019 - 66,348 Walleye (1.4)
  • 05/29/2019 - 9,814 Northern Pike (2.12)
  • 06/06/2018 - 38,021 Walleye (1.9)
  • 06/05/2018 - 10,037 Northern Pike (2.8)
  • 6/1/2017 - 11,100 Walleye (1.6")
  • 5/26/2017 - 63,616 Walleye (1.4")
  • 5/23/2017 - 10,000 Northern Pike (2.5")
  • spring 2016 - 9,100 Northern Pike (2.2")
  • 5/25/16 - 62,377 Walleye (Fingerling)
  • 07/14/2015 - 11,557 Walleye (2.68")
  • 05/29/2015 - 20,912 Walleye (2")
  • 04/09/2015 - 10,000 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 05/28/2014 - 60,950 Walleye (2")
  • 04/18/2014 - 10,000 Northern Pike (Fry)

  • Rusty Crawfish

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

  • Black Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Bluegill
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Channel Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
    • 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.
  • Green Sunfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Northern Pike
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 6 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Rock Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Smallmouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: Catch and release only
    • Possession Limit: Catch and release only
    • Length Limit: Catch and release only
    • Other: Mitchell County, extending downstream from below the Otranto Dam as posted to the bridge on count yroad T26 south of St. Ansgar
  • 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.
  • Yellow Perch
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: 50 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

This 63-mile stretch extends from the Minnesota state line to Nashua. There are several dams impounding water providing boat access to the river. Paddling and wading downstream of the dams are great activities that commonly yield nice catches of a variety of fish including Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye. The Charles City Whitewater course completed in early 2011 improved access for river users and provided passage for a variety of fish species. This stream is stocked each year with Northern Pike and Walleye fingerlings.(2021)

Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

Contacts

Water Quality

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.

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