19 public waters in the Iowa Great Lakes & North Central region — 7 lakes/reservoirs and 12 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.
Clear Lake (3,600 ac) in north-central Iowa — Walleye, Yellow Perch and Largemouth Bass headline a shallow, wind-swept natural lake with a big summer boating and cottage scene, plus Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie.
Crystal Lake, a 264-acre lake in Hancock 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.
East Twin Lake (190 acres) sits in Hancock 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.
Hancock County, Iowa — West Twin Lake is a 115-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.
Hancock County, Iowa — Eldred Sherwood Lake is a 22-acre lake, 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.
Eldred Sherwood Park Lake, a 21-acre lake in Hancock 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.
Hancock County, Iowa — Pilot Knob Lake is a 16-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.
In Wright, Hamilton and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Boone River is a 141 km river or creek. 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.
Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago and 2 more counties in Iowa — Winnebago River is a 97 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.
West Branch Iowa River (59 km) flows through Hancock and Wright Counties, Iowa. The Cedar or Iowa River — Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Sauger through the middle reaches, Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Rock Bass and Bluegill. The Iowa River's Coralville Lake is a major reservoir near Iowa City.
East Branch Iowa River (54 km) flows through Hancock and Wright Counties, Iowa. The Cedar or Iowa River — Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Sauger through the middle reaches, Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Rock Bass and Bluegill. The Iowa River's Coralville Lake is a major reservoir near Iowa City.
Lindsey Creek runs 1 km through Kossuth and Hancock 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 Winnebago, Kossuth and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Buffalo Creek is a 14 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.
Hancock and Wright Counties, Iowa — East Branch Boone River is a 22 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.
Middle Branch Boone River runs 23 km through Hancock County, 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.
Galls Creek runs 18 km through Hancock and Cerro Gordo 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.
West Otter Creek runs 22 km through Hancock and Wright Counties, Iowa: A northeast-Iowa Driftless Area spring creek (French Creek, Bloody Run, Waterloo Creek, Paint Creek, Big Mill Creek) — cold, clear, spring-fed limestone water with wild and stocked brown and Brook Trout, and stocked rainbows in the put-and-take waters. Classic Driftless coulee-country fly fishing, an extension of the same geology as southwest Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.
In Cerro Gordo and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Clear Creek is a 17 km river or creek. A northeast-Iowa Driftless Area spring creek (French Creek, Bloody Run, Waterloo Creek, Paint Creek, Big Mill Creek) — cold, clear, spring-fed limestone water with wild and stocked brown and Brook Trout, and stocked rainbows in the put-and-take waters. Classic Driftless coulee-country fly fishing, an extension of the same geology as southwest Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.
In Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Bear Creek is a 9 km river or creek. A northeast-Iowa Driftless Area spring creek (French Creek, Bloody Run, Waterloo Creek, Paint Creek, Big Mill Creek) — cold, clear, spring-fed limestone water with wild and stocked brown and Brook Trout, and stocked rainbows in the put-and-take waters. Classic Driftless coulee-country fly fishing, an extension of the same geology as southwest Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.
Across its mapped waters, Hancock County holds 20 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.