It’s a fishing day

Mississippi River (Clinton) fishing conditions · Iowa

Today 4 am to tomorrow 2 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 92. Water is 60°, close to the 62° walleye like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 82 for walleye, worth the tripTap 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.

  1. 822 am
  2. 82
  3. 92
  4. 925 am
  5. 92
  6. 92
  7. 928 am
  8. 92
  9. 92
  10. 9211 am
  11. 92
  12. 92
  13. 922 pm
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 925 pm
  17. 92
  18. 92
  19. 928 pm
  20. 92
  21. 92
  22. 9211 pm
  23. 92Tue
  24. 92
  25. 922 am
  26. 92
  27. 92
  28. 925 am
  29. 92
  30. 92
  31. 928 am
  32. 92
  33. 92
  34. 9211 am
  35. 92
  36. 92
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
60°F

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
0 mph

From the

Flow
28,600 cfs

steady · -11% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:25 am

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

1% chance of rain

Air
53°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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

Walleye

Sander vitreus

92GoToday 4 am to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

60°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in walleye's ideal range. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Iowa inland waters: 5 walleye, sauger and saugeye a day combined, no statewide minimum. Spirit Lake and the Okobojis protect walleye from 19 to 25" (3 a day); the Mississippi River is 15" with a 20–27" protected slot (6 a day).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Iowa non-tidal

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

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

80Worth the tripToday 4 am to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

60°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside smallmouth bass's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Iowa public lakes: 15" minimum, 3 black bass a day combined (6 in possession). Interior streams are 12"; the Mississippi River is 14" and 5 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Iowa non-tidal

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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

74Worth the tripToday 4 am to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

60°
50°60–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside channel catfish's active range. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

8 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Iowa inland lakes: 8 catfish a day combined (channel, blue and flathead). Streams and the big reservoirs allow 15; the Mississippi River has no limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Iowa non-tidal

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

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

74Worth the tripToday 4 am to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

60°
40°50–80° · ideal 65°90°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

74Worth the tripToday 4 am to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

60°
42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

The water

  • Water temperature60°F
  • River28,600 cfs · steady · -11% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.33 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:25 am
  • Sunset today6:03 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:30 pm–6:30 pm

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.

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 tomorrow 2 pm
68Marginal
Marquette Park Beach (Gary, Miller Beach)155 mi · IndianaBest now until 7 am
96Go
Washington Park Beach (Michigan City)173 mi · IndianaBest now until 7 am
96Go
Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh)175 mi · WisconsinBest today 6 am–11 pm
80Worth the trip
Mississippi River (Grafton)199 mi · IllinoisBest today 11 am–8 pm
74Worth the trip
Green Bay (Bay Beach, Green Bay)218 mi · WisconsinBest now until tomorrow 2 pm
80Worth the trip

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.