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Fishing

 

Iowa is home to over 150 different fish species. Some may be familiar to you, walleye, largemouth bass, and bluegill, because they are sport fish - species that are abundant enough to support a fishery, large enough to bend a fishing rod, and aggressive enough to bite a hook. 

There are many other species hidden beneath the water’s surface, some of them rare or difficult to find. Iowa DNR manages all of these species as part of the incredible aquatic resources Iowa is lucky to have.

Fish Iowa System

Find Information about Iowa Fish Species

Search by fish common name, species name, or other keyword to easily find information about it.

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How to Identify Iowa Fish

List items for How to Identify Iowa Fish

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How to Fish For:

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Fish Conservation

Iowa DNR works to protect fish, fisheries, and the aquatic ecosystems upon which they depend, not only today but for future generations. This work is accomplished in many ways. 

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Fish Habitat Enhancement

Iowa DNR Fisheries staff use many habitat enhancements on Iowa waters to improve your chance of catching fish and provide shelter for all kinds of fish. They build some enhancements on the dry or frozen lake bottom and place others from a boat in existing water. Each habitat enhancement has its own limits and benefits that are usually focused on a specific species, season or type of fishing. Common enhancements are tree piles, rock reefs and mounds, spawning attracting areas, stake beds, benched jetties, bank hides and others.

Where these enhancements are placed can vary widely. All depths and locations can offer benefits to many species during some time of the year. A site is chosen based on many factors such as the natural bottom contour, where fishing would be best to avoid conflicts with other activities, siltation, behavior patterns of the desired fish species, as well as any other concerns. Branches from brush piles are sometimes left exposed to help anglers find these submerged locations. Habitat structures placed in deeper water offer shelter during summer months, and structures placed in the deepest areas can provide excellent cover for winter panfish.

In streams, habitat enhancements include dozens of techniques such as longitudinal peaked stone toe protection, j-hook vanes, rock arch rapids, oxbows, riparian corridor restorations, and tree/shrub plantings. Every stream is different, but techniques emphasize incorporating natural materials, such as logs, stone, and live plantings. Oftentimes, stream habitat enhancements—and restorations in general—occur on private lands through partnership with the Iowa DNR.

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Lake Restoration 

Lake restoration focused on essential water quality improvements is often paired with fish habitat projects through partnership and coordination. Iowans value clean water and desire safe, healthy lakes that offer many aesthetic, natural and recreational opportunities. Clean lakes improve the quality of life for Iowans and help bring economic growth to communities. 

Since the Iowa DNR’s Lake Restoration Program’s inception, funding has been invested at 65 lakes, located across 47 counties. Major program accomplishments include:

  • More than 26 miles of shoreline protection
  • 5 Million cubic yards (~300,000 dump trucks) of excess sediment removed
  • More than 14,000 acres of shallow lake and wetland enhancement
  • More than 200 watershed improvement practices, such as upland habitat and stream restoration, sediment ponds, terraces, and grade stabilization structures to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution to downstream lakes
  • 45 infrastructure projects, such as dam/spillway repairs, lake outlet water control structures, and fish barriers to prevent migration of fish species that negatively impact water quality (common carp)
  • Increased water clarity at more than 70 percent of projects following restoration, with an average increase of 1.5 feet in water clarity
  • Improved habitat for fish and other aquatic life
  • Removal of several lakes from Iowa’s Impaired Waters List

Learn more about the Lake Restoration Program.

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Aquatic Plant Management

Healthy aquatic ecosystems have plants instead of algae. Native plant species, such as coontail, water celery, and many of the pondweeds, provide greater oxygen production for fish, shelter from predators, and habitat for the macroinvertebrates on which fish like Bluegill feed. Plants are important for some fish to lay their eggs, like yellow perch. A healthy fishery has plants over 20-40% of its surface area, usually in the littoral zone along the shoreline. 

Aquatic plants can enhance fishing and the natural beauty of a lake, but may also become overgrown. Iowa DNR Fisheries has a dedicated Aquatic Plant Management Program to assist staff and partners with appropriate plant management plans and treatments, and balancing ecosystem needs with access for fishing and other recreational uses.

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Aquatic Invasive Species

Invasive and nuisance species can damage the native fish community, reduce fishing quality, and hurt the aquatic ecosystem. These species range from fish to plants to macroinvertebrates…even plankton. Because some invasive species are microscopic - such as zebra mussels and spiny waterflea - we encourage all boaters to Clean, Drain, and Dry every time. 

Invasive plants, including curlyleaf pondweed and Eurasian Watermilfoil, can choke out native aquatic plants, consuming available space and resources for plant growth. These thick clusters of plants can die off mid-summer, rotting and leading to algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and fish kills. 

Zebra mussels can colonize over native mussels like a layer of carpet, suffocating entire native mussel beds and blocking water supply pipes. 

Fish species, including all species of carp and gizzard shad, can become so abundant in compromised waters that they take over 90 percent of the fish biomass. This often occurs because they are highly reproductive, highly tolerant of poor water quality or habitat, have no natural predators, and are very competitive at finding food.

Invasive species management strategies include prevention (Clean, Drain, and Dry!), reduction or control, and elimination. For example, watercraft inspectors work hard every summer to ensure that boaters are aware of the dangers of zebra mussels and the necessity for preventing invasive species transport across waterbodies. 

Our Aquatic Plant Management Program works to eliminate early plant invasions if possible, and to reduce the known infestations through early treatment. Our Fisheries staff work to renovate entire fisheries when necessary, being forced to “reset” the fish community when an invasive species is out of control. These efforts are some of the most challenging that we face, but some of the most important because they affect the entire aquatic ecosystem. 

Learn more about the Aquatic Invasive Species Program

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Monitoring of Species Status

Iowa DNR monitors fish, mussel, and crayfish species and regularly updates their status as threatened, endangered, or of other special concern. We call these Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Some fish, like lake sturgeon, could provide unique fishing opportunities one day with adequate protections and careful, thoughtful management. Iowa’s SGCN fish species include:

 

Iowa’s SGCN mussel species include:

  • Slippershell
  • Cylindrical Papershell
  • Spectacle Case
  • Purple Wartyback
  • Butterfly (Mussel)
  • Higgins’ Eye Pearlymussel
  • Yellow Sandshell
  • Creek Heelsplitter
  • Bullhead (Mussel)
  • Round Pigtoe
  • Strange Floater
  • Pistolgrip
  • Ellipse

 

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