Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Pool 17, Mississippi River

Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs DNR Homepage

About Pool 17, Mississippi River

Surface Area (acres): 7580.00
Maximum Depth (feet): Unknown
Motoring Restrictions: None
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Muscatine
Description:
Coordinates: 41.31004352, -90.94433163

Nearby Parks

- No results found

Amenities

Amenities at Pool 17, Mississippi River include:

Boat Access
Accessible Pier
Good/Excellent Shorefishing
Hard Surface Boat Ramp

What to Fish For

Fishing Report

Ice Condition: Not Recommended
Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
Ramp Condition: Useable
Comments: Tailwater stage is 3.86 feet and falling at Lock and Dam 16. Anglers have been able to launch boats at the lower boat ramps in Muscatine to access the tailwaters. There is no dock at the lower ramp. The upper boat ramp below the bridge is still locked in with ice. We have not received any reports on how the tailwater bite has been. Unsafe ice conditions. Last updated on 02/12/2026

Species Reports

Sauger - Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or nightcrawlers or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Last updated on 02/12/2026

Walleye - Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or nightcrawlers or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. . Last updated on 02/12/2026

Fishing Summary

- No results found

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

View Map (.pdf)

Explore the full Fishing Atlas

Stocking and Management

Stocking

04/30/2021 - 1,200,049 Walleye (Fry)
05/01/2018 - 450,000 Walleye (Fry)
04/28/2018 - 165,000 Walleye (Fry)
5/27/2017 - 3,600 Walleye (2")
5/27/2017 - 22,350 Walleye (1.6")
4/29/16 - 143,000 Walleye (Fry)
4/22/16 - 181,500 Walleye (Fry)
4/22/16 - 247,500 Walleye (Fry)

Management

- No results found

Regulations and Who to Talk To

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: None

Contacts for this Location

Andy Fowler, Fisheries Biologist; 563-263-5062; Andy.Fowler@dnr.iowa.gov
Derrick Slutts, Conservation Officer (Muscatine); 563-260-1223; derrick.slutts@dnr.iowa.gov

Fishing Regulations

The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.

Bigmouth Buffalo

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

Black Crappie

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 25 fish
Possession Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 50 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Bluegill

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 25 fish
Possession Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 50 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Bowfin

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.

Channel Catfish

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

Flathead Catfish

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

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.

Green Sunfish

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

Largemouth Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 5 fish
Possession Limit: combined black bass, 10 fish
Length Limit: 14-inch minimum
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Northern Pike

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: 5 fish
Possession Limit: 10 fish
Length Limit: none
Other:

Paddlefish

Season: March 1 through April 15
Daily Bag Limit: 2 fish
Possession Limit: 4 fish
Length Limit: 33-inch maximum length; any paddlefish measuring 33 inches or more when measured from the front of the eye to the fork of the tail must be immediately released alive.
Other: Snagging for paddlefish is restricted to the area within 500 yards below the navigation dams and their spillways. No hook larger than a 5/0 treble hook or measuring more than 1 ¼ inches in length when two of the hook points are placed on a ruler are permitted when snagging.

Quillback

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.

Rock Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
Possession Limit: 50 fish
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.

Sauger

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 6 fish
Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 12 fish
Length Limit: 15-inch minimum length limit; all walleye from 20 to 27-inches must be immediately released alive
Other: No more than one walleye longer than 27 inches may be taken per day on these pools

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.

Shovelnose sturgeon

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

Smallmouth Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 5 fish
Possession Limit: combined black bass, 10 fish
Length Limit: 14-inch minimum
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Smallmouth Buffalo

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

Walleye

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 6 fish
Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 12 fish
Length Limit: 15-inch minimum length limit; all walleye from 20 to 27-inches must be immediately released alive
Other: No more than one walleye longer than 27 inches may be taken per day on these pools

White Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined yellow and white bass, 25 fish
Possession Limit: combined yellow and white bass, 50 fish
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.

White Crappie

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 25 fish
Possession Limit: combined bluegill and pumpkinseed, 50 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Yellow Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined yellow and white bass, 25 fish
Possession Limit: combined yellow and white bass, 50 fish
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 - Pool 17, Mississippi River

About Pool 17, Mississippi River

Location

Nearby Parks

Amenities

What to Fish For

Fishing Report

Species Reports

Fishing Summary

Popular Fish Species

Consumption Guidelines

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

Where to Go

Stocking and Management

Stocking

Management

Regulations and Who to Talk To

Motoring Restrictions

Contacts for this Location

Fishing Regulations

Science and Conservation

Aquatic Invasive Species

Fish Surveys