Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
General Information
Location: North Cedar Park located on the north side of Highway 188 east of Plainfield is an excellent hard surface boat launch.
Length in miles: 77.00
Motoring Restrictions: None
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) include:
- Boat Access
- Picnic Area
- Beach
- Trails
- Restrooms
- Camping
- Good/Excellent Shorefishing
- Gravel Boat Ramp
- Hard Surface Boat Ramp
- Carry Down Boat Launch
| Most rivers and impoundments in east-central Iowa are experiencing minor to moderate flooding at this time and are not conducive to fishing. The Maquoketa River is high but fishable as of June 26. Trout streams are generally high but fishable as of June 26. Be aware of weather when considering fishing destinations as trout streams can be quickly impacted by heavy rainfall. Call the Manchester Fish Hatchery at 563-927-3276 for additional information. |
| The Cedar River in Black Hawk County is cresting above flood stage on or about June 26 with additional rainfall in the forecast |
| Channel Catfish - No Report: The Cedar River is above flood stage in Black Hawk County |
- 6/2/22 - 97,495 Walleye (1.3)
- Spring 2021 - 112,712 Walleye (1.26)
- June 2020 - 107,278 Walleye (1.6)
- June 2019 - 94,828 Walleye (1.5)
- 06/06/2018 - 19,159 Walleye (1.39)
- 06/01/2018 - 44,868 Walleye (1.7)
- 5/24/2017 - 92,476 Walleye (1.5")
- 6/8/16 - 10,632 Walleye (1.7")
- 6/8/16 - 10,641 Walleye (1.9")
- 5/26/16 - 90,537 Walleye (Fingerling)
- 09/26/2015 - 30 Flathead Catfish (18")
- 06/04/2015 - 9,742 Walleye (1.9")
- 06/04/2015 - 10,973 Walleye (1.6")
- 05/29/2015 - 13,556 Walleye (2")
- 06/05/2014 - 7,260 Walleye (2")
- 06/05/2014 - 7,262 Walleye (2")
- 05/29/2014 - 82,000 Walleye (2")
The
Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.
- 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:
- 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:
- 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:
The Cedar River throughout this stretch offers excellent angling opportunities for walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and occasional northern pike. Boat electrofishing catch rates for walleye are good providing abundant numbers of walleye in this stretch of river. There are many access points throughout this stretch of river. Navigation on this entire stretch is good for smaller flat or V-bottom boats with a smaller hp motor or canoe. A fall 2020 electrofishing survey in Bremer County sampled 26 walleye with 64 percent of them equal to or greater than 15 inches long. Three of these fish sampled were greater than 25 inches long with one being 30.3 inches in length. Another fall 2020 electrofishing survey above LaPorte City provided good numbers of channel catfish with decent numbers of walleye, smallmouth bass and shovelnose sturgeon.(2020)
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. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.