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, 8 fish
Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
Length Limit: none
Other:

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

Spring electrofishing indicated a moderate abundance of largemouth bass up to 15 inches. Good numbers of bluegill were sampled in 2021 up to 8 inches. Good numbers of crappie were also sampled in 2021 with most crappie in the 8-10 inch length range, but some larger crappie are available to anglers.(2021)

Fish Survey Data

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Contacts

Corey Carlton, Conservation Officer; 641-414-2173; Corey.Carlton@dnr.iowa.gov
Andy Jansen, Fisheries Biologist; 641-464-3108; Andy.Jansen@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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