Mississippi River - Pool 14
Info / Counties: Rock Island, Whiteside
Family Friendly
No
Handicap Access
No
Boat Fishing
Yes
Boat Ramps
Yes
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
No
Skiing
No
Swimming
No
Trout Stocking
No
Zebra Mussels
Location 11038 acres
Pool 14 of the Upper Mississippi River descends 29.2 miles from Lock and Dam 13 near Clinton, Iowa to Lock and Dam 14 in Le Claire, Iowa (River Miles 522.5-493). Whiteside and Rock Island Counties, Illinois border this reach.
Fishing Outlook
Northern Pike
Very Good
Northern Pike appear occasionally in our samples therefore catch rates are low (0.01 Northern Pike per 15 minutes of electrofishing in 2024). However, the Northern Pike fishery is strong in Pool 14. Of the Northern Pike captured, 33% were considered preferred-sized (>28 inches) and 100% were considered quality-sized (>20.9 inches). Fish for Northern Pike in the spring (late April-May), casting spinnerbaits, bucktails, or spoons in 1-5 feet of water, often targeting vegetated edges or areas with submerged weeds.
Smallmouth Bass
Very Good
Smallmouth Bass catch rates were below average (0.08 Smallmouth Bass per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2024, but Smallmouth Bass are considered a strong fishery in Pool 14. Of the Smallmouth Bass captured, 41% were considered quality-sized (>11 inches) and 6% were considered memorable-sized (>16.9 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.
Channel Catfish
Very Good
Channel Catfish catch rates were the highest they have been in the past few years (0.13 Channel Catfish per 15 minutes of electrofishing in 2024). Of the Channel Catfish captured, 50% 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.
Bluegill
Excellent
Bluegill catch rates were the highest they have been in the past few years (2.43 Bluegill per 15 minutes of electrofishing in 2024). 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.
White Crappie
Excellent
White Crappie catch rates were below average (0.08 White Crappie per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2024. Of the White Crappie captured, 8% were considered memorable-sized (>11.8 inches), 62% were considered preferred-sized (>9.8 inches), and 77% 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.
Largemouth Bass
Excellent
Largemouth Bass catch rates were the highest they have been in the past few years (2.47 Largemouth Bass per 15 minutes of electrofishing in 2024). Of the Largemouth Bass captured, 12% were considered preferred-sized (15 inches), and 47% 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.
Black Crappie
Excellent
Black Crappie catch rates were just below average (0.04 Black Crappie per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2024. Of the Black Crappie captured, 42% were considered preferred-sized (>9.8 inches) and 92% 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.
Contact
Description
Pool 14 of the Upper Mississippi River contains approximately 11,000 acres of aquatic habitat including islands, side channels, sloughs, and backwaters. Most of the diverse habitat occurs in the upper portion of the pool (above Cordova, IL), bordering the industrial cities of Clinton, IA and Fulton, IL. The lower portion of the pool (below Cordova) is constricted by the Fulton-Rock Island gorge, which has reduced the river to a narrow steep channel with few islands and no floodplain. The Wapsipinicon River empties into Pool 14 a few miles north of Princeton, IA. Cattail Slough, Beaver Island, Steamboat Island, Schricker Slough, and Grant Slough offer excellent Largemouth Bass, crappie, and sunfish fishing. The Lock and Dam 13 tailwaters, wing dams along the main channel, and revetment banklines provide excellent Walleye, Sauger, White Bass, and Freshwater Drum fishing.
Access areas available for public use include: Fulton Marina (River Mile 520), Cattail Slough (River Mile 518), Albany City Ramp (River Mile 513.5), Cordova City Ramp (River Mile 503), Port Byron City Ramp (River Mile 498), and Rapids City Ramp (River Mile 496). Cattail Slough offers great bank fishing opportunities. US Army Corps of Engineers navigation maps for Pool 14 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, single 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 is 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
Additional Information
Illinois-Iowa Boundaries: Officers of Illinois and Iowa will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state when legally possessed and used by hook-and-line sport fishermen on the Mississippi River proper forming a common boundary between Illinois and Iowa, including its backwater lakes and sloughs contiguous with the flow of waters in the main channel; provided that you do not fish from or attach any device or equipment to the main bank of the Mississippi under the jurisdiction of the state where you are not licensed to fish. You can not fish in any tributaries of the opposite state. You must conform to the regulations of the state in which you are fishing unless the regulations of your licensing state are more restrictive, then you must conform with the more restrictive regulations. The center of the navigation channel is the boundary between Illinois and Iowa. Tournaments fishing Iowa waters must have Iowa tournament permits, even if launching from the Illinois side of the river.