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Interior River Details

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Interior Rivers

West Nishnabotna River

General Information

Location:
Length in miles: 121.00
Motoring Restrictions:

Nearby Parks

Waubonsie State Park

Amenities

Amenities at West Nishnabotna River include:
  • Carry Down Boat Launch

No recent updates

River Maps

Download Printable River Map

        No known aquatic invasive species have been found

    The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

    • Bigmouth Buffalo
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Black Bullhead
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Blue Catfish
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
      • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Channel Catfish
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
      • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Common Carp
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
    • Flathead Catfish
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
      • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Freshwater Drum
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
    • Green Sunfish
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Quillback
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
    • Shorthead redhorse
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
    • Shovelnose sturgeon
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • White Sucker
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.

    The West Nishnabotna River provides good catfish angling starting at the mouth and extending through Fremont, Mills, Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties. High water years give the channel catfish more opportunity to move upstream and provide excellent summer fishing. This population is supported by natural reproduction and maintaining the connection with the Missouri River is important. Fewer numbers of flathead catfish live in the West Nishnabotna River and larger tributaries.(2017)

    Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

    Contacts

    Water Quality

    Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

    The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information.

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