Iowa angler wins grand prize in Midwest Walleye Challenge 7/23/2024 11:46:00 AM View Count 5370 BOONE - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) partnered for a third year with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas to conduct a statewide walleye fishing challenge March 30 through June 30.
Exceptional season allows DNR crews to achieve walleye egg collection goals 4/23/2024 12:13:00 PM View Count 2229 Walleyes spawn once a year using water temperature and photoperiod(length of day) as cues to spawn. DNR crews captured 3,318 adult female walleyes at East Okoboji, Rathbun, Spirit, Clear, and Storm lakes, as well as the Mississippi River.
Walleye season opens May 4 on Iowa’s Great Lakes 4/23/2024 12:10:00 PM View Count 2363 The 148th walleye fishing season officially opens May 4 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes.
Midwest Walleye Challenge prize winners announced 4/16/2024 12:45:00 PM View Count 1963 BOONE - Midwest Walleye Challenge participants from across the southern Midwest have submitted their first two weeks of walleye and sauger catches.
Walleye netting season starts for Iowa DNR fish hatcheries 4/9/2024 12:39:00 PM View Count 2308 MORAVIA – The late night, annual walleye collection has begun at Clear Lake, Rathbun Reservoir, Storm Lake and the Iowa Great Lakes.
Help Iowa DNR expand walleye collection data 3/12/2024 11:46:00 AM View Count 2663 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is partnering for a third year with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas to conduct a statewide walleye fishing challenge from March 30 through June 30.
Walleye season closes Feb. 15 on Iowa Great Lakes 2/6/2024 11:59:00 AM View Count 3719 SPIRIT LAKE – The walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through Feb. 14. It will close after that date and reopens on May 4. These are the only Iowa lakes that have a closed season for walleye.
Virtual fishing tournament encourages Iowa walleye anglers to report their catches 2/6/2024 11:56:00 AM View Count 4446 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is partnering for a third year with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas to conduct a statewide walleye fishing challenge starting March 30 through June 30.
DNR crews achieve walleye collection goals 4/25/2023 11:46:00 AM View Count 4536 A dramatic warming trend, along with the correct photoperiod, allowed DNR staff to capture more than 3,100 adult female walleyes in a short amount of time at Clear, Rathbun, and Storm lakes.
Help Iowa DNR expand walleye collection data 4/18/2023 4:26:00 PM View Count 4020 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is partnering for a second year with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas to conduct a statewide walleye fishing challenge starting May 1 through June 30. The Iowa Chapter of the American Fisheries Society has joined as a research partner for the 2023 challenge.
Walleye season opens May 6 on Iowa’s Great Lakes 4/18/2023 4:20:00 PM View Count 4064 The 147th walleye fishing season officially opens May 6 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes.
Walleye netting season starts for Iowa DNR fish hatcheries 4/11/2023 2:23:00 PM View Count 3425 MORAVIA – The late night, annual walleye collection has begun at Clear Lake, Rathbun Reservoir, and Storm Lake with collection efforts soon to follow at the Iowa Great Lakes.
Walleye season closes Feb. 15 on Iowa Great Lakes 2/7/2023 8:22:00 PM View Count 6460 SPIRIT LAKE – The walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through Feb. 14.
Catch-photo-release tournament encourages Iowa walleye anglers to report their catches 1/31/2023 11:36:00 AM View Count 8571 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is partnering for a second year with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas to conduct a statewide walleye fishing challenge starting May 1 through June 30. The Iowa Chapter of the American Fisheries Society has joined as a research partner for the 2023 challenge.
Rathbun Lake walleye length limit changes effective January 1, 2023 11/15/2022 11:47:00 AM View Count 7810 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is implementing a 15-inch minimum length limit on all walleye captured from Rathbun Lake, starting January 1, 2023.
Iowa DNR accepting comments on proposed walleye length limit changes on Lake Rathbun 9/13/2022 12:18:00 PM View Count 4699 MORAVIA - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on proposed changes to walleye length limits on Lake Rathbun, through Sept. 29.
DNR crews achieve walleye collection goals despite cold, late spring 4/26/2022 1:40:00 PM View Count 2559 This year’s unusual cold, late spring delayed the start of walleye collection efforts.
New catch-photo-release tournament encourages Iowa walleye anglers to report their catches 4/19/2022 11:49:00 AM View Count 2886 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is partnering with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas to conduct a statewide walleye fishing challenge starting May 1 through June 30. Anglers will have the chance to win weekly prizes while also contributing to fisheries research, helping improve walleye fishing in the state.
Walleye season opens May 7 on Iowa’s Great Lakes 4/19/2022 11:48:00 AM View Count 2018 The 146th walleye fishing season officially opens May 7 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes.
Fish hatcheries busy netting walleye 4/12/2022 2:48:00 PM View Count 4370 MORAVIA – The late night, annual walleye collection has begun at Clear Lake, Rathbun Reservoir, Storm Lake and the Iowa Great Lakes. Crews with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau will set gillnets at night looking for walleyes that are ready to spawn.
Walleye season closes Feb. 15 on Iowa Great Lakes 2/8/2022 1:23:00 PM View Count 1940 SPIRIT LAKE – The walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through Feb. 14. It will close after that date and reopens on May 7. These are the only Iowa lakes that have a closed season for walleye.
Iowa Great Lakes, Storm Lake and Clear Lake walleye length limit changes effective January 1, 2022 11/2/2021 12:32:00 PM View Count 13833 Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is changing the protected walleye slot limit to 19 to 25 inches at Big Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji Lakes, Upper Gar Lake, Minnewashta Lake, Lower Gar Lake and Storm Lake. At Clear Lake, there will be a 17 to 22 inches protected slot limit.
Iowa’s cool water fish hatcheries filled to capacity 4/27/2021 11:40:00 AM View Count 3116 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ spring fish spawning season is over and Iowa’s cool water fish hatcheries at Fairport, Rathbun, and Spirit Lake are filled to capacity.
Walleye season opens May 1 on Iowa’s Great Lakes 4/20/2021 3:24:00 PM View Count 2909 The 145th walleye fishing season officially opens May 1 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes.
Fish hatcheries busy netting walleye 4/6/2021 12:31:00 PM View Count 5228 MORAVIA – The late night, annual walleye collection began last week at Rathbun and Storm lakes and earlier this week at the Iowa Great Lakes. Crews with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau will set gillnets at night looking for walleyes ready to spawn.
Walleye season closes Feb. 14 on Iowa Great Lakes 2/10/2021 6:52:00 AM View Count 2039 SPIRIT LAKE – The walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through Feb. 14. It will close after that date and reopens on May 1. These are the only Iowa lakes that have a closed season for walleye.
Fall offers fantastic fishing – get out and enjoy it 9/29/2020 1:15:00 PM View Count 3310 Fall is a great time to catch fish with family and friends. The air is cool, the views are picturesque and the fish are easy to catch. Make lasting memories together and put your worries behind you.
5 cool things you should know about walleye 6/23/2020 3:06:00 PM View Count 15942 With their slender bodies and sharp teeth, walleye are an angler’s favorite. Here are five cool facts about these gilled guys:
Walleye netting goals and season shortened this spring due to COVID-19 4/28/2020 3:20:00 PM View Count 4805 Iowa's current State of Emergency to help stop the spread of COVID-19 changed how the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) collected walleye this spring to spawn at Rathbun and Spirit Lake fish hatcheries.
Walleye season opens May 2 on Iowa’s Great Lakes 4/21/2020 12:41:00 PM View Count 5284 The 144th walleye fishing season officially opens May 2 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes.
Mississippi River walleye length limit changes effective April 1 4/1/2020 3:29:00 PM View Count 20772 Based on overwhelming support received during public meetings in March, Iowa DNR is extending current length limits in Mississippi River Pools 12-20 to now include the entire Mississippi River in Iowa. This change will reflect regulation changes in Minnesota and Wisconsin waters of Pools 9-12.
Rathbun and Spirit Lake fish hatcheries busy netting walleye 3/31/2020 12:30:00 PM View Count 5098 MORAVIA, Iowa – The late night, annual walleye collection will start this week at Rathbun Lake and the Iowa Great Lakes. Crews with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau will set gillnets at night looking for walleyes ready to spawn.
Iowa DNR accepting comments on proposed walleye length limit changes on the Mississippi River 2/25/2020 3:13:00 PM View Count 4439 Des Moines - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on proposed changes to walleye length limits on the Mississippi River, through March 5.
Walleye season closes Feb. 14 on Iowa Great Lakes 2/4/2020 12:30:00 PM View Count 2891 Spirit Lake, Iowa – The walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through Feb. 14. It will close after that date and reopens on May 2. These are the only Iowa lakes that have a closed season for walleye.
Iowa DNR has another successful netting season for walleye 5/7/2019 2:36:00 PM View Count 4643 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) spring fish spawning season is over and Iowa’s two walleye hatcheries are filled to capacity. Netting crews collected enough walleye to produce 1,082 quarts of walleye eggs at the Spirit Lake hatchery and 963 quarts at the Rathbun hatchery.
Walleye season opens May 4 on Iowa’s Great Lakes 4/23/2019 3:09:00 PM View Count 6937 The 143rd walleye fishing season officially opens May 4 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes.
Fish hatcheries busy netting walleye 4/9/2019 12:05:00 PM View Count 3494 Moravia – The late night, annual walleye collection started April 6 at Rathbun Lake and April 7 at Storm Lake. Crews with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau have been setting gillnets at night looking for walleyes ready to spawn.
Walleye season closes Feb. 14 on Iowa Great Lakes 1/29/2019 2:29:00 PM View Count 3143 SPIRIT LAKE – The walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through Feb. 14, 2019. It will close after that date and reopen on May 4, 2019. These are the only Iowa lakes that have a closed season for walleye.
Walleye netting season much later and less predictable this spring 5/15/2018 12:04:00 PM View Count 6701 This year’s unusually cold, late spring delayed walleye collection efforts to some of the latest dates in the history of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) walleye season.
Walleye season opens May 5 on Iowa’s Great Lakes 4/24/2018 12:20:00 PM View Count 10316 The 142th walleye fishing season officially opens May 5 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes.
Late spring delays walleye netting in Iowa lakes 4/24/2018 12:19:00 PM View Count 3741 MORAVIA, Iowa – Crews with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are usually working around the clock in early April collecting walleyes. The cold, late spring is making this year’s collection schedule less predictable and much later than normal.
Walleye season closes Feb. 14 on Iowa Great Lakes 1/30/2018 1:57:00 PM View Count 4249 SPIRIT LAKE – The walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through Feb. 14, 2018. It will be closed after that date and reopens again on May 5, 2018. These are the only Iowa lakes that have a closed season for walleye.
Fall fishing in Iowa rivers 9/19/2017 11:38:00 AM View Count 6876 Enjoy Iowa’s natural landscapes fishing Iowa’s rivers and streams this fall. A unique angling challenge is hidden around every bend.
Spring walleye netting season exceeds goal 5/2/2017 12:16:00 PM View Count 11009 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ spring fish spawning season is over and Iowa’s two walleye hatcheries are filled to capacity. Netting crews collected enough walleye to produce 1,116 quarts of walleye eggs at the Spirit Lake hatchery and 914 quarts at the Rathbun hatchery.
Walleye season opens May 6 on Iowa’s Great Lakes 4/25/2017 12:29:00 PM View Count 10387 The 141st walleye fishing season officially opens May 6 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes.