Mississippi River (Clinton) fishing conditions · Iowa

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 56°, inside their 50–72° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Right now: 100 for walleye, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

1003 pm
100
100
1006 pm
88
88
889 pm
92
92
92Sun
88
88
883 am
88
88
926 am
88
88
889 am
88
92
9212 pm
88
88
883 pm
92
88
886 pm
88
88
889 pm
88
92
82Mon
78
78

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: 56°F
Wind: 5 mph
Flow: 49,700 cfs
Light: Daylight
Sky: Sunny
Air: 52°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Iowa non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Sander vitreus

100GoNow until 7 pm

Water

56°

40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 6 a day

Release 20–27".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15" minimum; walleye from 20 to 27" must be released and only 1 over 27" kept; 6 walleye, sauger and saugeye a day combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Mississippi River (Iowa boundary water)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on walleye

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

94GoNow until 7 pm

Water

56°

45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside smallmouth bass's active range. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" minimum; 5 black bass a day combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Mississippi River (Iowa boundary water)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on smallmouth bass

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

88GoNow until 7 pm

Water

56°

40°50–80° · ideal 65°90°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside crappie's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

25 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Iowa: 25 crappie a day on public waters, no size limit (50 in possession on the Mississippi River).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Iowa non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Sep–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on crappie

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

88GoNow until 7 pm

Water

56°

42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside common carp's active range. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Iowa: "All Other Fish", common carp included, have a continuous season, no length limit and no daily or possession limit.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Iowa non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on common carp

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

56°

50°60–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below channel catfish's active range (60–85°F). Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No daily or possession limit on catfish.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Mississippi River (Iowa boundary water)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on channel catfish

The water

Water temperature56°F
River49,700 cfs · steady · -2% in 24 h
Barometer30.15 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today4:48 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:41 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Iowa DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: Iowa DNR · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The pooled Mississippi at Clinton — classic Upper Mississippi walleye and sauger water below the lock and dam, with smallmouth bass on the wing dams, channel catfish in the current, and crappie in the backwaters. Live USGS flow and water temperature at Clinton read the river.

Mississippi River: walleye 15" minimum with all from 20 to 27" released (6 a day, 1 over 27"); bass 14" and 5 a day; no catfish limit. The tailwater below the dam is the spring hot spot.

WaterRiver
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesIowa non-tidal
WhereClinton County · 41.8440, -90.2520

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

31st Street Beach (Margaret T. Burroughs Beach)136 mi · IllinoisBest now until 7 pm

100Go

Marquette Park Beach (Gary, Miller Beach)155 mi · IndianaBest now until Monday 4 am

100Go

Washington Park Beach (Michigan City)173 mi · IndianaBest now until 8 pmSmall Craft Advisory

91Go

Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh)175 mi · WisconsinBest now until 7 pm

94Go

Mississippi River (Grafton)199 mi · IllinoisBest now until 5 pm

92Go

Green Bay (Bay Beach, Green Bay)218 mi · WisconsinBest now until 7 pm

94Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Mississippi River (Clinton)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Mississippi River (Clinton) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Mississippi River (Clinton)?

Mississippi River (Clinton) is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Mississippi River (Clinton)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Mississippi River (Clinton) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Mississippi River (Clinton) have?

Mississippi River (Clinton) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Mississippi River: walleye 15" minimum with all from 20 to 27" released (6 a day, 1 over 27"); bass 14" and 5 a day; no catfish limit. The tailwater below the dam is the spring hot spot.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Mississippi River (Clinton)?

state agency regulations apply at Mississippi River (Clinton). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Mississippi River (Clinton) tidal water?

No. Mississippi River (Clinton) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.