Official State of Iowa Website

Interior River Details

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Interior Rivers

Winnebago River

General Information

Location: Located in Winnebago, Hancock, Worth, Cerro Gordo, and Floyd Counties. A good access point is East Park in Mason City. It offers excellent shore access to the river and a good starting point for a float trip down to the Averydale Access.
Length in miles: 72.00
Motoring Restrictions:

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Winnebago River include:
  • Boat Access
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Carry Down Boat Launch
  • Accessible Shoreline

For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
River level is 5.31 feet.
Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Fish in the deeper pools.
Walleye - Fair:

River Maps

Download Printable River Map

  • 7/8/22 - 3,284 Walleye (1.8)
  • 4/22/22 - 58,627 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 05/27/2021 - 7,537 Walleye (1.42)
  • 04/08/2021 - 63,331 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 06/11/2020 - 7,049 Walleye (1.4)
  • 04/13/2020 - 57,032 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 06/26/2019 - 7,517 Walleye (1.29)
  • 04/17/2019 - 63,495 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 06/04/2018 - 7,350 Northern Pike (2.7)
  • 04/27/2018 - 31,590 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 6/27/2017 - 15,156 Walleye (2.5")
  • 5/23/2017 - 7,366 Northern Pike (2.5")
  • 4/7/2017 - 50,000 Northern Pike (fry)
  • 7/5/16 - 8,090 Walleye (2.9")
  • 4/5/16 - 65,328 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 4/21/16 - 1,440 Northern Pike (1.4")
  • 4/21/16 - 2,870 Northern Pike (1.4")
  • 4/21/16 - 2,880 Northern Pike (1.4")
  • 07/08/2015 - 8,018 Walleye (3.3")
  • 05/18/2015 - 2,408 Northern Pike (2.9")
  • 05/18/2015 - 4,767 Northern Pike (2.9")
  • 05/18/2015 - 4,817 Northern Pike (2.9")
  • 04/08/2015 - 50,000 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 07/17/2014 - 2,041 Walleye (2-3")
  • 06/03/2014 - 2,434 Northern Pike (2-3")
  • 06/03/2014 - 4,759 Northern Pike (2-3")
  • 06/03/2014 - 6,834 Northern Pike (2-3")

    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.

  • Black Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • 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:
  • Northern Pike
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 6 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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.
  • 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:
  • 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 Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

The Winnebago River from the Minnesota state line to Fertile has mostly a silty sand bottom. From the Fertile Dam to the confluence with the Shellrock River near Rockford, exposed bedrock is more prevalent. Anglers target mainly Northern Pike and sucker species in Winnebago and Hancock counties. In Worth, Cerro Gordo and Floyd counties anglers also target Walleye, Channel Catfish, and Smallmouth Bass.(2022)

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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