Fishing Tips & Safety

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Get Licensed & Get Started

Fishing is fun, inexpensive and a great activity for kids of all ages. What are you waiting for? Grab your family and reconnect with nature.

Anyone 16 years and older must have a fishing license to fish Iowa waters. Anglers under the age of 16 may fish Iowa waters without a fishing license and may fish for and keep their own limit of fish, except when fishing for trout they must share their limit with a licensed adult or buy their own trout fee to keep their own limit of trout. Yearly, seven-day, or 24-hour fishing licenses are available.

It’s so easy to buy your fishing license. Just go to our Go Outdoors Iowa online licensing system.

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Gear to Get Started

You don't need much to go fishing. With just a few pieces of basic gear, you'll be reeling in fish and making new memories in no time.

What you'll need:

  • A close-faced reel with a thumb button to release and stop the line is a great choice for beginners. Watch this video to learn how to hold a spincasting rod and reel.
  • A small tackle box filled with basic necessities.
  • Size 6 or 8 hooks are best for panfish.
  • Bobbers keep bait off the bottom and where the fish are. They go under when you have a bite. Try 1-inch or smaller for panfish.
  • Night crawlers are great for beginners. Thread a piece of worm on a hook for panfish.

Keep the experience fun and positive with these handy tips:

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Fishing in Iowa's Metros

Find hundreds of easy to get to stocked lakes and ponds in parks and along trails. No matter where you live, you're just a few minutes away from outdoor fun and a relaxing time with friends and family. Have fun and "fish local" today!

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First Fish

Catch a memory when your favorite young angler hooks their first fish! Get your First Fish Certificate!

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Learn How to Catch Fish

You can fish any time, but they usually bite best from 30 minutes before sunrise until two or three hours after the sun is up. They get hungry again 30 minutes before sunset and bite well for about an hour or two.

Try these easy tricks on how to fish for the most popular species in Iowa.

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Catch & Release Tips

Every angler should be prepared to release some of their catch. Whether you are practicing catch and release by choice or to comply with regulations, it is necessary to release the fish quickly. 

Follow these simple tips to give the fish you release the best chance for survival.

  • Play the fish quickly
    Hook and land the fish quickly and handle it as little as possible. The less you handle, touch or hold the fish the better.
  • Wet your hands
    The slime on the fish protects it from disease, so be careful not to wipe it off. Wet your hands before handling the fish – this reduces the chances you will remove the slime coating.
  • Keep the fish in the water
    It’s best to leave the fish in the water while you unhook it.
  • Barbless hooks
    Barbless hooks are easier to remove and reduce the time the fish is out of water. Consider pinching down the barb with needle nose pliers, especially those lures with multiple hooks.
  • Remove hooks quickly
    Fish hooked in the mouth almost always survive. Use needle-nose pliers to gently remove the hook from the fish’s mouth. Back the hook out the opposite way it went in.
  • Cut the line
    If the fish is hooked deeply, cut the line as close to the fish’s mouth as possible and leave the hook. Research has documented that cutting the line can greatly increase the survival of deeply hooked fish. Most hooks will dissolve or dislodge.
  • Preserve the memory
    Have your camera ready to minimize the time the fish is out of the water (no longer than you can hold your breath). Whenever possible, take pictures of the fish while it’s still in the water. Hold the fish horizontally and support large fish with a hand under the belly.
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Know Your Knots

Knot tying is an essential skill for beginning anglers to learn. Try these tips to help get you started.

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