2024 Iowa Fishing Regulations (2).pdf

IOWA FISHING REGULATIONS

FREE FISHING DAYS

June 7, 8 & 9

Iowa Residents Only This is a SUMMARY of rules and regulations you need to fish in

Iowa. It is not a complete list of all fishing regulations.

For more information, visit www.iowadnr.gov or contact the

DNR Central Office in Des Moines at 515-725-8200.

www.iowadnr.gov www.gooutdoorsiowa.com

2 Let's Go Fishing

License and Permit Fees

Contents

License/Permit Resident On Sale Dec. 15, 2023

Nonresident On Sale Jan. 1, 2024

Annual 16 years old and older $22.00 $48.00 3-Year $62.00 Not Available 7-Day $15.50 $37.50 3-Day Not Available $20.50 1-Day $10.50 $12.00 Annual 3rd Fishing Line Permit (Bonus Line) $14.00 $14.00 Trout Fee $14.50 $17.50 Veterans Fishing License $7.00 Not Available Veterans Hunting & Fishing Combo $7.00 Not Available Lifetime (65 years old and older) $61.50 Not Available Lifetime Trout Fee (65 years old and older) $65.00 Not Available Boundary Water Sport Trotline $26.00 $49.50 Fishing, Hunting, Habitat Fee Combo $55.00 Not Available Paddlefish Fishing License & Tag $25.50 $49.00

What’s New?

• New veterans fishing and hunting combo license for Iowa residents who served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty.

• New health advisories for eating Iowa caught fish for women who might become or are pregnant or breastfeeding and children ages 1-11 years (p. 17)

Be a Responsible Angler License & Permit Requirements Threatened & Endangered Species Health Benefits of Eating Fish General Fishing Regulations Fishing Seasons & Limits Fish Identification License Agreements with Bordering States Health Advisories for Eating Fish Aquatic Invasive Species Fisheries Offices Phone Numbers First Fish & Master Angler Awards Conservation Officers Phone Numbers

Invite a kid, your best friend or a spouse to go fishing on Iowa’s Free Fishing weekend, June 7, 8 and 9. Iowa residents may fish without a license or trout fee; all other regulations remain in place.

A fishing license is the start of endless excitement, exploration, memories and fun.

Download the GoOutdoorsIowa app to make adventure even easier. You’ll have your license plus regulations and more conveniently on your phone.

Fishing license sales help protect and enhance quality fish populations and opportunities for all Iowans.

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Be a Responsible Angler

• Be considerate of anglers with special physical needs when fishing universally accessible facilities.

• Clean up any litter you bring with you and pick up trash, even if you didn’t leave it.

into the water.

• Take precautions not to spread invasive plants or animals (see p. 18).

• Report fishing and boating violations at 1-800-

532-2020.

boaters.

• Sinkers, including split shots, are now made from steel, tin, bismuth and tungsten for anglers concerned about using lead tackle.

License and Permit Requirements You can take fish, mussels, turtles, frogs and bait with a sport fishing license according to the regulations listed in this booklet. You cannot buy or sell, dead or live, a fish, mussel, turtle, frog or bait with a sport fishing license.

Who Needs a Fishing License Iowa residents and nonresidents 16 years and older must have a valid fishing license on their person while fishing, and have paid all applicable fees.

License Exceptions: You do not need a fishing license if...

You are a resident or nonresident under 16 years old.

You are a minor pupil of the state school for the deaf, or minor inmate of other state institutions under the Department of Human Services (not including inmates in state penal institutions).

You are a patient of a substance abuse facility and supervised by an employee of the facility while fishing, and the facility has been issued a permit from the DNR. A person supervising a group may fish with the group and is not required to have a fishing license.

You are on active duty with the Armed Forces of the U.S., on authorized leave from a duty station outside of Iowa and qualify as an Iowa resident. You must carry your leave papers and a copy of your current earnings statement showing a tax deduction for Iowa income taxes while fishing. In lieu of the earnings statement, you may claim residency by being registered to vote in Iowa.

You are a resident or nonresident landowner or tenant fishing on your land. Your children under age 18 can also fish without a license on your land.

Buying a License The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is required to collect social security numbers from anyone getting a hunting, fishing or other recreational license under section 252J.8 of the Code of Iowa and 42 U.S. Code 666(a)(13). Your social security number is your principal identification number to determine if you are eligible for licenses.

It will be provided to enforcement agencies to establish, modify and enforce child support and tax obligations. It WILL NOT appear on your hunting or fishing license.

Logan’s Law, named after Logan Luft, was enacted in 2019. You can now register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor when you buy your Iowa fishing and hunting licenses, similar to when you get or renew your driver’s license. For more information, visit www.iowadnr.gov/loganslaw.

Requirements to Buy Resident Licenses

A nonresident does not live in Iowa. NOTE:

Iowa residents who have previously hunted, fished and/or trapped as nonresidents should plan ahead to get license privileges as soon as possible. The electronic licensing system for hunting, fishing and trapping automatically identifies people who have previously bought licenses as nonresidents. This law change was made to identify a growing problem in Iowa of nonresidents falsifying records to illegally get (invalid) resident licenses. If you previously bought a nonresident Iowa license, but are now eligible for resident licenses, you must fill out and return a form available at www.iowadnr.gov/fishing. License vendors CANNOT make this change at the point of sale and it cannot be done over the phone. Contact the local conservation officer for more information

(p. 23).

A resident must meet one of the following criteria.

1. Iowa has been your principal and main residence or domicile for at least 90 consecutive days immediately before you apply for or buy a resident license and you have an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator’s ID. Factors to determine your domicile include, but are not limited to, place

4 Let's Go Fishing of employment, mailing (street) address, utility records, real estate records, vehicle registrations and addresses listed on your state and federal income tax records.

You are not considered a resident under this paragraph if you live in Iowa only for a special or temporary purpose including, but not limited to, hunting, fishing or trapping.

2. You are a full-time student at an accredited educational institution in Iowa and live in Iowa while attending the educational institution, or are a full-time student under 25 years of age at an accredited educational institution outside the state as long as at least one parent or legal guardian maintains a principal and main residence in Iowa.

3. You are a student who qualifies as a resident pursuant to the above paragraph only to buy any resident license specified in section 483A.1 or 484A.2.

4. You are a nonresident under 18 years of age with a parent who is a legal resident of Iowa.

5. You are a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is serving on active duty, claims residency in Iowa, and has filed a state individual income tax return for the preceding year, or is stationed in Iowa.

Dual Residency Not Permitted: Unless you qualify under 2, 3, 4 or 5 in the previous section, you cannot buy or apply for any resident license or permit if you have claimed residency in any other state or country.

Special Licenses for Residents Iowa offers annual fishing and hunting licenses and veteran lifetime fishing and hunting licenses to qualifying residents. Learn more on the DNR webpage at www.iowadnr.gov/fishing/fishing-licenses-laws/license-applications.

Applications for and help with these special licenses are available at the DNR central office by calling 515-725-8200, or DNR offices (p. 20) that sell fishing and hunting licenses.

Trout Fee Iowa residents and nonresidents who are required to have a fishing license must pay the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout. Exception:

Iowa residents and nonresidents under 16 years old may possess or fish for trout without having paid the Trout Fee if they fish with a properly licensed adult who has paid the Trout Fee and together they limit their catch to the one person daily limit of five trout.

Children under 16 can buy their own trout privilege, which lets them fish without a properly licensed adult and keep their own daily limit (5).

Littering Public Waters You cannot throw or deposit cans, bottles, garbage, rubbish or other debris, onto or in any Iowa waters, ice or land.

Threatened & Endangered Species You cannot take, possess, transport, import, export, process, sell or offer for sale, buy or offer to buy, nor can a common or contract carrier transport or receive for shipment any of the following species of fish, frogs, turtles, mussels or salamanders:

Fish: Lake Sturgeon, Pallid Sturgeon, Pugnose Shiner, Weed Shiner, Pearl Dace, Freckled Madtom, Bluntnose Darter, Least Darter, American Brook Lamprey, Chestnut Lamprey, Grass Pickerel, Blacknose Shiner, Western Sand Darter, Black Redhorse, Burbot, Orangethroat Darter, Topeka Shiner Frogs: Crawfish Frog Turtles: Yellow Mud Turtle, Wood Turtle, Ornate Box Turtle, Common Musk Turtle, Blanding’s Turtle Mussels: Spectacle Case, Slippershell, Buckhorn, Ozark Pigtoe, Bullhead, Ohio River Pigtoe, Slough Sandshell, Yellow Sandshell, Cylinder, Strange Floater, Creek Heelsplitter, Purple Pimpleback, Butterfly, Ellipse and the Higgin’s Eye Pearly Mussel Salamanders: Blue-spotted Salamander, Central Newt and the Mudpuppy.

Health Benefits of Eating Fish Most Iowa fish are low in saturated fats, have high quality protein, and important vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy diet for all ages.

Some fish can also have omega-3 fatty acids that help keep your heart healthy and develop a child’s brain.

The American Heart Association recommends that you enjoy at least two servings of baked or grilled fish each week, especially oily fish.

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General Fishing Regulations Artificial Light

You may use artificial light to take any fish except species listed as threatened or endangered (p. 4).

Bait Definitions “Bait” includes, but is not limited to, minnows, Green Sunfish, Orange-spotted Sunfish, live or dead Gizzard Shad, frogs, crayfish, salamanders and mussels. “Minnows” are chubs, shiners, suckers, dace, stonerollers, mudminnows, redhorse, Bluntnose and Fathead Minnows. You can only take live mussels from the Mississippi River and its connected backwaters. The daily and possession limit is 24 live mussels (p. 10). You cannot possess live Gizzard Shad at any lake.

You can use game fish legally caught by hook-and-line for bait. If you transport live bait from one area to another, it must be in clean water.

Bait Collection You need a valid sport fishing license to collect bait for individual use. You can use minnow traps not more than 3 feet long. Each trap, when in use, must have a metal tag attached plainly labeled with the owner’s name and address. You can use a minnow dip net not larger than 4 feet in diameter, a cast net not larger than 10 feet in diameter and a minnow seine not longer than 20 feet with mesh not smaller than one-quarter inch bar measure.

Crayfish collected from Storm Lake for personal use can only be used in Storm Lake and cannot be transported live from the lake.

You cannot take or try to take bait for commercial purposes from any Iowa waters, or transport minnows without a bait dealer’s license. “Commercial purposes” are selling, giving or furnishing to others.

Bait dealers must notify their DNR conservation officer before operating. The licensee must be present with license in hand when bait is collected.

Licensed bait dealers may use minnow seines not longer than 50 feet. Licensed bait dealers cannot harvest any crayfish species from Storm Lake.

Bait Dumping It is against the law to dump bait in Iowa lakes, rivers or streams. Throw away unwanted bait in the trash. If keeping bait, you must exchange water in the bait buckets with tap or bottled water before you leave any waterbody to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (p. 18).

Boundary Water Sport Trotline You can use a maximum of four trotlines with 200 hooks with a boundary water sport trotline license in the Mississippi, Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers. All boundary water sport trotlines must have the owner’s name and address on a metal tag attached above the waterline. You cannot sell fish with a boundary water sport trotline license.

Definition of “Limits” “Daily bag limit” is the number of fish you may harvest in a day. “Possession limit” is the number of fish you can store in your possession until consumed. Fish immediately released unharmed are not part of either limit.

Any fish taken into possession by holding in a live well, on a stringer, or in other fish holding devices is part of the daily bag limit. Once you reach the daily bag limit of a species, you can still fish for that species, but you must immediately release all fish caught.

Culling or Sorting You cannot sort, cull, high-grade or replace any fish already in your possession. Participants in DNR-permitted Black Bass and catfish (five fish per boat restriction) tournaments are exempted.

Organizers of DNR-permitted catch and release Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted) fishing tournaments can request exemption to the daily bag and size limit regulations, so participants of these tournaments can possess up to five bass of any length.

Identification of Catch You cannot transport or possess fish on any waters of the state unless: a) the species can be identified easily by a portion of the skin (at least one square inch) including the scales left on each fish or fillet, and b) the length of fish can be determined when length limits apply. “Any waters of the state” includes from the bank or shoreline in addition to wading and by boat.

Jug Fishing You cannot use more than two jugs or two hooks on each jug. You cannot leave the jugs in the water unattended by being out of visual sight of them. You can fish with one pole with line and one jug or two jugs and no pole with line. You can fish a third line or jug if you have a valid third line fishing permit.

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Fishing Tournament Permits You need a permit issued by the DNR to conduct a traditional or virtual fishing tournament on public waters under the jurisdiction of the state. Fishing clinics and youth fishing days are excluded. “Fishing tournament” means any organized fishing event, except for department-sponsored fishing events held for educational purposes, involving any of the following: (1) six or more boats or 12 or more participants, except for water of the Mississippi River, where the number of boats is 20 or more and the number of participants is 40 or more; (2) an entry fee is charged; or (3) prizes or other inducement are awarded.

During a virtual fishing tournament, also known as a catch-photo-release tournament, anglers photograph and release fish upon catching instead of keeping them in a live well. An aggregated virtual fishing tournament is similar to a traditional fishing tournament with participants gathering at one location at the same time. A distributed virtual fishing tournament, usually organized as an online contest, occurs on multiple bodies of water and can last up to one year (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31). Only five or fewer participants may be present on any one body of water at the same time.

You must submit your application via the centralized special events application system at www.iowadnr.gov/fishing more than 30 days before the event.

A tournament held on a boundary water (p. 16) must be permitted by the Iowa DNR for anglers to legally fish Iowa water, regardless in which state the tournament is based.

Fishing Private Waters Much fishing in Iowa is done on private waters with permission from the property owner. Iowa residents and nonresidents 16 years old and older must have a valid Iowa fishing license to fish private ponds and lakes, and trout streams.

Only owners or tenants of land and their children under 18 may fish on such lands without a license.

All anglers on private waters must obey rules and regulations governing fishing, including bag limits, except there is no daily bag limit for bluegill or crappie on private waters. Statewide length limits do not apply on private waters.

Just because the DNR stocked a pond, does not open that pond to public fishing. When fishing privately owned waters, ask the property owner for permission to fish, leave the area clean and litter free, do not block lanes and driveways, close any gates opened and do not damage fences.

Frogs - Catching & Selling You cannot use any device, net, barrier or fence which stops frogs from having free access to and from the water. You cannot transport any frogs taken in Iowa across state lines. You can buy, sell or possess frogs or any portion of their carcasses that have been taken legally and shipped in from outside the state with a bait dealer’s license. Frogs may be used for food or bait. You can catch frogs on your own land for your own private use.

Hooks When fishing by hook-and-line, you cannot use more than two lines or more than two hooks on each line when still fishing or trolling. When fly fishing, you cannot use more than two flies on one line. When you are trolling and bait casting, you cannot use more than two trolling spoons or artificial baits on one line. You can use a third line if you have a valid third line fishing permit. You cannot leave fishing line or lines with hooks in the water unattended by being out of visual sight of the lines. One hook is a single, double or treble-pointed hook, and all hooks attached as a part of an artificial bait or lure are counted as one hook. An Alabama (umbrella) rig is not an artificial bait or lure.

Ice Fishing Shelters Ice fishing shelters left unattended on land or water under the jurisdiction of the state, must have the owner’s name, street address and city in 4-inch or larger block letters (in a color contrasting to their background) on all sides, but do not need to be registered. Attach reflectors to all sides of any shelter left on the ice after sundown. Keep shelters unlocked while in use. Remove shelters from all state-owned lands and waters by Feb. 20 or ice melt, whichever comes first, unless the deadline is extended.

Showing License & Catch to Officer When requested, you must show your license

(printed or saved on your phone) and any required fee to any conservation or law enforcement officer or to the owner or person in legal control of the land or water you are fishing. You also must show your catch to the conservation officer if asked.

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Mussel Taking See p. 10 for possession limit. Licensed anglers and children younger than 16 years of age may lawfully take and possess mussel species other than those listed as threatened or endangered

(p. 4). Zebra mussels (p. 19) shall not be taken or possessed. Native mussels in the Mississippi River often have zebra mussels attached to them. Remove zebra mussels by scrubbing with a stiff brush before any native mussels are transported.

Prohibited Stocking You cannot stock or introduce any live fish, except for hooked bait (see Bait Definitions on p.

5), into public waters without the permission of the director of the DNR. Unauthorized stocking leads to the introduction of undesirable fish species such as Gizzard Shad, Yellow Bass, Common Carp and Asian Carp. When these species are stocked they cause ecological and economic harm by displacing beneficial native plants and animals, and destroying the quality of the fishery resource. You cannot possess live Gizzard Shad at any lake. This does not apply to privately-owned ponds and lakes.

Tip-Up Fishing Device A “tip-up” is an ice fishing device with an attached flag or signal to show fishing action, used to hold fishing line and a hook. You may fish a combination of one tip-up and one additional line, or two tip-ups and no additional lines. You can use an additional line or tip-up if you have a third line fishing permit.

When fishing the Mississippi, Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers and their connected backwaters, the following regulations apply: you can use up to three tip-up fishing devices. You can use two or three hooks on the same line, but the total number of hooks each person uses cannot exceed three.

Each tip-up fishing device must have a tag attached, plainly labeled with the owner’s name and address.

You cannot use a tip-up fishing device within 300 feet of a dam or spillway or in a part of the river which is closed or posted against use of the device. Three tip-up fishing devices may be used in addition to two lines with no more than two hooks per line.

Trotlines “Trotlines” as used in this section refers to lines commonly called “tagged lines,” “throw lines,” “banklines,” “ditty lines,” “ditty poles” and other names.

You can use trotlines in all Iowa rivers and streams, except those in Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Fayette, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson counties. Trotlines may be used in the above nine counties only in the following stream sections: Mississippi River; Maquoketa River, mouth to Backbone State Park dam; North Fork Maquoketa River, mouth to Jones-Dubuque county line; Turkey River, mouth to Elkader dam; and Upper Iowa River, mouth to the first dam upstream in Winneshiek County.

You cannot use more than five trotlines with a valid sport fishing license. These trotlines cannot have more than 15 hooks total. Each separate line must have a tag attached, plainly labeled with the owner’s name and address. You must check the line at least once every 24 hours. Remove all trotlines and parts from the shore if they are not being actively fished. A trotline is considered actively fished if at least once daily the trotline is left with at least one baited hook in the water. You cannot use trotlines in a stocked lake or within 300 feet of a dam or spillway, or in a stream or portion of stream which is closed or posted against its use. One end of the line must be set from the shore and visible above the shore waterline. You cannot set the line entirely across a stream or body of water. Any conservation officer can remove untagged or unlawful lines.

Turtles You can take and possess a maximum of 100 pounds of live turtles or 50 pounds of dressed turtles with a valid sport fishing license. It is illegal to sell turtles taken on a sport fishing license. You must have a commercial turtle license to sell turtles, including parts and eggs. You cannot take turtle eggs from the wild.

Nonresidents can only take common snapping turtles, spiny softshells, smooth softshells and painted turtles from the Missouri, Mississippi and Big Sioux Rivers. Nonresidents cannot take any other turtles or crayfish anywhere else in the state.

Residents can take common snapping turtles, spiny softshells, smooth softshells and painted turtles.

See p. 12 for turtle season dates and catch limits.

Turtles can only be taken by hand, turtle hook, turtle trap or hook-and-line. You cannot sort, cull, high-grade or replace any turtle in your possession.

Turtle traps must have no more than one throat or funneling device. All turtle traps must have a

8 Let's Go Fishing functional escape hole with a minimum diameter in all directions of 7-1/2 inches to let fish and small turtles pass through. The 7-1/2 inch escape hole on hoop style traps must be in the last hoop to the tail-line. Any unattended gear used to take turtles must have an all-weather gear tag with the owner’s name and address. All turtle traps must be lifted and emptied of their catch at least once every 72 hours.

Unlawful Means You can use gaff hooks or landing nets to help you land fish. You cannot use any grab hook, snag hook, any kind of net, seine, trap, firearm, dynamite or other explosives, or poisonous or stupefying substances, lime, ashes, electricity or hand fishing to take or try to take any fish.

You must return to the water immediately all game fish not hooked in the mouth, except Paddlefish, with as little injury as possible.

Bow Fishing & Spearing You can take nongame fish and frogs by bow and arrow and spear with a valid sport fishing license. Bow fishing and spearing are allowed on public lakes, reservoirs and rivers, private ponds with permission and border waters described on

p. 16. Some state parks, federal refuges and lakes controlled by city and county governments may have additional regulations specific to bow fishing and spearing.

Bow Fishing, Spearing & Snagging A valid sport fishing license lets you take Common

Carp, Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Grass Carp, Black Carp, Bigmouth Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo, Black Buffalo, Quillback, Highfin Carpsucker, River Carpsucker, Spotted Sucker, White Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse, Golden Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Freshwater Drum, Shortnose Gar, Longnose Gar, Bowfin, Gizzard Shad and Goldfish by snagging, bow fishing and spearing and Paddlefish (p. 11) by snagging. You cannot use a hook larger than a 5/0 treble hook or measuring more than 1 ¼ inches long when two of the hook points are placed on a ruler.

Snagging is not permitted in the following areas: 1. Des Moines River from directly below Saylorville Dam to Southeast 14th St. bridge in Des Moines; 2. Cedar River in Cedar Rapids from directly below the 5 in 1 Dam under I-380 to the 1st Ave. bridge; 3. Cedar River in Cedar Rapids from directly below the “C” St. Roller Dam to 300 yards downstream; 4. Iowa River from directly below the Coralville Dam to 300 yards downstream; 5. Chariton River from directly below Lake Rathbun Dam to 300 yards downstream; 6. Spillway area from directly below the Spirit Lake outlet to the confluence at East Okoboji Lake; 7. Northeast bank of the Des Moines River from directly below the Ottumwa Dam, including the catwalk, to the Jefferson St. bridge.

Snagging from the South Market St. bridge is also prohibited; 8. Missouri River, any Missouri River tributary beginning at its confluence and extending below its Interstate 29 bridge and the Big Sioux River from the Interstate 29 bridge to the confluence with the Missouri River with the exception of snagging Paddlefish and rough fish during the open season;

9. Des Moines River from directly below the hydroelectric dam (Big Dam) to the Hawkeye Avenue bridge in Fort Dodge; 10. Des Moines River from directly below the Little Dam to the Union Pacific Railroad bridge in Fort Dodge; 11. Skunk River, from directly below the Oakland Mills Dam to the downstream end of the 253rd Street boat ramp.

Snagging, bow and arrow fishing and spearing is not permitted in the following areas: 1. From the Ventura Grade roadway, jetties and bridges of Clear Lake and Ventura Marsh; 2. Within 300 feet of the concrete culvert and metal fish barrier of Lost Island Lake Inlet; 3. Within 300 feet of the outlet and metal fish barrier of Lost Island Lake Outlet; 4.

Within 300 feet of the outlet and metal fish barrier of Barringer Slough; 5. Beginning at 230th Avenue and extending downstream to the signed Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District property line of Lower Gar Lake outlet.

Treble Hook

How to measure

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Fishing Seasons and Limits Black Bass Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted bass combined Season: All waters - Continuous Daily Bag & Possession Limit: All Inland Waters and Interior Streams and River Impoundments

- combined daily 3 and possession of 6. See p. 16 for boundary lakes.

Inland Waters1

Length Limits - public lakes, including Coralville, Rathbun, Saylorville and Red Rock reservoirs - 15-inch minimum except as otherwise posted; special regulations are posted at:

A. 18-inch minimum at lakes Ada Hayden (Story); Ahquabi, Hooper (Warren); Big Creek, Thomas Mitchell, Yellow Banks (Polk); Casey (Tama); Cold Springs (Cass); Green Valley (Union); Hendricks (Howard); Krumm (Jasper); Little Wall (Hamilton); Lost Grove (Scott); Mill Creek (O’Brien); Pleasant Creek (Linn); Smith (Kossuth); and South Prairie (Black Hawk) B. Catch and release only at lakes Brown (Jackson) and Wapello (Davis) C. All 12 to 16-inch fish must be immediately released at Lake Hawthorn (Mahaska)

D. All 12 to 18-inch fish must be immediately released at Lake Sugema (Van Buren) Interior Streams & River Impoundments Length Limits - 12-inch minimum except all Black Bass caught from the following stream segments must be released alive immediately:

A. Cedar River (Mitchell) extending downstream from the bridge on county road A19 east of Otranto as posted to the bridge on county road T26 south of St. Ansgar B. Maquoketa River (Delaware) extending downstream from below Lake Delhi Dam as posted to the first county gravel road bridge C. Middle Raccoon River (Guthrie) extending downstream from below Lake Panorama Dam as posted to the dam at Redfield D. Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek) extending downstream from the Fifth Street bridge in Decorah as posted to the upper dam Boundary Rivers2

Daily Bag & Possession Limit: Boundary Rivers - combined daily 5 and possession of 10 Length Limits - 14-inch minimum on the Mississippi River and 12-inch minimum length limit on the Missouri River. Associated chutes and backwaters of the border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur. No length limit on the Big Sioux River. Browns Lake Mississippi River (Jackson) is catch and release only.

Bluegill, Crappie & Pumpkinseed Season: All waters - Continuous Length Limits: All waters - None Daily Bag and Possession Limits Inland waters1 - 25 daily for Bluegill and 25 daily for crappie on public waters and no possession limit for either. No daily limit for Bluegill or crappie on private waters. See p. 16 for boundary lakes.

Boundary rivers2 - Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers - None. Mississippi River and connected backwaters;

daily bag limit of 25 and possession limit of 50 for each of the following: Bluegill and Pumpkinseed combined, and crappie.

Iowa is part of the agreement between participating states that prohibits a person whose hunting or fishing privileges are suspended in one state from participating in those activities in another state.

Wildlife Violator Compact

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Catfish Channel, Blue, Flathead Catfish combined & bullhead Season: All waters - Continuous Length Limits: All waters - None Catfish Daily Bag & Possession Limits Inland lakes - Catfish combined daily 8 and possession 30, except for Iowa boundary lakes listed on p. 16.

No limit for bullheads.

Inland streams, Coralville, Rathbun, Red Rock and Saylorville Reservoirs - Catfish combined daily 15 and combined possession 30. No limit for bullheads.

Boundary rivers2 same as streams except no bag or possession limit on the Mississippi River

Muskellunge including Hybrids (Tiger) (Identification p. 14) Season: All waters - Continuous except there is an open season on West Okoboji, East Okoboji and Spirit Lakes (Dickinson County) and on Iowa-Minnesota boundary lakes from May 21 through Nov. 30, each year.

Length Limits: All waters - 40 inches minimum length limit Daily Bag & Possession Limits: All waters - Daily and possession of 1.

Frogs, except for the endangered crawfish frog Season: All waters - Continuous Length Limits: All waters - None Daily Bag & Possession Limits: All waters - All frogs except bullfrogs and crawfish frogs combined daily: 48 and possession: 96. Bullfrogs combined daily and possession: 12. Crawfish frogs are protected as an endangered species. See p. 4.

Mussels All mussels except for those listed as threatened or endangered (p. 4) and the Zebra Mussel

(p. 19). The angler is responsible for the identification of the mussel species in possession.

Season: All waters - Continuous but the taking of mussels is restricted to the hours between sunrise and sunset.

Length Limit: All waters - None Daily Bag & Possession Limit: Inland waters1, Missouri River and Big Sioux River - Only dead shells may be harvested. Mississippi River and connected backwaters, live and dead shells may be harvested. The possession limit for all waters is 24 whole mussels or 48 shell halves. See p. 7 “Mussel Taking.”

Northern Pike (Identification p. 14) Season: All waters - Continuous Length Limit: All waters - None Daily Bag & Possession Limit Inland waters1 - Daily of 3 and possession of 6. For boundary lakes, see p. 16.

Boundary rivers2 - Daily of 5 and possession of 10 on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and a daily of 6 and possession of 12 on the Big Sioux River.

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. Find simple tips to give the fish you release the best chance for survival on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/ Fishing/Fishing-Tips-How-Tos/Catch-and-Release.

Catch and Release Tips

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Correct Measurement

Paddlefish Season: Continuous open season on all interior waters, except you cannot snag in areas closed to snagging

(p. 8). The open season on the Mississippi River is March 1 through April 15. Snagging for Paddlefish on the Mississippi River is restricted to the area within 500 yards below the navigation dams and their spillways.

The open season on the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers is Feb. 1 through April 30. The open area is limited to Iowa waters only on the Missouri River and the portion of the Big Sioux River along the Iowa and South Dakota border, starting at the Big Sioux River below the I-29 bridge to the Big Sioux River’s confluence with the Missouri River and in the Missouri River, including all backwater and sloughs and any Missouri River tributary starting at its confluence and extending below its I-29 bridge, starting at the Big Sioux River confluence and extending to the Hamburg Landing boat ramp. Snagging hours on the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers is sunrise to sunset. You cannot use hooks larger than 5/0 treble or measuring more than 1-1/4 inch long when two of the hook points are placed on a ruler (p. 8).

Length Limits: None, except for the Mississippi River where there is a 33-inch maximum length limit; and on the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers, there is a 35-45-inch protected slot limit. You must immediately release alive all fish measuring 33 inches or more on the Mississippi River and 35-45 inches on the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers. Measure the length of a Paddlefish from the front of the eye to the natural unaltered fork of the tail. (See illustration below). Use a flexible tape to measure along and over the center line contour of the fish while it is lying flat. You must immediately release alive all fish you do not take into possession.

Daily Bag & Possession Limit: All waters - daily of 2 and possession of 4 except on the Big Sioux River, Missouri River and any Missouri River tributary to its I-29 bridge where you can buy up to 2 paddle-fish tags each year. You can take 1 paddlefish with each paddlefish tag.

Big Sioux & Missouri Rivers Special License and Regulations:

You must have a valid resident or nonresident fishing license in addition to the Paddlefish fishing license with unused tag(s) to fish for Paddlefish in the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers. Residents and nonresidents under 16 years of age must have a Paddlefish fishing license and unused tag(s) to fish for Paddlefish.

Licenses are available first come, first served - 950 resident licenses and 50 nonresident licenses are available each year. You can buy up to two tags per year - one from Dec. 15 to Dec. 31 and an additional tag from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, or two tags if you didn’t buy one in December. To buy a license, go to www.iowadnr.gov/fishing. Anglers with a Paddlefish fishing license and unused tag(s) can snag fish to catch Paddlefish and rough fish (see p. 8 for list). You cannot use a gaffe hook or other penetrating device to help land a snagged fish. Once you have caught and tagged a Paddlefish, you must stop snagging. Immediately upon taking into possession a legal Paddlefish, attach the valid current year transportation tag issued with the license to the fish’s lower jaw in a way that it cannot be removed without mutilating or destroying it. A damaged tag or closed tag not attached to a Paddlefish is no longer valid. You cannot possess a Paddle-fish fishing license or transportation tag issued to another angler, or tag a Paddlefish with a transportation tag issued to another angler. The transportation tag must be attached before you can move the carcass from the place of harvest and remain attached to the Paddlefish until it is processed for consumption.

The Paddlefish must remain intact except for the snout in front of the eye until the fish reaches the final processing place. The “final processing place” is defined as the angler’s residence or the location where consumption occurs. The transportation tag is proof of possession of the carcass by the licensee.

Shovelnose Sturgeon (Identification p. 15) Season: All waters - Continuous except no harvest allowed in Big Sioux River.

Length Limit: All waters - None Daily Bag & Possession Limits: All waters - None, except the daily bag limit is 10 and possession limit is 20 in the Missouri River. You cannot sell eggs with a sport fishing license.

Measuring a Paddlefish Measure from the front of the eye to the unaltered fork in the tail.

Measuring a Shovelnose Sturgeon Measure from the tip of the snout to the unaltered fork in the tail.

How to Measure a Paddlefish and Shovelnose Sturgeon

12 Let's Go Fishing

Threatened and Endangered Species (p. 4) Season: All waters - Closed

Trout Brook, Brown and Rainbow (Identification p. 15) Season: All waters - Continuous Length Limits: None, except a 14-inch minimum length limit for all trout in Spring Branch (Delaware), from the spring source to County Hwy. D5X as posted, and on Brown Trout only in portions of Bloody Run Creek (Clayton) where posted.

Daily Bag & Possession: All waters - Combined daily of 5 and possession of 10.

Catch & Release Only: You must release alive immediately all trout caught from the posted portion of Hewett and Ensign Creeks; McLoud Run; and Waterloo Creek; and Brown Trout caught from French Creek and West Fork of French Creek; and Brook Trout caught from Casey Springs, Falcon Springs Pine Spring Creek and South Pine Creek.

Artificial Lure Only: You can only use artificial lures in the posted areas of Bloody Run Creek, Ensign Creek and Hewett Creek (Ensign Hollow), French Creek, McLoud Run, South Pine Creek, Spring Branch, Waterloo Creek, Casey Springs, Falcon Springs and Pine Spring Creek. Artificial lures don’t contain or have added to them natural or human-made substances made to attract fish by taste or smell.

Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye (Identification p. 14) Inland Waters Season: Continuous except on West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake and Spirit Lake (Dickinson). The open season on West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake and Spirit Lake is from May 4, 2024 through Feb.

14, 2025.

Length Limit: None except for the special lakes which are posted or published below.

Daily Bag & Possession Limit: Combined daily 5 and combined possession limit of 10, except for special lakes listed below and boundary lakes listed on p. 16.

Special Walleye Restrictions: The lakes listed below have a daily bag limit of 3 and possession limit of 6, except for Lake Rathbun, in addition to special length restrictions.

Big Creek Lake (Polk) 15-inch minimum length limit, and no more than one Walleye longer than 20-inches may be taken per day Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo) immediately release alive all 17- to 22-inch Walleyes; no more than one Walleye longer than 22-inches may be taken per day Lake Rathbun (Appanoose) 15-inch minimum length limit; daily bag limit of 5 and possession limit of 10 Storm Lake (Buena Vista) and West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Spirit Lake, Upper Gar, Minnewashta, Lower Gar (Dickinson) immediately release alive all 19 to 25-inch Walleyes; no more than one Walleye longer than 25-inches may be taken per day Boundary Rivers2

Season: Continuous Length Limit: A 15-inch minimum length limit applies to Walleye on all pools of the Mississippi River.

In addition, you must immediately release alive all walleye from 20 to 27-inches and no more than one Walleye above 27-inches may be taken per day.

DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMIT: Mississippi River combined daily 6 and combined possession of 12.

Big Sioux and Missouri rivers - combined daily of 4 and possession of 8.

Turtles Common Snapping, Spiny Softshell, Smooth Softshell and Painted Season: All waters - Continuous for common snapping turtles; Open season for spiny softshell, smooth softshell and painted turtles is from July 16, 2024 to May 14, 2025.

Length Limits: None Daily Bag & Possession: Daily of 4 common snapping, 1 spiny softshell or smooth softshell, 1 painted and possession of a maximum of 100 pounds of live turtles or 50 pounds of dressed turtles; the daily catch limit cannot exceed the possession limit.

13www.iowadnr.gov/fishing

Yellow Bass, White Bass, Rock Bass & Hybrid (Wiper) Season: All waters1 - Continuous Length Limit: All waters - None Daily Bag & Possession Limits:

Inland waters1 - None Boundary rivers2 Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers - None. Mississippi River and connected backwaters;

daily bag limit of 25 and possession limit of 50 for each of the following: White and Yellow bass combined, and Rock Bass.

1 Inland waters of the state include all interior lakes and streams including: Green Island Lake and Slough (Jackson), Middle and Upper Sabula (Jackson) and Lake Odessa (Louisa).

2 Boundary rivers of the state include the Mississippi, Missouri, Des Moines (Van Buren and Lee) and Big Sioux and their backwater lakes and sloughs.

Visit the DNR fisheries website at www.iowadnr.gov/fishing to find out more about Iowa fish and fishing.

Looking for information on hunting, boating and camping? Go to www.iowadnr.gov.

All Other Fish Season: All waters - Continuous Length Limits: All waters - None Daily Bag & Possession Limits: All waters - None

Yellow Perch Season: All waters - Continuous Length Limit: All waters - None Daily Bag & Possession Limits: All waters - Daily of 25 and possession of 50 except there is no daily or possession limit on the Missouri River. For Boundary lakes, see p. 16.

14 Let's Go Fishing

Fish Identification Walleye & Sauger You need to know the difference between Walleye and Sauger due to differences in length limits.

Sauger Sauger do not have a white tip on the lower tail fin; back is crossed with several darker saddles or blotches extending down on both sides;

distinct black spots on the forward (spiny) portion of the dorsal fin are aligned in rows.

Walleye Walleye have a white tip on the lower tail fin; do not have distinct blotches or mottling on the sides; forward (spiny) portion of the dorsal fin has dark streaks or blotches instead of distinct black spots.

Photo courtesy of Jim Negus, www.tnfish.org

Photo courtesy of Jim Negus, www.tnfish.org

Lakes and streams may contain muskie and Northern Pike. It is important to know the difference among members of the pike family to obey appropriate size, catch and possession limits.

Normally a bluish-green to gray on the back with irregular rows of light-colored horizontal bean-shaped spots on the sides. There are five or fewer pores on each side of the lower jaw. The entire cheek and upper half of the gill cover is scaled.

Northern Pike

Iowa’s Pike Family

Usually are olive to dark gray with tiger-like vertical markings on the side. They have 6 to 8 pores on each side of the lower jaw. Only the upper half of both the cheek and gill cover is scaled.

Muskellunge

Muskie 6 to 8 pores per side Pike up to 5 pores per side

15www.iowadnr.gov/fishing

Trout Rainbow Trout

Brown Trout

Brook Trout

Olive to greenish-blue above and silvery below with a prominent horizontal red band on the side. There are many small, dark spots on the body, dorsal fin and tail.

Olive to greenish-brown. The large black and reddish-orange spots on the sides of the fish have a pale border. The lower portions of the fish are yellow, fading to gray or white beneath. Browns have few or no spots on the tail fin.

Vivid white markings on the front edges of the lower fins. They also have light “worm-like” markings on the back. General color:

olive to gray-green.

Sturgeon images are courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Sturgeon

Pallid Sturgeon Endangered: If caught, release immediately, unharmed.

l Outer barbels twice as long as inner barbels l Base of barbels “U” shaped, inner two set out in front l Smooth belly

Lake Sturgeon Endangered: If caught, release immediately, unharmed.

l Short snout turns up at end l Barbels are not fringed

Shovelnose Sturgeon l Barbels all the same length l Barbels straight across l Rarely exceeds 4 pounds l Belly is scaled

16 Let's Go Fishing

A resident or nonresident with a valid Iowa fishing license

Mississippi River Missouri River Nebraska

Big Sioux River South Dakota

Des Moines River Missouri3

Border Lakes MinnesotaWisconsin1 Illinois

May hook and line fish only X X May hook and line fish, spear and archery fish

X X X4

May hook and line fish, spear and take minnows and crayfish for such fishing

X

May fish all sloughs and back-waters connected with the main channel

X X X2 X3

May fish from a boat or the bank of either state

X X X X

May not fish from or attach any device or equipment to the main bank of the state where you are not licensed, cannot fish any tributary

X X

Must comply with the regulations of the state in which you are fishing

X

When fishing in water in which you are not licensed you must comply with the state having the more restrictive regulations.

X X X X X4

1Wisconsin-Iowa - You only can fish in the waters of the Mississippi River lying between the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad tracks on the Iowa side of the river and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad tracks lying on the Wisconsin side of the river.

2Nebraska-Iowa - Waters of the Missouri River include all oxbows, sloughs, chutes and backwaters that draw water from the Missouri River proper. Included are any oxbows, chutes and backwaters separated from the river but through which the Iowa-Nebraska state line passes. In Desoto Bend Lake, you must obey federal refuge regulations.

3Missouri-Iowa - Included are any oxbow lakes separated from the river but through which the Iowa-Missouri state line passes.

4Minnesota-Iowa - boundary lakes include Little Spirit Lake (Dickinson), Iowa Lake (Osceola), Burt (Swag) Lake (Kossuth), and Iowa and Tuttle (Okamanpeedan) Lakes (Emmet). The following species have a continuous open season with a daily bag and possession limit set forth below: Walleye, Northern Pike and in combination Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass daily bag and possession limit three. There is no length limit for bass. Channel Catfish daily bag and possession limit eight. Crappie species and sunfish species (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Green Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids) in aggregate, bag and possession limit 25. Muskellunge daily bag and possession limit one with an open season beginning May 21 through November 30 and a 40-inch minimum length limit shall apply on all border lakes. Spearing or archery may be used to take carp, buffalo, Bowfin, Freshwater Drum, gar and Quillback Carpsucker. All species not listed above are subject to the inland regulations of the state and have a continuous open season.

License Agreements with Bordering States Fish privileges on boundary waters common to Iowa and a bordering state are mutually agreed upon by the neighboring states. You can fish boundary waters common to Iowa with a valid fishing license, but it is your responsibility to know which state you are fishing in and the regulations for the water that you are fishing. (See the following table).

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Species and Size River Reach or Lake

Channel Catfish (all sizes) McKinley Lake (Union County)

Common Carp (greater than 20 inches) Mississippi River, Pool 15 at Davenport (Scott County)

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), www.EPA.gov/fishadvice, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), www.FDA.gov/fishadvice, and Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommend eating fish weekly as part of a healthy diet.

Iowa DNR biologists have collected tissue samples from thousands of Iowa fish and submitted them for laboratory analyses to monitor for common contaminants. These results show that most fish in Iowa are safe to eat; however, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can occur in trace amounts in some Iowa fish.

Tested fish at two locations in Iowa exceeded Iowa’s risk based advisory levels for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels. These advisory levels were set by DHHS based on EPA and FDA guidance.

All Iowans should not eat more than 1 meal per week of the fish from these areas:

What is a serving? As a guide, use the palm of your hand.

BEST CHOICES

EAT 2-3 SERVINGS A WEEK

Smaller than (<)

GOOD CHOICES

EAT 1 SERVING A WEEK

Bigger than (>)

Bluegill Channel Catfish < 24” Common Carp Crappie Species (All) Flathead Catfish < 18” Freshwater Drum < 17” Hybrid Striped Bass < 20” Largemouth Bass < 13” Paddlefish

Sauger < 15” Shovelnose Sturgeon Smallmouth Bass < 13” Trout Species (All) Walleye < 19” White Bass < 15” Yellow Bass Yellow Perch

Channel Catfish > 24” Flathead Catfish > 18” Freshwater Drum > 17” Hybrid Striped Bass > 20” Largemouth Bass > 13”

Northern Pike…