Ready to Fish

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. 

Have fun and "fish local" today!

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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.

• 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.

• Iowa Fishing Basics
• Quick Fishing Facts
• Vamos a Pescar

Check out these helpful tips to help you identify Iowa fish.

• Iowa Fish Species
• Peces de Iowa

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.

• How to fish for bluegill
• How to fish for crappie
• How to fish for largemouth bass
• How to set the hook
• How to land a fish
• Catch and release tips
• Learn How to Fish by Depth

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

• Animated Fishing Knots
• Knots Every Anglers Should Know
• Fishing Knots Playlist