Big Sioux Recreation Area
General Information
County: Sioux
Location:
Acres: 65.00
Maximum Depth: 20.3 ft. (2013)
Motoring Restrictions:
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Big Sioux Recreation Area include:
- Boat Access
- Fishing Jetty
- Accessible Pier
- Picnic Area
- Beach
- Trails
- Accessible Facilities
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Camping
- Concessions
- Good/Excellent Shorefishing
- Hard Surface Boat Ramp
- Accessible Shoreline
- 09/20/2018 - 351 Channel Catfish (8.1)
- 10/11/2013 - 590 Channel Catfish (9.0")
- 05/23/2013 - 2,501 Channel Catfish (5.0")
The
Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.
- Black Bullhead
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
- Black Crappie
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other: No daily limit on private waters
- Bluegill
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other: No daily limit on private waters
- Channel Catfish
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
- Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
- Largemouth Bass
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
- Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
- Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
- Other:
- Yellow Bass
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: none
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
- Yellow Perch
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
- Possession Limit: 50 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
Largemouth bass anglers need persistence and patience to catch angler acceptable size and larger fish; anglers are reminded to practice catch and release of this important predator fish.
Bluegill anglers will find good opportunities at Big Sioux Recreation Area during the 2017/18 fishing season. Early season (May - June 2017) will produce a catch dominated by angler acceptable size and larger bluegill common within the catch. Continued good growth of the bluegill population should produce good numbers of quality (6- to 7.9-inch) and preferred (> 8 inch) fish for the fall (2017) and winter seasons.
Anglers will continue to notice the influx of pan-sized and larger channel catfish, as good numbers of these stocked fish are available for the upcoming 2017/18 season. Continued good growth and the success of recent stocking will sustain this fishery in Big Sioux Recreational Area for several years to come.
(2017)
Contacts
Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases
The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.