Today's Best Fishing Times for
Dubuque, United States ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸

Solunar
Weather
7-Day
Spots

How to use our fishing calendar

Planning your next fishing trip in Dubuque, United States ? Today is a good day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...

  • Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
  • Use the forecast calendar section to sync bite times with major weather changes.
  • Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
  • Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.

Dubuque, Iowa offers outstanding Mississippi River fishing, with a mix of big-river main channel, backwaters, and tributaries that hold gamefish year-round. Anglers come to Dubuque to target walleyes, sauger, smallmouth and largemouth bass, panfish, catfish, and seasonal rough fish runs in a uniquely diverse Pool 11 and 12 fishery. With abundant structure, current seams, and shallow sloughs, Dubuque is a prime destination for both boat and shore fishing on the Upper Mississippi. read more...

Sun and Moon Times

The sun will be at it's highest point at . Today we have 15:17 hours of daylight. For shallow water fishing the twilight periods are often the most productive fishing times, especially on days when a major or minor time will coincide with twilight. In low light conditions predators have better cover for their ambush and often hunt in shallow water.
  • Nautical Twilight begins:
    Sunrise:
  • Sunset:
    Nautical Twilight ends:
  • Moonrise:
  • Moonset:
  • Moon over:
  • Moon under:
  • Visibility:
    97%
  • Full Moon - 97% illuminated Full Moon
Next New Moon in ~13 days on 14th July
Full Moon is generally a productive time for fishing - especially night fishing. Bright nights mean that many predators feed more actively during the night. During full moon the gravitational pull is in line with the gravitational pull of the sun, affecting all wildlife and increasing feeding behaviour.
  • Distance to earth:
    400,943 km
    Proximity:
    11.2 %
We can compare the current moon distance to it's minimum and maximum distance from earth and express that as proximity. A high proximity means the moon is closer to earth. At 50% it would be at it's mean distance. A high proximity causes big tides, currents and has a direct effect on increased bite times. A proximity greater than 90% indicates a super moon.
Moon Phases for Dubuque
Full Moon
Mon, 29 Jun
New Moon
Tue, 14 Jul
Full Moon
Wed, 29 Jul

Solunar Bite Times

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Best fishing times:
  • major Time:
    01:14 am - 03:14 am
  • minor Time:
    05:43 am - 07:43 am
  • major Time:
    01:28 pm - 03:28 pm
  • minor Time:
    09:14 pm - 11:14 pm
All times are displayed in the America/Chicago timezone and are automatically adjusted to daylight savings. The current timezone offset is -5 hours. Green and yellow areas indicate the best fishing times (major and minor). The center shows the current moon phase which is a Full Moon at 97% lumination. According to the Solunar Theory, today is a good day for fishing, but you need to cross check this with the current weather forecast for a final decision. Currently we have a major fishing time. The next best fishing time ( ) starts in -4 hour and -34 minute. The gray time indicator displays the current local time.
America/Chicago • Wed, 1 Jul 02:08 • 42.501, -90.665
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Current Fishing Weather

Updating Weather Infos...

7 Day Fishing Weather

The weather plays an important role in fishing. Wind strenght and direction often determine where you can fish and where fish might be holding. Although high pressure is usually good for fishing, steep pressure changes often trigger feeding frenzies and are great times for fishing. Of course temperature has also a strong effect on fishing and comfort on the water. So make sure to cross check the weather forecast with the solunar fishing times to determine the best times to go fishing. The graph below shows you the 3 hourly weather progression over the next 7 days. Scroll the graph left or right to see more.
Selected Weather Station: Dubuque, US
Temperature
Wave Height
Swell Height
Wind
Pressure
Humidity
Cloudcover
Rain Precipitation
UV Index
Retrieving Weather...

7 Day Fishing Forecast Calendar
Date Major Bite Times Minor Bite Times Sun Moon Moonphase
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Full Moon
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S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
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S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
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S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
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S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
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S: 		Third Quarter Moon moon phase
Third Quarter Moon
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Third Quarter Moon
*bold times indicate best fishing times around sunrise or sunset

Fishing Overview Dubuque

Fishing in Dubuque, Iowa centers on the Mississippi River, especially Pools 11 and 12 around the Dubuque waterfront, locks and dams, and sprawling backwater complexes. This stretch offers classic big-river structure: wing dams, main-channel ledges, side channels, flooded timber, and shallow grass beds. Each habitat fishes differently across the seasons, so success comes from matching depth, current and presentation to what the river is doing that week.

Spring is prime time for walleye and sauger in Dubuque. As water temperatures climb into the 40s, fish stack along current breaks near the dams, channel edges, and mouths of side channels. Vertical jigging with a 1/4–3/8 oz jig tipped with a minnow or plastic paddle tail is a go-to tactic. Focus on subtle drops just off the main current and short inside bends. When the river runs high and dirty, move closer to shore into protected eddies and flooded backwaters where visibility and current are more manageable.

Early summer brings excellent bass and panfish action in backwaters and side channels. Largemouth bass prowl weed edges, laydowns, and riprap; smallmouth bass concentrate on rocky current seams, wing dams, and points with hard bottom. For smallmouth, cast crankbaits, tubes or Ned rigs across current breaks and down the faces of wing dams. For largemouth, pitch Texas-rigged plastics, swim jigs, and frogs to emergent vegetation and wood cover in quieter water. Bluegill, crappie and yellow perch school around submerged brush and along deeper weedlines; slip bobbers with small jigs and live bait are simple, high-percentage presentations.

Mid to late summer on the Dubuque stretch often means shifting deeper as river levels stabilize and vegetation tops out. Walleyes slide to the tips of wing dams and deeper channel edges. Three-way rigs with live bait or pulling crankbaits upstream along the face of wing dams are consistent producers. Early and late in the day, cast crankbaits or swimbaits across shallow rock for bonus smallmouth. During muggy evenings, surface lures and buzzbaits shine for largemouth bass in backwaters, especially around matted vegetation and cut banks.

Catfish are a staple around Dubuque all season. Channel cats favor outside bends with a mix of sand and rock, along with the upstream edges of wing dams and scour holes below them. Use cut bait or stinkbait on slip sinker rigs, positioning your boat just upstream and slightly to the side of the prime seam. Flathead catfish take over the night shift—target heavy wood, deep outside bends, and logjams with live bait. Precise anchor placement so baits sit on the edge of current, not directly in it, is usually the difference-maker.

Fall concentrates fish and often provides the year’s best bite. As water cools, walleyes return to current breaks near the dams and deeper rock structures, hitting jigs and slowly trolled crankbaits. Smallmouth bass feed aggressively along rocky banks and wing dams; downsized cranks and jigs dragged slowly on bottom are effective. Panfish school tighter around deeper wood and channel edges in backwaters—use electronics to locate them, then hover with vertical jigs.

In winter, when safe ice forms in protected areas around Dubuque, backwaters and sloughs can produce steady bluegill, crappie, and perch action. Focus on basin areas, old channel cuts, and depressions in 6–15 feet. Small tungsten jigs tipped with plastics or spikes catch numbers of fish; subtle moves to stay on roaming schools are important. On any open-water days, slow presentations for walleyes along deep channel edges and tailwater areas can pay off.

Throughout the year, success on the Mississippi at Dubuque hinges on reading current, water level and clarity. Start each trip by scouting a mix of main-channel, side-channel and backwater spots, adjust jig weights to just tick bottom, and let the river’s flow tell you where to fish and how fast to present your baits.

Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Dubuque area

Harbours and Marinas can often times be productive fishing spots for land based fishing as their sheltered environment attracts a wide variety of bait fish. Similar to river mouths, harbour entrances are also great places to fish as lots of fish will move in and out with the rising and falling tides. There are 5 main harbours in this area.

Dubuque Harbor - 0.72937961467km, Dove Harbor - 0.91037085106km, Dubuque Yacht Basin - 1.65949654407km, Schmitt Harbor - 1.8375491167km, Mid-Town Marina - 2.13243483156km

We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Dubuque. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.

Dubugue Harbor - 0.70596929053km , Dubuque Harbor - 0.72937961467km , Dove Harbor - 0.91037085106km , Dubuque Yacht Basin - 1.65949654407km , Schmitt Harbor - 1.8375491167km , Mid-Town Marina - 2.13243483156km , Hamm Island - 2.29179644554km , Bee Branch - 3.4556938502km , Middle Fork Catfish Creek - 3.58224971353km , North Fork Catfish Creek - 3.82000599748km , Catfish Creek - 3.95756165765km , South Fork Catfish Creek - 4.00834671543km , Granger Creek - 4.05874931467km , Stumpf Island - 4.40624431377km , Lock and Dam 11 - 4.60193513651km , Switzer Lake - 4.71386964957km , Lock and Dam Number 11 - 4.93304713067km , Mississippi River Lock Dam Number Eleven - 4.93538898129km , O'Leary Lake - 4.97123047401km , Island 228 - 5.81123160961km , Fair Play Creek - 6.00799211017km , Sunfish Lake - 6.26385725712km , Frentress Lake - 6.36706547418km , Crooked Slough - 6.94157380911km , Hollow Branch - 7.3954348064km , Sinnipee Creek - 7.63467730041km , Frentress Lake Slough - 7.83957795568km , Menominee River - 8.22379929151km , Kieler Creek - 8.56045268777km , Louisburg Creek - 8.56045268777km , Little Maquoketa River - 8.65218633218km , John Deere Marsh - 8.95584349726km , Cloie Branch - 8.97172846548km , Lake Eleanor Dam - 9.35689504836km , Shawon Dasse Slough - 9.85155097143km , Ninemile Island - 10.52400273886km , Molo Slough - 10.65215421725km , Green Lake - 10.82062851173km , North Fork Little Maquoketa River - 11.06371943157km , Stone Lake - 12.08947224966km

Harbours and Marinas Beaches Bays Wharfs Points,Reefs,etc
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