Top fish species at South Fork Iowa River

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Check which species have trophy potential in South Fork Iowa River

South Fork Iowa River fishing reports

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length · weight

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58 in · 42 lb 5 oz

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Yellow bullhead

length · weight

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Black bullhead

length · weight

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Smallmouth bass

length · weight

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Channel catfish

length · weight

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General info

South Fork Iowa River is a stream located in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. It is also intersecting with Franklin County, Iowa. It is most popular for fishing Channel catfish, Black bullhead, and Yellow bullhead.

Location

42°25′34.5″N 93°20′13″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at South Fork Iowa 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 23rd, 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

42°25′34.5″N 93°20′13″W
Regulations in the map
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Local laws and licenses

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Cities nearby

Popejoy

12.5 miles away

Garden City

12.8 miles away

Eldora

12.9 miles away

Ackley

16.9 miles away

McCallsburg

18.3 miles away

Kamrar

20.1 miles away

Story City

20.9 miles away

Clemons

23.4 miles away

Stanhope

25.3 miles away

Woolstock

27.5 miles away

Dumont

29.1 miles away

Parkersburg

30.2 miles away

Stratford

32.0 miles away

Stout

32.6 miles away

Meservey

34.5 miles away

Swaledale

38.0 miles away

Rockwell

39.0 miles away

Klemme

42.5 miles away

Renwick

42.9 miles away

Marble Rock

44.2 miles away

Burchinal

44.2 miles away

Garner

48.5 miles away

Clear Lake

49.0 miles away

Duncan

50.5 miles away

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FAQ about South Fork Iowa River fishing

the South Fork Iowa River is a stream located in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. It is also intersecting with Franklin County, Iowa. Its coordinates are:
42°25′34.5″N 93°20′13″W
.
Find the best fishing spots on the South Fork Iowa 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 South Fork Iowa River are:
The latest South Fork Iowa River fishing reports are:
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