Guide To The Best Fishing Lakes In Iowa
Top places to fish for bass, catfish, crappie and more in IA.
Big Spirit Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, Lake Red Rock, Rathbun Lake, Saylorville Lake and West Okoboji Lake are the most popular places for fishing in Iowa, offering anglers the chance to pursue a variety of fish species. Many lakes in the state that freeze over offer ice fishing.
Bass
Black Hawk Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Hawthorn Lake, Lake MacBride, Lake Wapello, Lake Red Rock, Lost Grove Lake, Rathbun Lake, Saylorville Lake and West Okoboji Lake are considered the best options for largemouth and smallmouth bass. More...
Catfish
Rivers like Cedar River, Iowa River and the Mississippi River, plus Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, Five Island Lake, Lost Island Lake, Rathbun Reservoir, Saylorville Lake, Storm Lake and West Okoboji Lake are favorite options for channel, blue, white and flathead catfish. More...
Crappie
Black Hawk Lake, Clear Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Green Castle Lake, Lake MacBride, Lake Red Rock, Lake Wapello, Rathbun Lake, Saylorville Lake, Storm Lake, The Mississippi River and West Okoboji Lake are some of the most popular waters for black and white crappie. More...
Sunfish, Perch & Panfish
Big Creek Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, Lake Red Rock, Pickeral Lake, Rathbun Lake, Saylorville Lake, Storm Lake, The Mississippi River, Trumbull Lake and West Okoboji Lake are among the many popular lakes to fish for bluegill, bream, perch and other sunfish. More...
Walleye
Big Spirit Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Lake Red Rock, Lost Grove Lake, Lost Island Lake, Rathbun Lake, Saylorville Lake, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake and West Okoboji Lake are considered the top locations for walleye fishing. More...
Trout
Many small lakes, streams and rivers are stocked with trout providing fishing for rainbow, brook and brown trout. More...
Striped Bass
The Iowa River and the Mississippi River along with major lakes including Coralville Lake, Lake MacBride, Lake Red Rock, Lake Wapello, Rathbun Lake and Saylorville Lake are the good options for striped bass and hybrid striped bass. More...
Visit the Iowa fishing page for links to information covering a wide variety of fish species and destinations in the state. Visit the Iowa map to identify your best route to these top fishing locations. Look to our sister site for additional information about boating in IA at many of the most popular destinations in the state.
Best Destinations By State.
IOWA
