Mississippi River, Pool 12 Fishing
A navigation pool of the Mississippi River in Jo Daviess County.
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The Mississippi River Pool 12, measured out for Illinois anglers
The navigation pool known as Pool 12 of the Mississippi River borders Jo Daviess County. Its IDNR listing shows 11,182 acres. It is boundary water shared with Iowa and Missouri. Allow under a mile to reach Galena.
The IDNR ramp layer maps 3 boat ramps on it. Channel Catfish get a very good from IDNR on this water.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
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- Location (IDNR)Pool 12 of the Upper Mississippi River descends 26 miles from Lock and Dam 11 near Dubuque, Iowa to Lock and Dam 12 in Bellevue, Iowa (River Miles 583-557). Jo Daviess County, Illinois borders this reach.
- Description (IDNR)Pool 12 of the Upper Mississippi River is bound by steep forested bluffs and a natural river floodplain for most of its length.
- More from IDNRPool 12 has approximately 12,000 acres of diverse aquatic habitat including winding side channels, lakes, and sloughs, and is one of the few pools that does not have an open expanse of water in its lower reach. The Menominee, Sinsinawa, and Galena Rivers empty into Pool 12.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR-rated fish swimming in the Mississippi River Pool 12
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | Very Good | Channel Catfish catch rates were above average (0.11 Channel Catfish per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2025. Of the Channel Catfish captured, 75% were considered quality-sized (>16 inches). Channel Catfish are often… |
| Bluegill | Excellent | Bluegill catch rates were above average (2.55 Bluegill per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2025. Of the Bluegill captured, 48% were considered quality-sized (>5.9 inches). Recent fish overwintering restoration projects… |
| Black Crappie | Excellent | Black Crappie catch rates were above average (0.09 Black Crappie per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2025. Of the Black Crappie captured, 22% were considered preferred-sized (>9.8 inches) and 72% were considered… |
| Largemouth Bass | Excellent | Largemouth Bass catch rates were above average (1.38 Largemouth Bass per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2025. Of the Largemouth Bass captured, 16% were considered preferred-sized (15 inches), and 50% were considered… |
| White Crappie | Excellent | White Crappie catch rates were above average (0.19 White Crappie per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2025. Of the White Crappie captured, 26% were considered memorable-sized (>11.8 inches), 56% were considered… |
| Northern Pike | Very Good | Northern Pike appear occasionally in our samples (0.04 Northern Pike per 15 minutes of electrofishing in 2025). However, the Northern Pike fishery is strong in Pool 12. Of the Northern Pike captured, 78% were considered… |
| Smallmouth Bass | Very Good | Smallmouth Bass catch rates were below average (0.08 Smallmouth Bass per 15 minutes of electrofishing) in 2025, but Smallmouth Bass are considered a strong fishery in Pool 12. Of the Smallmouth Bass captured, 33% were… |
Species on Pool 12 of the Mississippi River come from IDNR pages and tables only.
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026. IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR-mapped ramps along the Mississippi River Pool 12
- Mississippi River – Pool 12 East Dubuque Boat Ramplaunch, Jo Daviess County
- Mississippi River – Pool 12 Ferry Landing Boat Ramplaunch, Jo Daviess County
- Mississippi River – Pool 12 Blanding Rec Area Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch, Jo Daviess County
Public ramps and state sites are the sure way onto Pool 12 of the Mississippi River.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Creel and length rules on the Mississippi River Pool 12
| Species group | Daily limit | Statewide rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator Gar | 1 per 24 hours | Harvest limit is 1 Alligator Gar per 24 hours. |
| Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish | no limit | There are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Other Sunfish | no limit | There are no harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Crappie (White, Black or Hybrid Crappie) | no limit | There are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Lake Sturgeon | no possession | Protected; No possession. |
| Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass | 6 (combined) | Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. In rivers and streams and their tributaries statewide, except for the Mississippi, Ohio (including Golconda Marina), and Wabash Rivers, the d |
| Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and their Hybrid | muskellunge 1, northern pike 3 | All Muskellunge and Muskellunge hybrids (Tiger Muskie) taken must be 36" in total length or longer, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. No more than 1 Muskellunge or Muskellunge hybrid (Tiger Muskie) may be taken per day, except as specified u |
| Paddlefish | 2 | Daily harvest limit is 2 Paddlefish. Please refer to Site Specific Regulations for the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa and the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri. |
| Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their Hybrids | no limit under 17 inches; 3 at 17 inches or longer | There are no daily harvest limits or minimum size limits for Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids, which are less than 17" in total length, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. For these fish 17" in total le |
| Trout and Salmon | 5 (combined) | Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate. |
| Walleye, Sauger, or their Hybrid | 6 (combined) | All Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid (Saugeye) taken must be 14" in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River, Wabash River, or except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. Daily harvest limit is 6 Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid, either |
The statewide rows are the default on Pool 12 of the Mississippi River.
Digest lines that single out the Mississippi River Pool 12
- All Fish:
- While trolling, sport fishermen must not use more than 2 poles and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures.
- Bluegill or Pumpkinseed Sunfish:
- 25 fish daily harvest limit, single or in aggregate.
- Large or Smallmouth Bass:
- 14 inch minimum length limit; 5 fish daily harvest limit.
- Northern Pike:
- 5 fish daily harvest limit.
Site-specific regulations on the IFishIllinois page, as printed, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Illinois and neighbour-state banks of the Mississippi River Pool 12
- Reciprocity (digest)Officers of Illinois and Iowa will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state when legally possessed and used by hook-and-line sport fishermen on the Mississippi River proper forming a common boundary between Illinois and Iowa, including its backwater lakes and sloughs contiguous with the flow of waters in the main channel; provided that you do not fish from or attach any device or …
- Reciprocity (digest)Officers of Illinois and Missouri will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state when legally possessed and used in the Mississippi River and its backwaters within the boundary of Missouri adjacent to the state of Illinois. Persons licensed in only one state may also fish in the other state’s portion of any oxbow lakes through which the IllinoisMissouri boundary passes, and may fish …
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.
Neighbouring pools of Mississippi River Pool 12
Mississippi River, Pool 13 sits near 30 miles away, the closest listed.
| Water | Distance | USGS gauges | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River, Pool 12 | 0 | 3 | Channel Catfish | |
| Mississippi River, Pool 13 | 30 miles southeast | 1 | 5 | Largemouth Bass |
| Mississippi River, Pool 14 | 48 miles south | 0 | 6 | Northern Pike |
| Mississippi River, Pool 15 | 60 miles south | 0 | 3 | Smallmouth Bass |
| Mississippi River, Pool 16 | 66 miles south | 0 | 4 | Bluegill |
USGS gauges, IDNR boat ramp layer and IDNR outlook lines; read November 4, 2026.
Around the Mississippi River Pool 12 shoreline
Other lakes an Illinois Tollway exit or two from Mississippi River Pool 12
- Hanover Lake18 miles
- Lake Le-Aqua-Na37 miles
Buy bait on the way to Mississippi River Pool 12
- Frentress Lake Marine Centermarina, East Dubuque, 5 miles
- Mid-Town Marinamarina, East Dubuque, 8 miles
- Remm Outdoors LLCsporting goods store, Scales Mound, 16 miles
- K & S Marine Incmarina, Apple River, 20 miles
Prairie State towns that sit near Mississippi River Pool 12
- Galena6 miles
- East Dubuque7 miles
- Stockton28 miles
- Warren29 miles
Illinois counties along Mississippi River Pool 12
Piscifun picks ahead of a trip to Pool 12 of the Mississippi River
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Lakes and river bends close to Mississippi River, Pool 12, in pictures
Photo: Gerry Dincher, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Seclusive Nature, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mike Goad, CC0 1.0
Mississippi River Pool 12: what Prairie State anglers want settled
Which Illinois counties does Pool 12 of the Mississippi River touch?
Pool 12 of the Upper Mississippi River descends 26 miles from Lock and Dam 11 near Dubuque, Iowa to Lock and Dam 12 in Bellevue, Iowa (River Miles 583-557). Jo Daviess County, Illinois borders this re Look around Jo Daviess County.
What stage is Pool 12 of the Mississippi River showing this week?
We found no USGS or NOAA gauge for it.
Does the IDNR layer show a ramp on Pool 12 of the Mississippi River?
Mississippi River – Pool 12 Blanding Rec Area Boat Ramp is one of 3 boat ramps.
Is there a length limit on Pool 12 of the Mississippi River?
Statewide digest row for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass: Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. The same row adds a separate rule for rivers and streams, quoted in the limits band. Extra digest rules apply, listed above.
Which permit do I carry on Pool 12 of the Mississippi River?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026). The Iowa and Missouri reciprocity rule is quoted above.
Which fish does IDNR expect anglers to find in Pool 12 of the Mississippi River?
The IDNR outlook gives channel catfish a very good, with bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, white crappie and northern pike also listed.
Where are crawlers sold on the way to Pool 12 of the Mississippi River?
Nearest in our shop file: Frentress Lake Marine Center, about 5 miles away,.
Is Pool 12 of the Mississippi River on private land?
Public access points are the safe bet.
What river page covers more than Pool 12 of the Mississippi River?
The Mississippi River has 15 pool pages; this is one.
Load the jon boat for Pool 12 of the Mississippi River
Every fee and limit is a click away.