Iowa DNR: Mississippi near 60 degrees keeps fall walleye and sauger bite slow to build

The Iowa DNR's fishing report for the week of Oct. 29 says Mississippi River water is unusually warm for late October. Temperatures are in the upper 50s to 60 degrees in the Bellevue and Guttenberg districts and 61 to 62 degrees in the main channel of Pools 16 through 19. Levels are low to steady.

At Pool 12 near Dubuque, the tailwater was about 4.8 feet and steady, with water at 59 degrees. Walleye were fair on three-way rigs with live bait on wing dams and in tailwaters, but the bite has been tough most days. Biologists say it needs cooler water to improve. Sauger were fair and mostly small, though some keepers are showing up. Crappie were fair on small jigs or minnows around backwater wood. Drum were fair on crawlers and blade baits, and bluegill, pike and perch were slow.

The Fairport district had no tailwater walleye or sauger reports yet and expects crappie to improve as water cools. Guttenberg reports clearer water, with fish still on fall feeding patterns around wood, rock and weed edges before they move to deep wintering areas.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Iowa DNR Fishing Report, week of Oct. 29, 2026, via KCHA News (Oct. 29, 2026).