Map

Fishing in Johnston, IA

Iowa, United States

App Section

Want trophy-size catches? These Johnston spots deliver

Top fish species in Johnston

Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Bluegill
Bluegill
Channel catfish
Channel catfish
Black crappie
Black crappie
Walleye
Walleye

Latest Johnston fishing reports

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

Ankeny Lake (DMACC)

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

Ankeny Lake (DMACC)

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Creek chub

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Creek chub

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

Upland Trail Pond

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

Spring Creek South

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Creek chub

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

Spring Creek South

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

Spring Creek South

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

White crappie

Lake Ahquabi

length · weight

Fishbrain
More catches in the app...

Continue browsing catches and catch locations in the Fishbrain app

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

About Johnston fishing

Check out the best fishing spots in and around Johnston, Iowa. Anglers using Fishbrain have logged: 14,689 catches for Largemouth bass, 2,677 catches for Bluegill, and 2,212 catches for Channel catfish.

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

Unlock fishing secrets in the app

Discover the best time to fish by species in your area with Bitetime™

Bite time image

Fishing regulations in Johnston

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Iowa can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of April 1st, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

3

Min size

12"

Measurement

Total Length

Special gear

Aggregate

3

Statewide regulations: No closed season.

Daily bag limit = 3 bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, combined).

Daily possession limit = 6 bass (combined)

EXCEPTIONS:

All black bass caught from the following stream segments and lakes must be released alive immediately: 

  1. Brown Lake (Jackson)
  2. Cedar River (Mitchell) extending downstream from the bridge on county road A19 east of Otranto as posted to the bridge on county road T26 south of St. Ansgar 
  3. Maquoketa River (Delaware) extending downstream from below Lake Delhi Dam as posted to the first county gravel road bridge 
  4. Middle Raccoon River (Guthrie) extending downstream from below Lake Panorama Dam as posted to the dam at Redfield 
  5. Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek) extending downstream from the Fifth Street bridge in Decorah as posted to the upper dam 
  6. Wapello Lake (Davis).

Inland Waters:

  • Minimum size = 15-inches in all public lakes, including Coralville, Rathbun, Saylorville, and Red Rock reservoirs except as otherwise posted, including: 
  1. Ada Hayden (Story): 18-inch minimum
  2. Ahquabi, Hooper (Warren): 18-inch minimum
  3. Big Creek: 18-inch minimum
  4. Casey (Tama): 18-inch minimum
  5. Cold Springs (Cass): 18-inch minimum
  6. Green Valley (Union): 18-inch minimum
  7. Hawthorn (Mahaska): all 12 to 16-inch fish must be immediately released!
  8. Hendricks (Howard): 18-inch minimum
  9. Krumm (Jasper): 18-inch minimum
  10. Little Wall (Hamilton): 18-inch minimum
  11. Lost Grove (Scott): 18-inch minimum
  12. Mill Creek (O'Brien): 18-inch minimum
  13. Pleasant Creek (Linn): 18-inch minimum
  14. Smith (Kossuth): 18-inch minimum
  15. South Prairie (Black Hawk): 18-inch minimum 
  16. Sugema (Van Buren): all 12 to 18-inch fish must be immediately released! 
  17. Swan Lake (Carroll): 16-inch minimum
  18. Thomas Mitchell: 18-inch minimum
  19. Yellow Banks (Polk): 18-inch minimum

Interior Streams & River Impoundments 

  • Minimum size limit = 12-inch minimum except

Boundary Rivers (including associated chutes and backwaters where intermittent or constant flow occur)

  • Daily Bag Limit = 5 bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, combined).
  • Possession Limit = 10 bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, combined).
  • Mississippi River: Minimum size = 14-inches total length.
  • Missouri River: Minimum size = 12-inches total length.

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

41°41′8.5″N 93°43′2.3″W
Regulations in the map
App Section
Download Fishbrain and fish smarter
Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish.

Free trial available

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

FAQ about Johnston fishing

Anglers in Johnston, IA recommend these top fishing spots: Des Moines River (Iowa), Saylorville Lake, Big Creek Lake, Raccoon River, and Terra Lake.
Most commonly caught species around Johnston, IA:
The latest Johnston, IA fishing reports are:
Download the and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Johnston, IA. We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro, you will get the following capabilities:
  • Plan smarter: Get hour-by-hour fishing weather conditions.
  • Fish at peak times: Use BiteTime™ predictions to maximize catches.
  • Stay ahead of the weather: Get hyper-local, real-time updates.

Other cities near Johnston

Grimes

4.0 miles away

Urbandale

4.6 miles away

Clive

6.4 miles away

Ankeny

6.6 miles away

Des Moines

9.6 miles away

West Des Moines

9.8 miles away

Waukee

10.6 miles away

Altoona

12.6 miles away

Norwalk

13.6 miles away

Indianola

23.6 miles away

Ames

24.0 miles away

Boone

26.7 miles away

Newton

34.9 miles away

Marshalltown

48.2 miles away

Fort Dodge

61.6 miles away

Oskaloosa

62.0 miles away

Ottumwa

81.6 miles away

Cedar Falls

86.7 miles away

Waterloo

89.4 miles away

Storm Lake

100.6 miles away

Fairfield

102.2 miles away

Mason City

104.5 miles away

Cedar Rapids

106.7 miles away

North Liberty

108.7 miles away