Quad Cities Mississippi Backwaters.

[bigchris074]

I am looking for a little help. I am new to the quad cities area and would like to fish the backwaters but do not want know the river that well. I usually fish alone so I don't want to stumble onto a bad ice location looking for the popular areas. I fish for pan fish and walleye and would be very grateful if someone could point me in the right direction. I am also willing to travel a bit north and south of the QCA. Thanks for the help.

[Kevin23]

Post a couple more replies so you can PM (I think it is 5 replies needed?) and then send me a message (click on my profile name and then on the left side you will see "send message" or something similar to that.

[matzilla]

Kevin will probably fill you in on most of the backwater locations...don't forget that some of the harbors can provide some decent ice fishing

[wjs0311]

I too would be interested in some locations.

[cyclones30]

We're planning to move somewhere between Muscatine and Burlington when we're done w/ school. Any ideas on backwaters a little south of the QCA? I could (and have) spent hours looking at google maps and wondering where to go once we're in the area.

[jrjach75]

I am looking for a little help. I am new to the quad cities area and would like to fish the backwaters but do not want know the river that well. I usually fish alone so I don't want to stumble onto a bad ice location looking for the popular areas. I fish for pan fish and walleye and would be very grateful if someone could point me in the right direction. I am also willing to travel a bit north and south of the QCA. Thanks for the help.

Remember, as long as you are in an area directly connected to the river, you can be on either the Illinois or Iowa side with your license. That would include harbors, most of which will allow fishing.

I'm a bit to the North of you, but some of the more popular backwater areas near me are South Lake and Town Lake in Sabula IA, the causeway campground and Mickelsons landing in the Thomson IL area, and Willow bay in Clinton IA. You can probably get a lot of info if you search for any of those areas. Not sure on ice thicknesses but I do know people have been out on all of those places in the last week.

[oxdeleon]

The quad cities backwaters are less than desirable, its all silted in with most areas only 3' to 5' deep.   fish can be caught, but a lot of variables come into play.   Some area's get heavy with atv/snowmobile traffic on the weekends, so I usually try to fish on weekdays.

[bigchris074]

Thanks for the help everyone! You have all been helpful. Think I might start at rock creek north of Princeton.

[bigchris074]

Ohh and Kevin I am still trying to get the message abilities haha.

[00race]

I've never made it out to rock creek, how deep is it there?

[fish333]

I've never made it out to rock creek, how deep is it there?

From 3 to 6 foot, but more in to the 3 to 4 foot.

[Kevin23]

I've never made it out to rock creek, how deep is it theire?

Actual rock creek is 3-6... but sodus and shafton are more like 1-3'. Ive never caught anything but 3" bluegills and 8" bass there. 20-30 years ago I guess it was the best spot in the qc.

[jrjach75]

Actual rock creek is 3-6... but sodus and shafton are more like 1-3'. Ive never caught anything but 3" bluegills and 8" bass there. 20-30 years ago I guess it was the best spot in the qc.

That's about right, there is a small area just out from the campground that is a little deeper, maybe 5ft but it quickly gets very shallow. Not sure what the flood(s) this Spring did, but it could be silted in even more. I've not had much luck out in the actual Rock Creek in a couple years, but it's still probably worth a try.

[waterfowler04]

If you know where to go on the river you can slaughter them. Just gotta have some local knowledge.

[Kevin23]

Ill send ya a message when i can get to a pc. Too much typing for my phone.

[wmcox]

Send me a pm. I have a couple spots that produce day in and day out. May not be the biggest but there are good numbers. And its easily accessed.

[Kevin23]

Let me know if you need any more info. Sorry my PM was so long!

[matzilla]

been slow but productive lately...been fishing 7-15 fow on flats, drop offs and brush piles in backwaters

[cyclones30]

I'm surprised you can find depths like that. Seems like most places we've gone farther north (Pools 8 & 9) are 6' or less.