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.

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.

Largemouth Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
Other:

White Crappie

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: No daily limit on private waters

Yellow Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

Grays Lake contains a good Largemouth Bass fishery. Surveys in 2023 found bass at sizes from 8- to 18-inches. Bluegill were sampled in good numbers, but size is topping out around 6-inches. White Crappies are fairly abundant in the 8- to 9.5- inch range. Channel catfish are the most abundant game fish with the majority being 11.5- to 15-inches. Channel catfish have been found up to 28-inches.(2023)

Fish Survey Data

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Contacts

Nate Anderson, Conservation Officer; 515-238-4849; Nate.Anderson@dnr.iowa.gov
Ben Dodd, Fisheries Biologist; 641-891-3795; Ben.Dodd@dnr.iowa.gov
Austin Durnan, Conservation Officer; 515-238-5006; austin.durnan@dnr.iowa.gov

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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