Mississippi River - Pool 17
Location 7708 acres
Pool 17 of the Upper Mississippi River descends 20 miles from Lock & Dam 16 in Muscatine, Iowa to Lock and Dam 17 near New Boston, Iowa (River Miles 457-437). Rock Island and Mercer Counties, Illinois border this reach.
Fishing Outlook
Black Crappie
Excellent
Black Crappie catch rates were high (0.16 Black Crappie per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2024. Of the Black Crappie captured, 32% were considered preferred-sized (>9.8 inches) and 84% were considered quality-sized (>7.9 inches). Fish near stumps or brush piles for Black Crappie. Common bait types are small minnows, nightcrawlers, or jigs and spinner lures.
Smallmouth Bass
Good
Smallmouth Bass catch rates were below average (0.09 Smallmouth Bass per 15 minutes of electrofishing) but still high compared to previous years in 2024. Of the Smallmouth Bass captured, 100% were considered stock-sized (< 11 inches). Use Ned rigs, crayfish colored crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures around wing dams, current breaks, and rocky areas to successful fish for Smallmouth Bass.
Largemouth Bass
Good
Largemouth Bass catch rates were average in 2024 (1.03 Largemouth Bass per 15 minutes of electrofishing). Of the Largemouth Bass captured, 17% were considered preferred-sized (15 inches), and 63% were considered quality-sized (11.8 inches). Largemouth Bass prefer structure, so fish around submerged logs, weed beds, willows, or brush piles. Spinnerbaits are popular for catching Largemouth Bass on the river.
White Crappie
Excellent
White Crappie catch rates were above average (0.13 White Crappie per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2024. Of the White Crappie captured, 7% were considered memorable-sized (>11.8 inches), 57% were considered preferred-sized (>9.8 inches), and 64% were considered quality-sized (>7.9 inches). Fish near stumps or brush piles for White Crappie. Common bait types are small minnows, nightcrawlers, or jigs and spinner lures.
Bluegill
Excellent
Bluegill catch rates were high in 2024 (3.42 Bluegill per 15 minutes of electrofishing). Of the Bluegill captured, 24% were considered quality-sized (>5.9 inches). Bluegill provide an excellent fishing opportunity for anglers of all ages. Anglers can catch Bluegill in the warmer months of the year using a small hook and worms, crickets, or night crawlers as bait. Fish for Bluegill along shorelines with cover, such as rip-rap, weed beds, or brush piles.
Channel Catfish
Good
Channel Catfish catch rates were below average in 2024 (0.06 Channel Catfish per 15 minutes of electrofishing). Of the Channel Catfish captured, 71% were considered quality-sized (>16 inches). Channel Catfish are often found along banks of side channel or main channel borders in log jams or fallen trees, or near wing dams. Use stink bait fished on the river bottom with a weighted sinker to successfully catch Channel Catfish.
Contact
Description
Pool 17 of the Upper Mississippi River contains approximately 7,700 acres of aquatic habitat including islands, side channels, and backwaters. The Illinois side of the river is entirely rural with very few amenities. The Iowa DNR’s Lake Odessa Wildlife Management Area, and The Big Timber and Louisa Divisions of the Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge are located in Pool 17. Beginning at Pool 17 and extending downriver, agriculture levees border the length of the river restricting the river from the floodplain. As a result, diverse habitat has been reduced in these lower sections of the river. However, quality fishing still occurs within Pool 17. Eagle Fill, Coolegar Slough, Cleveland Slough, and Bogus Island offer excellent Largemouth Bass, crappie, and sunfish fishing. The Lock and Dam 16 tailwaters provide excellent Walleye, Sauger, White Bass, and Freshwater Drum fishing.
Access areas available for public use include: Blanchard Island Recreation Area (River Mile 450) and Crosses Corner (River Mile 447). US Army Corps of Engineers navigation maps for Pool 17 are available here.
The Upper Mississippi River descends 670 miles from St. Anthony Falls, Minnesota to Alton, Illinois. A total of 29 locks with accompanying dams were constructed around the 1930s to create a waterway suitable for navigation and thus sectioned the Upper Mississippi River into ‘pools’. Illinois borders 380 miles or 13 pools of the Upper Mississippi River, from Pool 12 near Dubuque, Iowa downstream to Pool 26 near Alton, Illinois. There the river transitions to the unimpounded or ‘open’ Middle Mississippi River, descending 630 miles to the confluence with the Ohio River at the southern tip of Illinois.
Site Regulations
All Fish: While trolling, sport fishermen must not use more than 2 poles and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures.
Bluegill or Pumpkinseed Sunfish: 25 fish daily harvest limit, singly or in aggregate.
Large or Smallmouth Bass: 14 inch minimum length limit; 5 fish daily harvest limit.
Northern Pike: 5 fish daily harvest limit.
Paddlefish: 33 inch (eye to fork) maximum length limit (all Paddlefish greater than or equal to 33 inches must be immediately released back to the Mississippi River); 2 Fish Daily Harvest Limit. Snagging for Paddlefish is permitted from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset daily, March 1 through April 15 within a 500 yard downstream limit below locks and dams on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa. No sorting allowed. Once the daily harvest limit of Paddlefish has been reached, snagging must cease. Legal-size Paddlefish may be released at the angler’s discretion once they are included in the Daily Harvest Limit. Gaffs may not be used to land Paddlefish
Recreational Use Restrictions: It shall be unlawful to trespass upon a designated waterfowl hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck and Canada goose season except in areas posted as open to fishing. It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Canada goose season.
Striped, White, Yellow, or Hybrid Striped Bass: 25 fish daily harvest limit; Statewide regulation limiting daily harvest to 3 fish greater than or equal to 17 inches in not in effect on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa.
Walleye: 15 inch minimum length limit; protected slot length with no possession of fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches.
Walleye or Sauger: 6 fish daily harvest limit with no more than 1 fish greater than or equal to 27 inches.
White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 25 fish daily harvest limit.
Yellow Perch: 25 fish daily harvest limit