How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Rock Island, United States ? Today is a poor 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.
Rock Island, Illinois, anchors a productive stretch of the Mississippi River where anglers target everything from trophy walleyes and saugers to hard-fighting catfish, bass, and panfish. With multiple pool sections, backwaters, wing dams, and island complexes, fishing around Rock Island offers year-round opportunity for boat, bank, and ice anglers looking to pattern big river fish in every season. read more...
Sun and Moon Times
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Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
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Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
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Moonrise:
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Moon over:
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Moon under:
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Visibility:38%
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First Quarter Moon
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Distance to earth:381,082 kmProximity:57.8 %
Moon Phases for Rock Island
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poor Day
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major Time:
05:03 am -
07:03 am
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minor Time:10:52 am - 12:52 pm
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major Time:05:37 pm - 07:37 pm
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minor Time:11:15 pm - 01:15 am
Current Fishing Weather
Wind Speed and Direction
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction and Speed are one of the most important aspects for choosing a fishing spot. An offshore wind can help land-based anglers with longer casting distances, while an onshore wind will make kayak fishing safer. Often fish will also move to certain feeding areas depending on the wind direction. Check out the long term wind forecast at the charts below.
Fishing Barometer
Atmospheric Pressure:
Change since midnight:
Trend for next 6 hours:
Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure affects fish activity. The best fishing can be had on a rising barometer and also the time just before it is falling. A steady barometer in the higher ranges can also mean good fishing. A falling or low barometer reading without much change is usually not a very good time for fishing.
UV Effect on Fishing
As a rule of thumb, the higher the UV index, the deeper fish will move. Shallow water fishing is best done at times with a low UV index. When the UV is high, stick to early mornings, late evenings and shaded areas. The effect is less noticable in deeper water, but often a higher UV index can produce good results in the deep.
7 Day Fishing Weather
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Fishing Overview Rock Island
Rock Island sits on one of the most diverse and consistent stretches of the Mississippi River, with Pools 14 and 15 giving anglers classic big-river structure and reliable multi-species action. The key is learning how seasonal water levels, current, and clarity shift fish between main-river channel edges, wing dams, side channels, and expansive backwaters.
In early spring, walleyes and saugers are the main draw around Rock Island. Focus on upstream and downstream faces of wing dams, current breaks along riprap, and subtle inside bends near the main channel. Vertical jigging with 1/4–3/8 oz jigs tipped with minnows or plastics puts fish in the boat when the water is cold and flows are up. As the river warms, long-lining crankbaits along channel edges and trolling three-ways with floating stickbaits across sand flats can be deadly.
By late spring and through summer, the bite broadens. Smallmouth bass stack on rocky shorelines, bridge pilings, and the downstream ends of wing dams. Work 1/8–1/4 oz tube jigs, small swimbaits, or squarebill crankbaits tight to the rocks, especially when the river has just a bit of stain. Largemouth bass slide into quieter backwaters, marinas, and weed-filled pockets off the main current; pitch Texas-rigged plastics, frogs, and spinnerbaits to laydowns and emergent vegetation.
Catfish are a constant option around Rock Island. Channel catfish relate heavily to current seams, timber piles, and the holes below wing dams. Cut bait, dipbaits, or nightcrawlers presented on slip rigs or three-way setups catch numbers of fish. For flathead catfish, concentrate on deeper outside bends, scour holes, and heavy wood at dusk and after dark, using live bluegills or bullheads on stout tackle. Set baits just on the edge of current, not in the heaviest flow.
Panfish and multi-species action shine in the backwaters. Look for slack-water pockets with scattered wood and emerging weeds for bluegills and crappies. Small jigs tipped with plastics or waxworms, suspended below a float, are reliable. White bass and occasional hybrids chase shad along current breaks and main-channel flats; cast small spoons, inline spinners, and shad-style crankbaits when you see surface activity or gulls working.
Fall is a prime time for big river walleye, smallmouth, and catfish. Cooling water pulls fish back to sharper breaks and harder bottom. Jigging blades or heavy hair jigs on channel edges, along with slow-cranked shad baits across wing dams, produces some of the year’s heaviest fish. On rising or falling water, adjust quickly—fish slide with the edge of the current, often just a few feet shallower or deeper than your last bite.
In winter, when ice conditions allow in protected backwaters, anglers target bluegill, crappie, and perch with tiny tungsten jigs and finesse plastics. Stick to areas with 3–6 feet of water and any remaining weed cover or submerged wood. Whether you fish from shore, a small boat, or on the ice, success around Rock Island hinges on reading current seams, water level changes, and the abundant man-made structure that defines this reach of the Mississippi.
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Rock Island 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 2 main harbours in this area.
Sunset Marina - 3.52620565609km, Davenport Harbor - 3.82133775599km
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Rock Island. 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.
Sylvan Slough - 0.70571364425km , Lock and Dam 15 - 1.3213088249km , Mississippi River Lock Dam Number Fifteen - 1.53884636544km , Lake Potter - 2.76543892136km , Black Hawk Creek - 3.25128615055km , Arsenal Power Dam - 3.35685325969km , Sunset Marina - 3.52620565609km , Sylvan Island - 3.59045260518km , Davenport Harbor - 3.82133775599km , Walnut Creek - 3.89731970394km , Pettifer Island - 3.91111916315km , Credit Island - 3.93238242647km , Rock River - 4.33174871611km , Moline Pool - 4.38460549832km , Moline Power Dam - 4.38460549832km , Smiths Island - 4.71468440556km , Robin Creek - 4.81005683921km , Nahant Marsh - 5.30891508139km , Vandruff Island - 5.55877980611km , Carr Island - 5.73572922204km , Big Island - 5.76048932948km , Carp Lake - 5.94236206964km , Pheasant Creek - 5.97829952871km , Candlelight Creek - 6.47387107546km , Kickapoo Slu - 6.48482951063km , Jimmy Creek - 6.54225995735km , Crystal Creek - 6.62759456604km , Shooks Pond - 6.7442628424km , Kyte Creek - 6.8137312443km , Case Creek - 6.85990812209km , Stafford Creek - 7.69943860785km , Horse Island - 7.86157918154km , West Pheasant Creek - 7.87920234471km , I-280 Lake Dam - 8.12446958707km , Sheldon Creek - 8.17503041448km , Northeast Lake Dam - 8.40581767767km , Turkey Hollow Creek - 9.50502560905km , Donaldson Creek - 9.98717889574km , Swift Slough - 10.09447249239km , Utica Creek - 10.44189206463km
Harbours and
Marinas
Beaches
Bays
Wharfs
Points,Reefs,etc
Latest Catches
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