WATER CONDITIONS: Download the Mississippi River fishing guides and navigation charts to locate special fishing areas.
Click on the hyperlinks below to see more info on water levels:
(Illinois Department of Natural Resources Water Levels...realtime...
http://il.water.usgs.gov/nwis-w/IL/datasum.components/owrtable.cgi
(St.Louis Corps District Water Levels)..........................
http://mvs-wc.mvs.usace.army.mil/
(Rock Island Corps District Water Levels)...realtime............
water_mvr_usace_army.htm
(USGS Water Levels)...realtime..................................
USGS water conditions.htm
FISHING AREA: Upper Mississippi River-Pool 12 -
WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels in the river system are slowly falling in the northern part of the watershed; is above flood stage in the middle portion; and raising on the southern end as rain water flows downstream.
FISHING AREA: Upper Mississippi River-Pool 13 - Savanna Area
WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are at to 9.2 feet; normal pool is 11.0 feet. Fish have lots to eat with the recent mayfly hatch. Be safe! Rain showers received again recently.
FISH: Crappie ... Fair; Anglers are using minnows, wax worms, and some night crawlers near the railroad bridge.
FISH: Bluegill ... Fair; Offer a cricket or wax worm under a bobber.
FISH: Catfish ... Fair to Good; Stink bait, night crawlers, and leeches are producing along the shorelines, near the boat docks, and in the coves.
FISH: Walleye ... Fair; Anglers still catching a few; look for fish along rocky shorelines, around islands, near woody structures and along the banks; offer them a jig with a minnow attached.
FISH: Carp ... Good; Worms are producing along the shorelines and backwater areas.
NOTE: Reported by Mary Lou at Milo and Beavers in Savanna who is very friendly and helpful with current fishing information.
BEST FISHING AREA: Mississippi River-Pool 14-15 - East Moline
WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are raising a little from recent rainfall. The Rock River at Moline is steady at 9.2 feet. Some fishing.
FISH: Crappie ... Fair to Good; Fish are being taken from area Creeks by using mostly minnows and a few with wax worms.
FISH: Bluegill ... Good; Fish are biting on minnows and worms under a bobber in area Creeks; fishing success is decent.
FISH: Channel Catfish ... Good; Nice sized fish are primarily being taken with stink bait or worms from the rock river holes. Shallows are producing during later evening hours.
FISH: Flathead Catfish ... Fair to Good; Anglers are successful on the Mississippi River with crayfish.
NOTE: Lake Storey in this area is an awesome Muskie Lake with documented catches of longer than 50 inches.
NOTE: Reported by Dave at Booze and Bait in East Moline. Check out their fishing supplies soon. Get your tackle boxes stocked so you are ready to fish!
FISHING AREA: Mississippi River -Pool 14 -15 - Rock Island Area
WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are high at 10.0 and raising on the Mississippi; the Rock River is also full. Clarity is dirty.
FISH: Crappie & Bluegill ... Fair to Good; Fish are biting on Wax worms at Hennipen Canal in the Milan area.
FISH: Striped Bass ... Slow; Anglers are successful using spinner baits during night time hours.
FISH: Walleye ... Fair; Sunset Marina is producing a few with small jigs and twister tails; best during the night hours.
FISH: Catfish ... Fair to Good; Lots of activity; look for fish at the mouths of creeks, off points, or near snags, brush, and laydowns.
NOTE: Reported by Croegaerts Great Outdoors at Rock Island which has needed fishing supplies for your fishing trip.
FISHING AREA: Mississippi River -Pool 18 - Gladstone Area
WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are at 7.5 feet and raising; scattered rain showers in the area most of the week.
FISH: Catfish ... Fair; Cut bait is doing the best; dip baits and night crawlers are also being used; along the banks and in the tribs are the best this week; some are also fishing in the main river.
NOTE: Reported by Dry Dock at Gladstone. They have the fishing supplies and bait. Check it out!
FISHING AREA: Mississippi River -Pool 21 - Quincy Area
WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are at 20.0 feet and dropping some; flood stage is 15.0 feet. Clarity is murkey and muddy.
FISH: Crappie ... Fair; Angling success has been off and on depending on weather conditions; hot temperatures make a difference.
FISH: Catfish ... Good; A few fish are being taken on stink bait and worms from the backwater areas.
NOTE: Reported by Wiemelts Bait shop in Quincy. He has fishing supplies and fishing license. Stop by soon!
FISHING AREA: Mississippi River - Lock & Dam 21
WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are up to 20.0 feet but dropping; 17 feet is flood stage. Slower angling activity this week due to the 5 to 6 inches of rain received.
FISH: Crappie ... Slow; Anglers are fishing for them by trolling deep with a jig and minnow.
FISH: Bluegill ...Fair; Anglers continue using wax worms and red wigglers under a bobber.
FISH: Bass ... Pretty Good; Decent catches are being made with crankbaits doing the best job; other baits producing are frogs running across the surface, and 10 inch worms in 6 feet deep water.
FISH: Catfish ... Fair to Good; Success is fairly decent with Sonny's stink bait or livers in creeks and backwater areas.
NOTE: Siloam Springs is a great local lake to fish.
NOTE: Reported by Game Masters in Quincy. They have friendly service and fishing supplies. Check them out to fill your tackle boxes.
FISHING AREA: Mississippi River - Pool 26 - 25
WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are dropping and are at 31.7 feet at the Winfield Dam; water coming down from the Clarksville Dam which is 31.2 feet; lots of current; lack of access to the river has slowed fishing activities; boat ramps are covered; Levels at Lock & Dam 26 are at 25.0 feet; 19.0 feet is flood stage.
FISH: Bluegill... Fair to Good; Ponds and lakes best using wax worms and little yellow and white spinner baits.
FISH: Catfish ... Fair to Good; Look for them in the backwater areas; anglers using stink bait and night crawlers fishing from the banks. Stable water levels needed for improved success.
NOTE: Reported by Flood Field: See them for fishing supplies and bait.
FISHING AREA: Mississippi River - Upper Pool 25 - Lower Pool 26 - Grafton Area
WATER CONDITIONS: River levels are up to 24.0 feet and raising. Lots of rainfall recently in this area. Be Careful and safe!
FISH: Catfish ... Fair to Good; A few are being taken from the backwater areas and creeks; anglers fishing off banks with night crawlers and stink bait.
FISH: Carp ... Good; Backwater areas are producing on night crawlers!
NOTE: Reported by Dave Cassens Bait Shop at Grafton. Fresh bait and needed fishing supplies available.
FISHING AREA: Mississippi River - Lower Pool 26 - Alton
WATER CONDITIONS: River levels are up and down; this week it's 25.0 feet and raising; stable levels are needed for improved fishing success; clarity is muddy; some boat ramps are still under water; flood stage is 21 feet. Please wear a life jacket and use common sense when near the river; diligently watch and be aware of changing weather conditions.
FISH: Crappie ... Fair; minnows and jigs are still popular; look for fish deep water; lakes and ponds best.
FISH: Bluegill ... Fair to Good; Lots of crickets and red wigglers being used; area ponds and lakes best.
FISH: Channel Catfish ... Fair to Good; Fishermen have reeled in a 10 and a 24 pounder off the banks recently using night crawlers and skip jack for bait.
FISH: Blue Catfish ... Fair to Good; A BIG ONE!! Fisherman pulled a 130 pound Blue Catfish from the Missouri River early Tuesday morning using a Penn 320 GT2 reel and 40 pound test line baited with Asian Carp cut bait. A world record may be set by the monster fish. It was 57 inches long with a girth of 45 inches.
NOTE: Reported by Butch at Bluff City Tackle at Alton - they have everything you need for a successful fishing trip. Go see Butch at Bluff City Tackle in Alton for current fishing information. He is very helpful and friendly.
FISHING AREA: Lower Mississippi River - Wood River Area
WATER CONDITIONS: River Water levels are not bad; right at flood stage.
FISH: Bass ... Fair; Soft plastics; split tail jigs; craws jigs and frog baits are being used this past week.
FISH: Catfish ...Very Good; The city ponds are very good with night crawlers; neon night crawlers are very popular; cut bait has slowed a little; Sonny's stink bait is still selling.
NOTE: Beautiful Gordon Moore City park in Alton is a fabulous place to catch catfish! The urban fishing program is stocking channel catfish every two weeks.
NOTE: Reported by Dawn at Mallory Sports in Wood River; a great place to get all of your fishing gear.
FISHING AREA: Lower Mississippi River - Belleville Area
WATER CONDITIONS: Levels are still up. The weather temperatures have been hot! Levels in St Louis are at 31.3 feet and raising again; flood stage is 30.0 feet. Chester is 31.0 feet and raising.
FISH:. Striped and White Bass ... Good; Anglers reported catching 2 to 3 pound fish from area ponds with crankbaits this past week.
FISH: Catfish ... Good; An angler reported reeling in a 45 pound Blue from the Kaskaskia River recently; night time fishing best.
NOTE: Reported by Nancy at Poppy's Bait & Tackle in Belleville. A great place to get bait and fishing supplies! Stop by soon!
FISHING AREA: Lower Mississippi River - Anna/Jonesboro Area
WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are up; at the Theves gage site they are at 32.5 and raising; with 33.0 feet being flood stage; crickets and night crawlers are selling at the bait shop, but fishing activity has been a little slower recently.
FISH: Bluegill ... Fair to Good; Mostly crickets continue to be sold at the bait shop! Fish area farm ponds, lakes, strip pits, and backwater sloughs from the banks or a boat.
FISH: Largemouth Bass ... Fair to Good; Anglers are catching a few fish near brush or cover with plastics and crankbaits; early morning and later evening hours best.
FISH: Catfish ... Fair to Good; Look for fish with large minnows and night crawlers; still in fairly shallow water of backwater areas.
FISH: Carp ... Good; Put a night crawler on the bottom of fairly shallow water depths in backwater areas.
NOTE: The Mississippi River is on the top ten best fishing list for pan fish in Illinois. The 6,990 acre Williamson county Lake has lots of crappie.
NOTE:. Reported by Chris at Trail of Tears Junction at Anna-Jonesboro. The bait shop for that area. Check them out for needed tackle box supplies.