27 public waters in the Central Iowa region — 4 lakes/reservoirs and 23 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.
Mahaska County, Iowa — Hawthorne Lake is a 179-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.
Hawthorn Lake (161 acres) sits in Mahaska 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.
Lake Keomah, a 80-acre lake in Mahaska County, Iowa, 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.
White Oak Lake (18 acres) sits in Mahaska County, Iowa, 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.
South Skunk River (272 km) flows through Mahaska, Jasper, Story and 3 more counties in 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.
North Skunk River (173 km) flows through Keokuk, Jasper, Mahaska and 2 more counties in 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.
In Jefferson, Wapello, Mahaska and 2 more counties in Iowa, Cedar Creek is a 86 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.
Keokuk, Poweshiek, Mahaska and 1 more county in Iowa — South English River is a 71 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.
Mahaska, Marion, Monroe and 1 more county in Iowa — Muchakinock Creek is a 33 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.
Mahaska County, Iowa — Middle Creek is a 29 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.
Elk Creek runs 32 km through Jasper and Mahaska 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 Mahaska and Monroe Counties, Iowa, Bluff Creek is a 22 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 Monroe and Mahaska Counties, Iowa, Grays Creek is a 19 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.
Poweshiek and Mahaska Counties, Iowa — Moon Creek is a 19 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 Marion and Mahaska Counties, Iowa, Thunder Creek is a 16 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.
Jasper and Mahaska Counties, Iowa — Buckley Creek is a 18 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.
North Coal Creek runs 14 km through Mahaska and Marion 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.
Mahaska County, Iowa — Saint Joseph Creek is a 13 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 Mahaska County, Iowa, Little Muchakinock 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.
Turkey Run (13 km) flows through Mahaska and Monroe 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 Mahaska and Monroe Counties, Iowa, Little Bluff Creek is a 10 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.
Snyder Creek (8 km) flows through Mahaska 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.
Spring Creek (10 km) flows through Wapello, Mahaska and Keokuk 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.
Brown Creek (9 km) flows through Wapello and Mahaska 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.
Pleasant Creek (8 km) flows through Mahaska and Poweshiek 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.
Wapello and Mahaska Counties, Iowa — Fudge 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.
Keokuk and Mahaska Counties, Iowa — Mattix Branch 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.
Across its mapped waters, Mahaska County holds 16 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Walleye, Flathead Catfish, Common Carp, Smallmouth Bass and Redear Sunfish.
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.