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Continuous season with the following exceptions:
There is no open season on Missouri River or Big Sioux Rivers. There is no open
season on any tributary to the Missouri River or Big Sioux River within 200 yards
immediately upstream of that tributaries' confluence with the Missouri River or
Big Sioux River.
Snagging for paddlefish on the Mississippi River is restricted to the area within
500 yards below the navigation dams and their spillways with the exception that there
is a closed season for all fishing on the Mississippi River in the tailwaters at three
navigation dams from December 1 of each year through March 15 of the following year. The
closed areas include only the main channel and main channel border areas and do not apply
to backwaters and side channels in these zones. These closed fishing areas are:
1. from Dam 11 at Dubuque downstream to the railroad bridge, near river mile 579.9.
2. from Dam 12 at Bellevue downstream to the mouth of Mill Creek, near
river mile 556.0 and
3. from Dam 13 at Clinton downstream to the downstream end of Stamp Island
near river mile 521.5.
The open season on the Mississippi River is March 1 through April 15.
On the Mississippi River, no hooks larger than 5/0 treble or measuring more than 1.25 inches in length when the two hook
points are placed on a ruler is permitted when snagging (see illustration below for measurement example).
Paddlefish snagging is not permitted in the following areas, which are closed to snagging:
- Des Moines River from directly below the hydro electric dam (Big Dam) to the Hawkeye Avenue Bridge in Fort Dodge.
- Des Moines River from directly below the Little Dam to the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge in Fort Dodge.
- Des Moines River from directly below Saylorville Dam to the Southeast 14th Street bridge in Des Moines.
- Northeast bank of the Des Moines River from directly below the Ottumwa Dam, including the catwalk, to the Jefferson Street Bridge. Snagging from the South Market Street bridge is also prohibited.
- Cedar River in Cedar Rapids from directly below the 5 in 1 Dam under I-380 to the 1st Avenue bridge.
- Cedar River in Cedar Rapids from directly below the "C" Street Roller Dam to 300 yards downstream.
- Iowa River from directly below the Coralville Dam to 300 yards downstream.
- Chariton River from directly below Lake Rathbun Dam to 300 yards downstream.
- Missouri River.
- Big Sioux River from the I-29 bridge to the confluence with the Missouri River.
- Spillway area from directly below the Spirit Lake outlet to the confluence at East Okoboji Lake.
- Clear Lake and Ventura Marsh from the Ventura Grade, jetty and bridge.
The daily bag limit is 2.
The possession limit is 4.
There is no minimum length on waters other than the Mississippi River.
On the Mississippi River, a 33-inch maximum length limit shall apply. Any paddlefish measuring 33-inches
or more when measured from the front of the eye to the fork of the tail must be immediately released alive.
(See illustration on p. 13 of the 2010
Iowa Fishing Regulations,*pdf).
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