Big Sioux Recreation Area
General Information
County: Sioux
Location:
Acres: 65.00
Maximum Depth: 20.3 ft. (2013)
Motoring Restrictions:
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Big Sioux Recreation Area include:
- Boat Access
- Fishing Jetty
- Accessible Pier
- Picnic Area
- Beach
- Trails
- Accessible Facilities
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Camping
- Concessions
- Good/Excellent Shorefishing
- Hard Surface Boat Ramp
- Accessible Shoreline
- 09/20/2018 - 351 Channel Catfish (8.1)
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.
- Black Bullhead
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
- Black 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
- Bluegill
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other: No daily limit on private waters
- Channel 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:
- Yellow Bass
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: none
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
- Yellow Perch
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
- Possession Limit: 50 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
The Big Sioux Recreational Area experienced and influx of various riverine fish species during the last major flood event that has adversely affected the overall quality of the fishery. Anglers can expect to find plenty of 5-7 inch bluegill and 6-7.5 in black crappie. The best chance an angler would have to catch quality sized fish would be to pursue channel catfish as there are plenty of fish over 15 inches with some reaching over 30. The fishing future for this resource is not expected to be great with the amount of carp, carpsuckers, buffalo and gizzard shad found during the last survey. (2022)
Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.
Contacts
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.