Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch)
river in Iowa
The Upper Mississippi along NE Iowa (Lansing/Guttenberg/Dubuque reaches) is a premier warmwater river for fly fishing smallmouth, largemouth, muskies and panfish, with many public launches and wing dams for sight- and current-driven fishing.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
What's working on Mississippi River
- 01Good to excellent fall fishing conditions on the Upper Mississippi River.
- 02Cooling water temperatures and stable flows are promoting active feeding.
- 03Predatory species are targeting baitfish, crayfish, and leeches.
- 04Panfish are actively feeding on smaller invertebrates and baitfish.
- 05Focus fishing efforts in shallow bay areas with rock and weed beds, and off-channel for Smallmouth Bass.
- 06Employ a slower retrieve with pauses for streamers and crayfish patterns.
- 07Exercise caution due to potentially low water levels and submerged rock formations outside the main channel.
Past reports week by week
8 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Game Changer
A highly effective articulated baitfish imitation for trophy bass, pike, and musky, especially productive when stripped at varying depths in cooling fall waters.
Buy at AmazonMuskie Fly
Excellent choice for targeting Muskellunge, Pike, and Walleye during the fall as they aggressively feed on larger baitfish in preparation for winter.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
A versatile streamer pattern that effectively mimics leeches and baitfish, a consistent food source for a wide range of predatory species including bass, walleye, crappie, and pike year-round, especially in fall.
Balanced Leech (Black)
Leeches are a staple forage for various fish including Crappie, Bluegill, Walleye, and Muskellunge, and this pattern is highly effective in stillwater areas common in the Mississippi River.
Perch Pattern
Yellow Perch are a common forage fish in the Mississippi River, making this pattern ideal for Walleye, Pike, and Muskellunge actively preying on baitfish in the fall.
Hellgrammite Fly
Hellgrammites are a consistent food source in rocky river environments, making this an effective subsurface pattern for Smallmouth Bass and Walleye in the fall.
Clouser Minnow (Bass) (Chartreuse/White)
A universal baitfish imitation that is particularly deadly for active Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and Northern Pike in the cooler, clearer fall water.
Crayfish (Fly) (Olive/Rust)
Crayfish are a primary and abundant food source for Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye in the rocky areas of the Mississippi River, making this pattern crucial for fall fishing.
Crappie Jig Fly
Perfect for targeting Crappie and Bluegill, which become more concentrated around submerged structure in the fall as water temperatures drop.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Hare's Ear Nymph
A versatile general searching nymph that imitates various active aquatic insects, appealing to opportunistic feeders like Bluegill, Crappie, and even smaller Walleye in the fall.
Where to fish and who to ask
Guttenberg City Park Access
City launch and shoreline structure offering access to deep eddies and flats for streamer and topwater work.
Lansing Riverfront Park
Popular wading and boat launch area near Lansing—good access to current seams and wing dams.
Lock and Dam No. 9 / Pool Area
Structure fishery and tailrace/wing-dam areas concentrate forage and attract bass and predators.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Root River Rod Co
Rod & Rivet
Northeast Iowa Fly Fishing
Driftless on the Fly
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Iowa season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Quick answers
Common questions about Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch).
What flies work best on Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch)?
Our top scored fly patterns for Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch) right now are Game Changer (80% confidence), Clouser Minnow (Bass) (Chartreuse/White) (80% confidence), Scud (Pink/Orange) (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch)?
Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch) holds Muskellunge, Bluegill, Crappie, Walleye. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch)?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch) are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch) fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch) each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.