Size
31ac
Boat Launch
Carry-in Launch
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
Species in Martelle Lake
Largemouth bass
Perch
Crappie
Smallmouth bass
Northern pike
Bluegill
Rock bass
White bass
Overview
Martelle Lake Map
Fishing Regulations
Special Fishing Regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.
Special Species Regulations
- Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Cisco And Whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Lake Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
- Muskellunge And Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1.
- Northern Pike: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 26” and the daily bag limit is 2.
- Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
- Rock, Yellow, And White Bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Rough Fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Round Goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
- Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
- Shovelnose Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Trout: See specific regulations: See Trout Regulations
- Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 15” and the daily bag limit is 3.
- White Perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
Features
Pool 10 will be anything but a disappointment to the person seeking adventure. Exploring the little-disturbed pools bounded by the rugged bluffs of northeast Iowa and fascinating small towns such as McGregor, Iowa and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The river and area lakes contain more than 100 fish species which will hopefully provide plenty of action. Prepare yourself for the mystery of catching one if not many of these 100 species.
Forage
Gizzard shad are the primary forage species. Other species include silver chub, speckled chub, bullhead minnow, emerald shiner, river shiner, spotfin shiner, spottail shiner, juvenile panfish.
Seasonal Movements
Walleye begin to concentrate below the Dam 9 during the late winter months through ice out in March. As the water temperature rises into the 40’s, walleye move upstream from winter areas into backwater areas for spawning. Spawning takes place when the temperature is between 47 and 51 degrees, in April. White bass concentrate below dams and spillways as the walleye run ends, in late April.
Most largemouth bass are found in backwaters until mid-June since these are the first areas to warm. When the backwaters warm largemouth move to side channels and main channel borders where they can be found along riprap. Some of the largemouth summer in tributary streams. When the water cools bass move to low-current areas, in or near backwater complexes. Northern Pike seasonal movements are the same as Largemouth bass.
Weather
70°Feels like 70°
--
60°
--60°--
--
0 mph
Southeast
0 in
Rain
30.03 inHg
Rising
MondayMo
-- / 60°
TuesdayTu
82° / 64°
WednesdayWe
83° / 62°
ThursdayTh
83° / 57°
FridayFr
83° / 62°
SaturdaySa
82° / 65°
Moon Phase
August 25, 2026
93% Illumination
waxing gibbous, getting brighter
TuesdayTu08/25
WednesdayWe08/26
ThursdayTh08/27
FridayFr08/28
SaturdaySa08/29
SundaySu08/30
MondayMo08/31
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Top Fish Species
Largemouth bass
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
Understanding Abundance
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Species Lengths
