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  4. Perch fishing in Iowa

Perch fishing in Iowa

Iowa offers excellent fishing for perch. Anglers can explore weedy lakes, ponds, and still backwaters where this species thrives.

Types of Perch in Iowa

Best baits and lures for Perch in Iowa

According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Perch.

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Biggest Perch catches

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Latest Perch fishing reports in Iowa

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Walleye

Saylorville Lake

length · weight

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Walleye

Middle Raccoon River

length · weight

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Walleye

Middle Raccoon River

length · weight

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Yellow perch

Storm Lake

length · weight

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Walleye

Pinicon Ridge Park (Wapsipinicon River)

length · weight

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Walleye

Wapsipinicon River

length · weight

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Walleye

Clear Creek

10 in · 5 oz

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Walleye

Big Spirit Lake

length · weight

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Walleye

Des Moines River (Iowa)

length · weight

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Walleye

Des Moines River (Iowa)

length · weight

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Regulations for Perch in Iowa

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 Walleye as of April 6th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Walleye

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

5

Special gear

Aggregate

10

Inland Waters 

  • Season: Continuous except on West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake and Spirit Lake (Dickinson). The open season on West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake and Spirit Lake is from May 6, 2023 through Feb. 14, 2024. 
  • Length Limit: None except for the special lakes which are posted or published below. 
  • Daily Bag & Possession Limit: Combined daily 5 and combined possession limit of 10, except for special lakes listed below and boundary lakes listed on p. 16. 
  • Special Walleye Restrictions: The lakes listed below have a daily bag limit of 3 and possession limit of 6, except for Lake Rathbun, in addition to special length restrictions.
  • Big Creek Lake (Polk) 15-inch minimum length limit, and no more than one Walleye longer than 20-inches may be taken per day
  • Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo) immediately release alive all 17- to 22-inch Walleyes; no more than one Walleye longer than 22-inches may be taken per day
  • Lake Rathbun (Appanoose) 15-inch minimum length limit; daily bag limit of 5 and possession limit of 10
  • Storm Lake (Buena Vista) and West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Spirit Lake, Upper Gar, Minnewashta, Lower Gar (Dickinson) immediately release alive all 19 to 25-inch Walleyes; no more than one Walleye longer than 25-inches may be taken per day 

Boundary Rivers

  • Season: Continuous 
  • Length Limit: A 15-inch minimum length limit applies to Walleye on all pools of the Mississippi River. In addition, you must immediately release alive all walleye from 20 to 27-inches and no more than one Walleye above 27-inches may be taken per day. 
  • DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMIT: Mississippi River combined daily 6 and combined possession of 12. Big Sioux and Missouri rivers - combined daily of 4 and possession of 8. 
Excellent

Sander vitreus

Regulations for

41°56′22.4″N 93°23′16.1″W
Regulations in the map
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