Fishing in
Iowa
2,965 named waters · 0 stocked in the last 30 days
Northeast Iowa's Driftless Area holds spring-fed limestone streams stocked with brown and rainbow trout, a surprise for a state known mostly for farmland. The Mississippi River along the eastern border carries strong catfish, walleye, and panfish populations, and farm ponds statewide produce some of the best bass and bluegill fishing available on private land.
Iowa holds 2,965 fishable waters on the books. Iowa DNR has logged 19 stockings in the last year. The biggest water in the state is Rathbun Lake at 13,869 acres.
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When does Iowa stock?
Stocking peaks in March, going by every record on the books.
Freshest stockings
Full report →No dated stocking feed from Iowa yet — waters and species above are still live.
Biggest waters
- Rathbun Lake13,869 ac
- Lake Red Rock8,619 ac
- Spirit Lake5,464 ac
- Saylorville Lake5,428 ac
- Clear Lake3,632 ac
- Storm Lake3,108 ac
- Okamanpeedan Lake2,233 ac
- Lake Odesa1,744 ac
Major rivers
- Beaver Sloughorder 9 · ~27 cfs
- Huron Chuteorder 9 · ~16 cfs
- Wyoming Sloughorder 9 · ~10 cfs
- Otter Sloughorder 9 · ~1 cfs
- Gun Chuteorder 9 · ~1 cfs
- Upper West Fork West Sabula Sloughorder 9
- East Fork Sabula Sloughorder 9
- Iowa Riverorder 8 · ~7,050 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →Jackson (92) · Louisa (66) · Clayton (64) · Polk (64) · Allamakee (64) · Dickinson (59) · Clinton (58) · Monona (55) · Kossuth (52) · Johnson (52) · Scott (49) · Lee (48) · Linn (48) · Des Moines (46) · Woodbury (46) · Fremont (45) · Harrison (45) · Dubuque (39) · Wright (39) · Jasper (38) · Winneshiek (38) · Pottawattamie (38) · Van Buren (38) · Tama (38) · Webster (38) · Marion (37) · Decatur (36) · Delaware (36) · Boone (36) · Emmet (35)
Seasons, limits, and rules are Iowa's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
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Iowa fishing — FAQ
Where does Iowa stock fish?+
Iowa DNR logged 19 stockings across Iowa in the last year, led by trout and warmwater species. Browse the map and most-stocked waters above for exact locations.
When does Iowa stock fish?+
Stocking in Iowa peaks in March, going by every record on the books. See each water's page for its own seasonality.
Do I need a license to fish in Iowa?+
Yes — Iowa requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in Iowa?+
Iowa has 2,965 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.