| Upper Mississippi River water levels are gradually falling. The bite is picking up again after the cold front. Expect the bite in the tailwaters at the lock and dams to improve as water temperature climbs back into the mid to upper 40's this week. Water clarity is still a little cloudy. |
| Water level at Guttenberg is currently 6.4 feet and is expected to gradually recede over the next week. Water temperature is 44° |
| Northern Pike - Excellent: Northern pike are on the feed after the spawn. Fish the shallows and weedy shorelines using larger flashy spinnerbaits. |
| Yellow Perch - Good: Fish the current seams off shore using a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow. |
| Walleye - Good: Vertical jigging with hair jigs and minnow has been effective in the tailwaters. Some fish being picked up downriver on closing dams |
| Sauger - Fair: Anglers report lots of smaller fish with some nicer ones mixed in. Fish the tailwaters of the lock and dam using a hair jig tipped with minnow. |
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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 .