Map

Raccoon River

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Iowa, United States

4.6·472 catches

Top fish species at Raccoon River

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Raccoon River fishing reports

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Smallmouth bass

length · weight

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Smallmouth bass

length · weight

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Freshwater drum

length · weight

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Flathead catfish

45 in · 40 lb

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Channel catfish

23 in · 3 lb 6 oz

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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General info

Raccoon River is a stream located in Polk County, Iowa, United States. It is also intersecting with Dallas County, Iowa. It is most popular for fishing Channel catfish, Flathead catfish, and Smallmouth bass.

Location

41°32′54.8″N 93°42′58.4″W
Directions

Amenities

Fishing regulations at Raccoon River, 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.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Channel catfish as of April 22nd, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Channel catfish

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

8

Special gear

Aggregate

8

No closed season. No size limit.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits: 

  • Inland lakes: daily bag limit = 8 catfish (blue, channel, and flathead, combined); possession limit = 30 catfish. 
  • Coralville, Rathbun, Red Rock, and Saylorville Reservoirs: daily bag limit = 8 catfish (blue, channel, and flathead, combined); possession limit = 30 catfish.
  • Inland streams: daily bag limit = 15 catfish (blue, channel, and flathead, combined); possession limit = 30 catfish.
  • Boundary rivers:
  • Mississippi River: no bag or possession limit on the Mississippi River 
  • Other boundary rivers: same as streams

Ictalurus punctatus

Regulations for

41°32′54.8″N 93°42′58.4″W
Regulations in the map
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Local laws and licenses

Iowa fishing license

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Reviews of Raccoon River

4.6
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23 ratings

5
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1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

West Des Moines

3.3 miles away

Norwalk

4.3 miles away

Des Moines

5.7 miles away

Clive

6.2 miles away

Urbandale

7.1 miles away

Johnston

9.5 miles away

Waukee

9.5 miles away

Grimes

9.8 miles away

Carlisle

11.7 miles away

Martensdale

12.1 miles away

Bevington

13.6 miles away

Ankeny

13.7 miles away

Altoona

14.1 miles away

Indianola

15.0 miles away

De Soto

15.2 miles away

Patterson

16.2 miles away

Dallas Center

16.6 miles away

Runnells

18.6 miles away

Winterset

20.9 miles away

Earlham

21.3 miles away

Sheldahl

21.9 miles away

Madrid

23.2 miles away

Redfield

25.0 miles away

Dexter

26.5 miles away

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FAQ about Raccoon River fishing

the Raccoon River is a stream located in Polk County, Iowa, United States. It is also intersecting with Dallas County, Iowa. Its coordinates are:
41°32′54.8″N 93°42′58.4″W
.
Find the best fishing spots on the Raccoon River 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.
The most common species in the Raccoon River are:
The latest Raccoon River fishing reports are:
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