Excellent Fishery! Mississippi River fisheries are varied with nearly 100 species of fish being present in each Pool. Pool 12 is especially noted for quality Largemouth Bass fishing, sunfish, crappie, and catfish. Some other fisheries are coming on strong as well including smallmouth bass and northern pike. Freshwater drum are always a staple and easy to catch in any moderate flowing current areas. Yellow perch can also be found in Pool 12 but often they are reported as "hit or miss". When found they can be abundant. The dredging of Stone, Tippy's, Sunfish and Keogh have really improved opportunities for angling in the middle and lower sections of Pool 12. - Last updated on 04/25/2025.
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 .
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.