Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs

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About Harper's Slough

Surface Area (acres): Not available
Maximum Depth (feet): Unknown
Motoring Restrictions: None
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Allamakee
Description: Large open water area in lower Pool 9 just above Lock and Dam 9 along the Iowa shoreline. Name refers to large slough the existed in the area before lock and dams. Deeper water channels still exist below the surface above the dam, and Harpers slough cont
Coordinates: 43.22294656, -91.11830395

Nearby Parks

Yellow River State Forest

Amenities

Amenities at Harper's Slough include:
- No results found

What to Fish For

Fishing Report

- No recent updates found

Popular Fish Species

Fishing Forecast

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Consumption Guidelines

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.

To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .

Where to Go

Explore the full Fishing Atlas

Stocking and Management

Stocking

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Management

2015 - Other-Other: Multi- year multi-million dollar Habitat Rehabilitation Project begins. Main purpose is to try to recreate island habitat lost due to erosion in lower Pool 9. Island building and dredging will create fisheries and wildlife habitat.

Regulations and Who to Talk To

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: None

Contacts for this Location

Karen Osterkamp, Fisheries Biologist; 563-252-1156; Karen.Osterkamp@dnr.iowa.gov
Burt Walters, Conservation Officer; 563-880-0108; Burt.Walters@dnr.iowa.gov

Fishing Regulations

Black Crappie

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
Possession Limit: unlimited; Mississippi River backwaters, combined black and white crappie - 50 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: No daily limit on private waters

Bluegill

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish; Mississippi River backwaters, combined bluegill and pumpkinseed - 25 fish
Possession Limit: unlimited; Mississippi River backwaters, combined bluegill and pumpkinseed - 50 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: No daily limit on private waters

Channel Catfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers (Missouri, Big Sioux, and Des Moines) where intermittent or constant flow occur have a catfish combined daily bag of 15 fish. Associated chutes and backwaters of the Mississippi River have no daily bag or possession limit.

Flathead Catfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers (Missouri, Big Sioux, and Des Moines) where intermittent or constant flow occur have a catfish combined daily bag of 15 fish. Associated chutes and backwaters of the Mississippi River have no daily bag or possession limit.

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.

Largemouth Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur. A 14-inch length limit applies to Mississippi River backwaters, and a 12-inch length limit applies to Missouri River backwaters.

Northern Pike

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
Possession Limit: 6 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers where intermittent or constant flow occur have the following limits: Mississippi River-5 fish daily bag, 10 fish possession limit; Missouri River-5 fish daily bag, 10 fish possession limit; Big Sioux River-6 fish daily bag, 12 fish possession limit

Sauger

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: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers where intermittent or constant flow occur; relevant local length and bag limits for border rivers apply

Smallmouth Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur. A 14-inch length limit applies to Mississippi River backwaters, and a 12-inch length limit applies to Missouri River backwaters.

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: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers where intermittent or constant flow occur; relevant local length and bag limits for border rivers apply

White Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
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:

Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Harper's Slough