18 public waters in the Iowa Great Lakes & North Central region — 4 lakes/reservoirs and 14 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a Iowa licence.
See every public fishing venue in Iowa on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Storm Lake, a 3,050-acre lake in Buena Vista County, Iowa, managed by Iowa Department of Natural Resources (significant public lake): A natural Iowa lake (Clear Lake, Storm Lake, Tuttle Lake, Lost Island Lake, Trumbull Lake, Five Island Lake, Silver Lake) — shallow, glacial or prairie-pothole lakes across north-central Iowa. Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Yellow Perch and Channel Catfish. Many have seen major water-quality restoration work in recent decades.
Pickerel Lake (165 acres) sits in Buena Vista County, Iowa, managed by US Army Corps of Engineers. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Little Storm Lake (86 acres) sits in Buena Vista County, Iowa, managed by US Army Corps of Engineers. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Buena Vista County, Iowa — Pleasant Lake is a 18-acre lake, managed by US Army Corps of Engineers: Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Clay, Cherokee, Woodbury and 3 more counties in Iowa — Little Sioux River is a 384 km stream: A western Iowa river (the Little Sioux, Big Sioux, Boyer, Nishnabotna) — channel and Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Carp and Drum in muddy, meandering loess-hills country rivers.
Greene, Dallas, Sac and 3 more counties in Iowa — North Raccoon River is a 273 km stream: A central or southern Iowa prairie river (the Raccoon, Grand, Chariton, Boone, Skunk, English) — channel and Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Carp and Drum. Muddy, low-gradient, agricultural-belt water.
Ida, Cherokee, Monona and 2 more counties in Iowa — Maple River is a 107 km stream: A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Pocahontas and Buena Vista Counties, Iowa — Little Cedar Creek is a 37 km stream: A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Brooke Creek (28 km) flows through Buena Vista County, Iowa. A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Maple Creek (20 km) flows through Buena Vista and Cherokee Counties, Iowa. A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
In Buena Vista County, Iowa, Outlet Creek is a lake. A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
In Buena Vista and Cherokee Counties, Iowa, Little Maple River is a 15 km river or creek. A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
In Buena Vista County, Iowa, Fox Run is a 17 km river or creek. A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Poor Farm Creek (15 km) flows through Buena Vista County, Iowa. A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
In Buena Vista and Sac Counties, Iowa, Boyer Creek is a 12 km river or creek. A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Buck Run, a lake in Sac and Buena Vista Counties, Iowa: A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Powell Creek runs 8 km through Buena Vista County, Iowa: A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Cottonwood Creek (6 km) flows through Buena Vista County, Iowa. A warmwater Iowa river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Across its mapped waters, Buena Vista County holds 15 species on PiscaMaps, including Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Smallmouth Bass, Flathead Catfish and Northern Pike.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Iowa map Join PiscaMapsOne Iowa DNR fishing licence covers every public water in the state — the resident annual is about $22, the non-resident annual about $48, with non-resident 1-day and 7-day options. A ~$16.50 trout fee is required in addition to the fishing licence to fish for or keep trout in the Driftless Area streams. Iowa residents 65 and older can buy a discounted licence, and anyone under 16 fishes free. Buy at iowadnr.gov.