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Upper Brown Lake

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Iowa, United States

2 catches

Top fish species at Upper Brown Lake

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Upper Brown Lake fishing reports

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Smallmouth bass

15 in · 2 lb

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Largemouth bass

18 in · 3 lb

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General info

Upper Brown Lake is a lake located in Jackson County, Iowa, United States. It is most popular for fishing Smallmouth bass and Largemouth bass.

Location

42°09′20.5″N 90°15′45.6″W
Directions

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Upper Brown Lake?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Upper Brown Lake. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Upper Brown Lake, IA

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.

Regulations for top species

Species prohibited
Smallmouth bass

Smallmouth bass

Regulation boundaryIA Upper Brown Lake

It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell, or exchange this species.

Restrictions & requirements

Culling

Culling and high-grading are not allowed. Any fish that is not to be counted in the daily bag limit must be returned immediately to the water with as little injury as possible. Any fish placed on a stringer or in a container, or not returned to the water must be counted in the bag. 

Catch and Release Only

Daily Creel Limit = 0 (Catch and Release Fishing Only)

IA Unlawful Means

You must not use any grab hook, snag hook, any kind of net, seine, trap, firearm, dynamite or other explosives, or poisonous or stupefying substances, lime, ashes, electricity or hand fishing to take or try to take any fish. You must return to the water immediately all game fish not hooked in the mouth, except Paddlefish, with as little injury as possible. 

Bow Fishing, Spearing, Snagging

A valid sport fishing license lets you take Common Carp, Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Grass Carp, Black Carp, Bigmouth Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo, Black Buffalo, Quillback, Highfin Carpsucker, River Carpsucker, Spotted Sucker, White Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse, Golden Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Freshwater Drum, Shortnose Gar, Longnose Gar, Bowfin, Gizzard Shad and Goldfish by snagging, bow fishing and spearing and Paddlefish by snagging. You cannot use a hook larger than a 5/0 treble hook or measuring more than 1.25-inches long when two of the hook points are placed on a ruler. Snagging is not permitted in the following areas: Des Moines River from directly below Saylorville Dam to Southeast 14th St. bridge in Des Moines; Cedar River in Cedar Rapids from directly below the 5 in 1 Dam under I-380 to the 1st Ave. bridge; Cedar River in Cedar Rapids from directly below the "C" St. Roller Dam to 300 yards downstream; Iowa River from directly below the Coralville Dam to 300 yards downstream; Chariton River from directly below Lake Rathbun Dam to 300 yards downstream; Spillway area from directly below the Spirit Lake outlet to the confluence at East Okoboji Lake; Northeast bank of the Des Moines River from directly below the Ottumwa Dam, including the catwalk, to the Jefferson St. bridge. Snagging from the South Market St. bridge is also prohibited; Missouri River, any Missouri River tributary beginning at its confluence and extending below its Interstate 29 bridge and the Big Sioux River from the Interstate 29 bridge to the confluence with the Missouri River with the exception of snagging Paddlefish and rough fish during the open season; Des Moines River from directly below the hydroelectric dam (Big Dam) to the Hawkeye Avenue bridge in Fort Dodge; Des Moines River from directly below the Little Dam to the Union Pacific Railroad bridge in Fort Dodge; Skunk River, from directly below the Oakland Mills Dam to the downstream end of the 253rd Street boat ramp. Snagging, bow and arrow fishing and spearing is not permitted in the following areas: From the Ventura Grade roadway, jetties and bridges of Clear Lake and Ventura Marsh; Within 300 feet of the concrete culvert and metal fish barrier of Lost Island Lake Inlet; Within 300 feet of the outlet and metal fish barrier of Lost Island Lake Outlet; Within 300 feet of the outlet and metal fish barrier of Barringer Slough; Beginning at 230th Avenue and extending downstream to the signed Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District property line of Lower Gar Lake outlet. 

Additional information
Catch and release only at lakes Brown (Jackson) and Wapello (Davis)
Synonyms
Micropterus dolomieui
Species prohibited
Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass

Regulation boundaryIA Upper Brown Lake

It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell, or exchange this species.

Restrictions & requirements

Culling

Culling and high-grading are not allowed. Any fish that is not to be counted in the daily bag limit must be returned immediately to the water with as little injury as possible. Any fish placed on a stringer or in a container, or not returned to the water must be counted in the bag. 

Catch and Release Only

Daily Creel Limit = 0 (Catch and Release Fishing Only)

IA Unlawful Means

You must not use any grab hook, snag hook, any kind of net, seine, trap, firearm, dynamite or other explosives, or poisonous or stupefying substances, lime, ashes, electricity or hand fishing to take or try to take any fish. You must return to the water immediately all game fish not hooked in the mouth, except Paddlefish, with as little injury as possible. 

Bow Fishing, Spearing, Snagging

A valid sport fishing license lets you take Common Carp, Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Grass Carp, Black Carp, Bigmouth Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo, Black Buffalo, Quillback, Highfin Carpsucker, River Carpsucker, Spotted Sucker, White Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse, Golden Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Freshwater Drum, Shortnose Gar, Longnose Gar, Bowfin, Gizzard Shad and Goldfish by snagging, bow fishing and spearing and Paddlefish by snagging. You cannot use a hook larger than a 5/0 treble hook or measuring more than 1.25-inches long when two of the hook points are placed on a ruler. Snagging is not permitted in the following areas: Des Moines River from directly below Saylorville Dam to Southeast 14th St. bridge in Des Moines; Cedar River in Cedar Rapids from directly below the 5 in 1 Dam under I-380 to the 1st Ave. bridge; Cedar River in Cedar Rapids from directly below the "C" St. Roller Dam to 300 yards downstream; Iowa River from directly below the Coralville Dam to 300 yards downstream; Chariton River from directly below Lake Rathbun Dam to 300 yards downstream; Spillway area from directly below the Spirit Lake outlet to the confluence at East Okoboji Lake; Northeast bank of the Des Moines River from directly below the Ottumwa Dam, including the catwalk, to the Jefferson St. bridge. Snagging from the South Market St. bridge is also prohibited; Missouri River, any Missouri River tributary beginning at its confluence and extending below its Interstate 29 bridge and the Big Sioux River from the Interstate 29 bridge to the confluence with the Missouri River with the exception of snagging Paddlefish and rough fish during the open season; Des Moines River from directly below the hydroelectric dam (Big Dam) to the Hawkeye Avenue bridge in Fort Dodge; Des Moines River from directly below the Little Dam to the Union Pacific Railroad bridge in Fort Dodge; Skunk River, from directly below the Oakland Mills Dam to the downstream end of the 253rd Street boat ramp. Snagging, bow and arrow fishing and spearing is not permitted in the following areas: From the Ventura Grade roadway, jetties and bridges of Clear Lake and Ventura Marsh; Within 300 feet of the concrete culvert and metal fish barrier of Lost Island Lake Inlet; Within 300 feet of the outlet and metal fish barrier of Lost Island Lake Outlet; Within 300 feet of the outlet and metal fish barrier of Barringer Slough; Beginning at 230th Avenue and extending downstream to the signed Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District property line of Lower Gar Lake outlet. 

Additional information
Catch and release only at lakes Brown (Jackson) and Wapello (Davis)
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Micropterus nigricans
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Local laws and licenses

Iowa fishing license

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Cities nearby

Hanover

6.9 miles away

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7.6 miles away

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7.8 miles away

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10.5 miles away

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Elizabeth

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Goose Lake

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Mount Carroll

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The Galena Territory

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Stockton

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Lake Carroll

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St. Donatus

20.2 miles away

Galena

20.3 miles away

Scales Mound

22.1 miles away

Zwingle

23.8 miles away

Apple River

25.4 miles away

Menominee

26.3 miles away

Nora

26.3 miles away

Hazel Green

27.6 miles away

Shullsburg

28.9 miles away

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FAQ about Upper Brown Lake fishing

📍 Where is Upper Brown Lake located?
Upper Brown Lake is a lake located in Jackson County, Iowa, United States. Its coordinates are:
42°09′20.5″N 90°15′45.6″W
.
🎣 Where on Upper Brown Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Upper Brown Lake by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Upper Brown Lake?
The most common species in Upper Brown Lake are:
📢 What are the latest Upper Brown Lake fishing reports?
The latest Upper Brown Lake fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Upper Brown Lake?

Fishing in Iowa requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term options, available online or at license agents statewide.

In Iowa, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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