23 public waters in the Central Iowa region — 4 lakes/reservoirs and 19 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.
Bays Branch Lake, a 440-acre Army Corps pool in Guthrie County, is a bass-focused destination in central Iowa. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass thrive in this intimate lake, with the unique addition of green sunfish hybrids adding interest to the panfish bite.
Lake Panorama, a 238-acre lake in Guthrie 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.
Diamondhead Lake, a 96-acre lake in Guthrie 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.
In Guthrie County, Iowa, Springbrook Lake is a 13-acre lake, managed by Iowa Department of Natural Resources (significant public lake). A small Iowa state or county park lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, often with a boat ramp and shoreline fishing access. Managed by the DNR fisheries bureau; many have had aeration or renovation work.
Middle River runs 156 km through Madison, Warren, Adair and 1 more county in 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.
Madison, Warren, Adair and 2 more counties in Iowa — North River is a 139 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.
Middle Raccoon River runs 100 km through Carroll, Guthrie and Dallas Counties, Iowa: 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.
Guthrie, Dallas and Audubon Counties, Iowa — South Raccoon River is a 5 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.
Carroll, Guthrie and Audubon Counties, Iowa — Brushy Creek is a 7 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.
Mosquito Creek (49 km) flows through Guthrie and Dallas 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.
Cass, Adair and Guthrie Counties, Iowa — Turkey 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.
Greene, Guthrie and Dallas Counties, Iowa — Greenbrier Creek is a 1 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.
Cass, Audubon and Guthrie Counties, Iowa — Troublesome Creek is a 38 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.
Greene, Carroll and Guthrie Counties, Iowa — Willow Creek is a 39 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.
In Guthrie County, Iowa, Bay Branch 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.
Mason Creek (13 km) flows through Guthrie 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.
Plunger Creek (Adair and Guthrie Counties, Iowa) sits in Adair and Guthrie 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.
Seely Creek (12 km) flows through Guthrie 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.
Lone Grove Creek (11 km) flows through Guthrie 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.
Dead Brier Creek runs 13 km through Greene and Guthrie 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.
South Fork Middle River runs 9 km through Guthrie 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.
Jim Creek runs 12 km through Adair, Dallas, Madison and 1 more county in 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.
Guthrie County, Iowa — Frost Creek is a 8 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.
Across its mapped waters, Guthrie County holds 19 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, Common Carp 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.