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: 12-inch minimum
Other:

Rainbow Trout

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 5 fish
Possession Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 10 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Anglers must have paid the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout

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

Backbone Lake is an impoundment of the Maquoketa River that is challenged by a large watershed area to lake area ratio that causes water quality and sediment problems. The upstream end of the impoundment has limited access and provides opportunity for crappie, largemouth bass and trout. The downstream portion of the impoundment is more degraded in terms of habitat quality and provides easier access and opportunity to catch small bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass and white sucker.(2020)

Fish Survey Data

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Contacts

Dakota Drish, Conservation Officer; 563-920-0566; dakota.drish@dnr.iowa.gov
Dan Kirby, Fisheries Biologist; 563-927-3276; Daniel.Kirby@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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