This is the Official Iowa Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the Iowa state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
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Weather its Iowa Trout fishing, Iowa bass fishing, Iowa striper fishing, Iowa Tiger Musky fishing, Iowa Catfish fishing, Iowa Longnose Gar fishing, Iowa Panfish fishing, Iowa pike/muskie fishing, Iowa Walleye fishing  We have the Iowa state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need Iowa fishing maps, Iowa state fishing maps, or just some Iowa fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

Iowa Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to Iowa, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Big Creek Lake, Big Spirit Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Browns Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, DeSoto Bend Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Five Island Lake, Lake Icaria, Lake MacBride, Lake Manawa, Little River Lake, Lost Island Lake, North Twin Lake, Pleasant Creek Lake, Rathbun Lake, Red Rock Lake, Rock Creek Lake, Saylorville Lake, Silver Lake Palo Alto, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Three Mile Lake, Trumbull Lake, Tuttle Lake, Twelve Mile Creek Lake, West Okoboji Lake and others. Many of the lakes in Iowa have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. Iowa is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Walleye fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Catfish, Musky, Tiger Musky, Northern Pike, Sauger, Saugeye, Longnose Gar, Bowfin, Paddlefish and sunfish including Green Sunfish, Rock Bass, Spotted Sunfish, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Yellow Perch which are plentiful in some waters.

Fishing is regulated in Iowa by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports

Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass
Fishing in Iowa.

Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the Iowa area.

Bass Fishing Lakes In Iowa

Iowa is peppered with lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, ponds and lakes. Bass make their home in most of these waters. The larger impoundments sporting a population of bass include Big Creek Lake, Big Spirit Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Coralville Lake, DeSoto Bend Lake, Lake Fisher, Lake Icaria, Lake MacBride, Lake Manawa, Little River Lake, Pleasant Creek Lake, Rathbun Lake, Red Rock Lake, Rock Creek Lake, Saylorville Lake, Spirit Lake, Three Mile Lake, Twelve Mile Creek Lake and West Okoboji Lake.

The state record largemouth was caught from Lake Fisher and the IA state record smallmouth came out of West Okoboji Lake.
rout Fishing in Iowa

Trout fishing in Iowa is limited to rainbows, brook and brown trout. There are 44 managed trout fisheries in the state. See a list of Iowa trout fishing streams from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Trout Fishing Waters In Iowa

None of the major lakes in Iowa harbor a population of trout. The state record brook trout was caught in Fountain Springs Creek, the state record brown trout came from North Prairie Lake and French Creek boasts the state record rainbow trout. Visit the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website for details regarding trout stocking in Iowa.

Walleye Fishing in Iowa

Walleye
Stizostedion vitreum

The walleye prefers moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in some warmer water impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting white, flaky flesh.

Iowa Walleye Fishing Lakes

Residents of Iowa are blessed with many walleye fisheries across the state. The Iowa state record walleye was caught in the Des Moines River but the vast majority of walleyes come from major lakes with cold, deep waters. Some of the larger lakes with populations of walleye include Big Creek Lake, Big Spirit Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Five Island Lake, Lake Icaria, Lake MacBride, Rathbun Lake, Saylorville Lake, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Three Mile Lake, Tuttle Lake, Twelve Mile Creek Lake and West Okoboji Lake.

Iowa walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

This toothy fish will eat virtually anything it can catch and get in its mouth. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. They tend to be somewhat wary and prefer the safety of deeper darker water. Try fishing for walleye from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer.

Fish for Iowa walleye with live bait, crankbaits, spoons, small spinner baits as well as plastic worms and grubs.

Crappie Fishing in Iowa

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.

Crappie Fishing Lakes In Iowa

Most waters in Iowa have a population of crappie. Generally speaking, the warmer the waters the larger the populations of crappie. Many rivers, creeks, ponds and small lakes sport a population of carppie but the consistently better stringer tend to come from larger lakes and impoundments. Some of the larger lakes with crappie include Big Creek Lake, Big Spirit Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Browns Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, DeSoto Bend Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Five Island Lake, Lake Icaria, Lake MacBride, Lake Manawa, Little River Lake, Lost Island Lake, North Twin Lake, Pleasant Creek Lake, Rathbun Lake, Red Rock Lake, Rock Creek Lake, Saylorville Lake, Silver Lake Palo Alto, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Three Mile Lake, Trumbull Lake, Tuttle Lake, Twelve Mile Creek Lake and West Okoboji Lake.

The Iowa state record black crappie was caught from Green Castle Lake.

Catfish Fishing in Iowa

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Lake Ellis yielded the Iowa state record flathead catfish while the state record blue and channel catfish came out of the Missouri River. Most lakes and rivers in IA have catfish but the most consistent stringers are caught from major lakes like Big Creek Lake, Big Spirit Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Browns Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, DeSoto Bend Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Five Island Lake, Lake Icaria, Lake MacBride, Lake Manawa, Little River Lake, Lost Island Lake, North Twin Lake, Pleasant Creek Lake, Rathbun Lake, Red Rock Lake, Rock Creek Lake, Saylorville Lake, Silver Lake Palo Alto, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Three Mile Lake, Trumbull Lake, Tuttle Lake, Twelve Mile Creek Lake and West Okoboji Lake.

Most catfish are considered bottom feeders to one extent or another. They will generally eat anything that can get in their mouth. Their strongest sense is smell which they use to locate potential food sources. Capitalizing on this sense is the primary weapon in your search for these creatures. Aggressive catfish have been caught on most types of fast moving bass lures so don't under estimate their ability to catch live bait.

Fishing for Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus

Channel cats can be caught most any time of year except in extreme cold water conditions. The best time of year tends to be spring and fall followed by summer and lastly winter. Channel catfish favor crawfish and small fish, so look for them at varying depths where there is rock or gravel that attracts the crawfish or other forms of cover that attracts baitfish and other small fish. In the warmer summer months catfish can be found in areas with moss, which they feed on.

Fishing For Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris

Flatheads are caught primarily on bait like live shiners and chubs and only occasionally on cut or prepared baits. They are the second largest of the catfishes and lie in cover of submerged logs or other large structures. Prime fishing time for catching flathead catfish is after dark.

Fishing For Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus

Look for these big blue catfish on major rivers or in impoundments fed by large tributaries. They feed on fish frogs, mollusks, crayfish and large invertebrates. They find food more by use of their keen sense of smell. Look for them to be hiding in hollowed out logs or undercuts in structures. Use anything from live shiners to cut bait and stink baits to catch these big blue catfish.

Catfish Baits

If it resembles food in any way and emits scent or an odor it is likely to attract the interest of catfish. Every ardent catfish expert has their own secret recipe. The ingredients range from natural prey of fish and fowl to non-food items like soap and chemicals. Chicken, shrimp, liver and stink baits are the most common ingredients. The long whiskers of the catfish are always in search of an easy meal.

Sunfish Fishing in Iowa for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Rock Bass, Spotted Sunfish, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Yellow Perch and Other IA Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Iowa and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In Iowa

Chances are there are no lakes of any consequence in IA that do not have a population of panfish. The state record for bluegill and green sunfish were caught from private ponds. Morse Lake yielded the state record for yellow perch.

All the major lakes including Big Creek Lake, Big Spirit Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Browns Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, DeSoto Bend Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Five Island Lake, Lake Icaria, Lake MacBride, Lake Manawa, Little River Lake, Lost Island Lake, North Twin Lake, Pleasant Creek Lake, Rathbun Lake, Red Rock Lake, Rock Creek Lake, Saylorville Lake, Silver Lake Palo Alto, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Three Mile Lake, Trumbull Lake, Tuttle Lake, Twelve Mile Creek Lake and West Okoboji Lake have quality populations of panfish.

Striper Fishing in Iowa

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams which drain into the ocean become the spawning grounds for stripers.

Striper Fishing Waters In Iowa

Striped bass are rare in IA. The state record was caught from Lake Rathbun in 1983. Since then stocking of striped bass have been discontinued.

Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
World Record: 78.8 lbs

In natural settings striped bass live the majority of their life in the ocean and migrate into freshwater rivers to spawn. Once it was determined that stripers could survive in fresh water they were introduced into fresh water impoundments as a test. Results ranged from complete failure to resounding success. Often successful to the extent of eating the local species out of house and home. Stripers can live up to 30 years if conditions allow.

Striped bass generally spend their time in the middle sections of the lake, in deeper water than most fish. Their primary diet is shad. They prefer the larger shad which are too big to be eaten by the vast majority of other fish in the lake. Stripers will eat just about any fish they can get in their mouth. As a schooling fish which can grow to enormous size they can deplete a school of baitfish in very short order. When you catch a striper you can rest assured that there are probably more close by.

Fishing for Striped Bass in Iowa

When fishing for stripers concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. If you can locate schools of shad, stripers are often close by. When the baitfish are shallow over the deep water, you can catch stripers on crankbaits or by swimming spoons at appropriate depths. And for the ultimate thrill try large topwater baits if you see any surface feeding action. When the stripers are deep, jigs and jigging spoons work well. Live and cut bait will also take striped bass when they are in medium to deeper water. Fish nearby or in the river channel if it is a defined depth change. Trolling is also an excellent way to fish for stripers. Use flashy lures in bigger sizes.

Hybrid Bass - Wiper Bass
Morone saxatilis - Morone chrysops
World Record: 27.3 lbs.

A cross between a white bass and striped bass, created by by fertilizing female white bass eggs with sperm from male striped bass. Also known as whiterock bass. They prefer water temperatures from 70 to 78 degrees. Wipers excel in the warmer waters of the southern region. They tend to school like both parent species and feed primarily on shad and other bait fish. They can be caught on light to medium tackle using jigs, spoons, live minnows and most lures imitating bait fish. Look for these hybrid striped bass near the middle sections of the lake over deep water. Fish for them as you would their parent, the striped bass.

Fishing for other Musky, Tiger Musky, Northern Pike, Sauger, Saugeye, Longnose Gar, Bowfin, Paddlefish in Iowa.

Iowa offers unique fishing opportunities. Listed below find information about species of fish found in Iowa which may not be featured in the main section of AA- Fishing.com.

Musky - Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
World Record: 69.9 lbs
The largest of the pike family, they are found in about half the states, primarily the northern and northeastern states. They prefer clear water with temperatures from 60 to 70 degrees. Also known as musky, muskie and great pike, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures (salt-water sizes) and heavy line when fishing for muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.

Tiger Musky - Muskellunge
Esox lucius ~ Esox masquinongy
USA Record: 51.2 lbs.
The tiger muskellunge is a cross of the musky and northern pike. Male Tiger Muskellunge are most often sterile yet some females are fertile. Tiger muskies tend to be smaller than non-hybrid muskies but grow very fast. The body is often quite silvery with brownish fins and tail, without spots but displays broken vertical markings. Like their parent, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures and stout line when fishing for tiger muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.

Northern Pike
Esox Lucius
IFGA Record: 55.1 lbs
The northern pike is a valient fighter and prefers water temperatures from 58 to 70 degrees. Also known as jack, jackfish, great northern pike and pickerel. While they have been transplanted into most states with cold water, they are native to the northern states and are abundant in the north-eastern states. Northern pike are basically olive in color with white and/or yellow bellies. The northern pike has light-colored marking on a dark body whish is opposite that of their cousins the muskies.They are an ambushing predator that eats frogs, crayfish, birds and virtually any fish they can get into their mouth. Use spinners, fish-immitating lures, jerk-baits or cutbait and fish close to cover.

Sauger
Stizostedion canadense
World Record: 17.7 lbs.
Excellent eating fish which typically runs a bit smaller than its cousin the walleye. The sauger prefers cold and cloudy, moving water in the 60s to low 70s. They spawn in the low to mid 40s. You can tell them from a walleye by the dark spotting on the dorsal fin, darker coloring and the rough covering of the gill area. Due to their resembelance to pickerel, they are also known as gray pickerel spotfin pike, gray pike, river pike and others. When the water turns cold and other fish are hard to come by, this is the time to fish for sauger.Fish with jigs, spoons and crankbaits imitating crayfish or baitfish. Fish near the bottom and experiment with presentation action and speed.

Saugeye
A cross between sauger and walleye.
USA Record: 15.6 lbs.
This is a fast growing fish but does not get as big as the walleye. It successfully inhabits waters where the walleye has struggled. They prefers water temperatures from 65 to 75 degrees. Look for them near bottom on sandy bars and particularly along dropoffs and river channels. Use small crankbaits that resemble minnows, shad or small crappies. Fish is their primary food source.

Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
World Record: 25 lbs
The Longnose Gar can be found in lakes and rivers and prefers quiet backwaters with temperatures ranging from 80 to 90 degrees. Also referred to as gar and garfish, It has a long, sword-like mouth loaded with sharp teeth. They are nocturnal feeders and eat most smaller fish. They can be taken on live bait, fish-imitating lures and nylon string "gobs designed to entangle in their teeth. Most longnose gar are taken by bowfishing or spear fishing. The meat is somewhat tasty but quite bony.

Bowfin
Amia calva
World Record: 21.5 lbs.
Found in waters around Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, the bowfin prefers water temperatures of the warmer climates. It has an exceptionally long dorsal fin which extends back to the tail, made of about 50 spines or rays. Near the upper tail is an eye spot. They have very sharp teeth and a nasty disposition when hooked. Handle with caution. They are most often caught on cut bait and crayfish. They put up quite a fight and are not considered good eating. The bowfin is also known as dogfish, mud pike, mudfish, grindle, swamp bass and others.

Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
World Record: Over 600 lbs.
If you didn't know what they were, you might think you caught a shark if you were to land a paddlefish. They have a powerful, sleek body and a tall, rear dorsal fin.
Prefers water temperatures from 50 to 70 degrees. Also known as spoonbill, spoonies, spadefish and shovelnose. They are filter-feeders so catching them with conventional tackle is out of the question. Most are taken with bow and arrow, spears or by snag-fishing with large treble hooks.
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