Looking for a good fishing lake for me and my son.

We move to Davenport,Iowa from Nothern Wisconsin and have a hard time finding a good lake to catch some fish.

Thank you for the help

Im from SW IA but Ive been over that way a few times. For walleyes your best bet is right under your nose the mississippi. It starts to get good in late sept then better in Oct. If a lake is needed Coraville is a federal impoundment great boatramps.Im not sure what you fish for. Check the iadnr fishing report it will list whats going on and where. welcome to IA.spampy.

[Bob Jensen]

I second Spampy's suggestion regarding the Mississippi. That can be great water for walleyes, and I have heard the smallmouth bass are starting to form a pretty good population. Learn how to fish the Mississippi and you will almost always have some success.

Go farther west to Lake Rathbun for walleyes and crappies. Rathbun can be really good or really not-so-good, but when it's good, it is great.

Also seconding Spampy, welcome to Iowa.

Best Fishes,

Bob Jensen

[Ted]

You might want to try a couple of smaller lakes like lake McBride next to Coralville and Pleasant Creek just NW of Cedar Rapids. Lots of bass, crappies, catfish, and some walleye. I prefer Pleasant Creek. At Coralville you will find catfish, bass, crappies, and few walleyes.

Thank you for the help my son will be happy.

Hey "New in Iowa",
First of all, welcome to the Hawkeye State!!The other posts were right on about the big Miss. being a great fishery, but it can be fickle as well..First thing I would do is head over to the Arsenal Island to the Corps of Engineers offices and for about 7 or 8 bucks get the Mississippi River Navigational map..It will give you invaluable information not only on how to get around on the river (places to go and NOT to go), but will also show you all of the boat ramps and roads near the river from St. Paul to St. Louis..This will include all of the dams and bridges where the best walleye fishing can be found from fall through spring..
The next best tip I can give you is the phone number of a great little bait shop here in Muscatine (30 miles downstream from you) where you will get accurate info on what's biting where and on what..The place is called Muscatine Island Bait and Tackle and they have had their number published in In-Fisherman for a source of local info..Phone number is 563-264-3174 and ask for John..You'll get the straight stuff, or my name's not
buzzer IA

Mississippi is on of the best fisheries in the state, however boater saftey is a must for anyone not use to the river. It can be the calmist or the roughest body of water in the state. I have fished the river for 15 years and have seen and experenced many dangeres situations. Hook-up with a river rat and learn the water.