I prefer the upper Mississippi, but considering I live in Muscatine, I fish upper pool (Andulusia), Muscatine, and lower pool (New Boston) and also Lake Odessa regularly. Spring and early summer were very good this year and lots of fish were caught. Muscatine "The Breaks" area was hit very hard particularly by Quad City folks. Lake Odessa was pretty free of fishermen, but there was a fish kill late this summer and I don't know how adversely it may be affected next year? Any of you that use boats should consider these areas, you won't regret it. I agree with Big Ken.

Mississippi back waters are really good right now.

I'm down in fairfield and there are a couple of lakes round here that are worth the drive. Sugema in Keosauqua is very nice, Belvadere in Sigourney is up n coming. Lots of action just not an abundunce of big fish yet. And lake geode surprised the hell outa me last fall i caught my pb of 8lb 6oz there.

I have not fished Sugema yet, but plan on it because it looks great and word is it is! I fished Belvedere last spring a couple of times and caught some really nice fish almost 5#. As far as lake Geode goes, I have fished that lake for over 40 years now and taken many large bass there. I wasn't sure how well it would do after they drained and refilled it, but my youngest son and I have been fishing there again the last couple of years and catch 5# fish there regularly. I use to catch 7# & 8# fish out of Lake Wapello near Drakevilles before they drained it but my understanding is it has not made a good recovery like Geode. I spoke with IDNR this week and Lake Darling near Washington Iowa has been filled or almost filled but haven't heard if they will stock any larger fish in it or not. As I said, 40 years ago the Iowa State Lakes were fantastic all across southern Iowa! Good luck to all you Iowa fishermen and gals, spring is now here!

Fished Belva Deer in Keokuk county with my brother in law a couple of years ago. Caught thirty bass in an 8 hour stretch. He caught a few less of course.