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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
Greene to Shell Rock: rocky riffle-pool water with smallmouth and walleye. The river tops out around 8 ft. This chart interpolates between a real shoreline and a known maximum depth. It will point you at likely water, but it is not a navigation product. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The outline encloses 549 acres, worked by 51.1 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 15.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Tip to tip the water measures near 17.2 mi with a 1.9-mi widest point. Butler County claims this one. Avenue of the Saints Pond sits 10 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. Start at Clarksville riffles. It's a rock pile holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Clarksville riffles (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Clarksville riffles (5 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Clarksville riffles (5 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Clarksville riffles (5 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Spring walleye concentrate at Lowhead weir tailrace, a prime-rated dam tailrace around 7 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Lowhead weir tailrace (7 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Lowhead weir tailrace (7 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Lowhead weir tailrace (7 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Lowhead weir tailrace (7 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
When the water first warms, channel catfish slide up into 2 to 8 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 8 ft, winter 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Greene dam: a creek channel around 6 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 16.2) (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Greene dam (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Greene dam (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Greene dam (6 ft) |
Early season common carp use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 8 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 8 ft. The chart's best answer is Tailout eddy (mile 16.2) — eddy pocket, 4 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Lowhead weir tailrace (7 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | midday | Greene dam (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 16.2) (4 ft) |
Count 15 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Lowhead weir tailrace, sits near 7 ft.
Access data: Iowa DNR — Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Iowa waters are set by the Iowa DNR — and special regulations can apply to Shell Rock River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Iowa fishing regulations →
Shell Rock River is about 8 ft (2 m) deep 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.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, common carp on Shell Rock River.
Clarksville riffles is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For smallmouth 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.
Fishing on Shell Rock River is regulated by the Iowa DNR. Check the official Iowa regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Avenue of the Saints Pond 10 mi · George Wyth Lake 24 mi · Rudd Lake 24 mi · South Prairie Lake 25 mi · Green Belt Lake 27 mi · Beeds Lake 28 mi · Harold Getty Lake 30 mi · Meyers Lake 31 mi · Upper Pine Lake 35 mi · Lower Pine Lake 36 mi · Bluebill Lake 38 mi · Lake Hendricks 40 mi
See how Shell Rock River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Iowa · best walleye lakes in Iowa · best channel catfish lakes in Iowa · best common carp lakes in Iowa
Browse all Iowa fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.