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Fishing Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton): what the data says
Bellevue to Fulton: the widest pool on the Upper Miss. backwater largemouth, slab bluegills and wing-dam walleye. The river tops out around 25 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Largemouth Bass fishing at Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Spring Lake backwaters (Savanna), a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Bluegill fishing at Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 25 ft. Spring Lake backwaters (Savanna) is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring bluegill. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Crappie fishing at Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)
Spring crappie on Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton) hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 10 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Elk River backwater stumps, a standing timber / brush in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Walleye fishing at Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 25 ft. Maquoketa River mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring walleye. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Sauger fishing at Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)
Start shallow in spring: sauger sit in 4 to 18 ft that time of year. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 25 ft. Maquoketa River mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring sauger. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | dusk | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
White Bass fishing at Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)
In spring, white bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Maquoketa River mouth: a inflow / creek mouth around 10 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday | see map |
Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton) also holds northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer), channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer), flathead catfish (7 to 25 ft in summer), freshwater drum (7 to 25 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Lock & Dam 12 tailrace (Bellevue): creek channel, around 22 ft
- Dam No. 13 tailrace: dam tailrace, around 21 ft
- Submersible Earth Dike tailrace: dam tailrace, around 21 ft
- Dam No. 12 tailrace: dam tailrace, around 21 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.1): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.0): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Wing dam row (mile 33.7): wing dam, around 15 ft
- Wing dam row (mile 0.0): wing dam, around 15 ft
- Wing dam row (mile 0.6): wing dam, around 15 ft
- Wing dam row (mile 1.2): wing dam, around 15 ft
- Wing dam (mile 1.9): wing dam, around 15 ft
- Wing dam row (mile 3.7): wing dam, around 15 ft
- Wing dam row (mile 4.4): wing dam, around 15 ft
Common questions
How deep is Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)?
Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton) is about 25 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)?
Anglers target largemouth bass, walleye, white bass, sauger, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton).
Where is the best fishing spot on Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)?
Spring Lake backwaters (Savanna) is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton)?
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Lost Grove Lake · Lambach Lake · Railroad Lake · Lake of the Hills · Central Park Lake · Maquoketa River
See how Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Iowa · best walleye lakes in Iowa · best white bass lakes in Iowa · best northern pike lakes in Iowa
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