Help with smallie streams with adequate water

[Rwren]

My streams here in S.W. Missouri are pitifully low now.  I normally catch plenty of smallies here, but it looks like I need to move up toward the rivers south of the St. Louis area, which I don't know much about.   Anyone ever been to East Central Iowa.  Read something about the Wapsipinicon River.  Suggestions welcomed.  We will be floating/fishing  in a canoe

Thanks,

[Al Agnew]

I don't know enough about Iowa rivers to give you good advice, but I do know there is some pretty good smallmouth fishing up there.  The only river I've fished is the Maquoketa, and I think it's typical of Iowa rivers...I floated a stretch of it one day and it was a complete waste of time, sand bottom and no water over a foot deep.  Then I waded another stretch upstream for a couple hours the next day and had good fishing and nice water.  So I think you have to know which stretches are good and which aren't.

[Gavin]

Just drove through Wisconsin, Minnesota &  Iowa. The Upper Mississippi & Yellow are at flood stage so is the Wapsipinicon, The Upper Iowa near Decorah looked fine, so did the Zumbro, and the Namekagon & St. Croix looked good. The Cedar River  near Cedar Falls looked really good but its big water. About the size of the Meramec near St. Louis. Did not fish for Smallmouth in Iowa but caught a couple wild brown trout on a creek near Decorah, caught some pike, smallmouth, and walleye on the Chippewa near Hayward. 

 

[ness]

3 hours ago, Gavin said:

but caught a couple wild brown trout on a creek near Decorah

What stream? I find myself up there about once a year. 

[Gavin]

Paint Creek between the Waterville, and the Yellow River State Forest. Those paper Iowa DNR County Trout maps are a big help. You can get them at the Visitor Info center in downtown Decorah.

 

 

[ness]

2 hours ago, Gavin said:

Paint Creek between the Waterville, and the Yellow River State Forest. Those paper Iowa DNR County Trout maps are a big help. You can get them at the Visitor Info center in downtown Decorah.

Haven fished Paint, but know of it. Agree on the map. Also have a trout streams of WInnehiek County that's helpful. 

[Gavin]

We found a little full hookup campground in Waterville, Pine Bluff CG. Its basically RV rent lots on the banks of Paint Creek. Ten rent spots, and 2-3 available for transient campers. It was really quiet. Only 1 other camp spot was occupied for the 3 nights we spent there. Tons of public access to the creek. Jim the owner is a super nice guy, but does not have a bathroom available so he wont rent to tent campers. If you want to tent camp on the paint go to  Yellow River State Forest just down the road. They have some nice tent camping spots. Not much luck on the Little Paint that runs through the CG though. Air clear and lots of catch & keep pressure. The Paint Creek valley, (especially the confluence of the Paint & Little Paint) is a very scenic spot.