Walleye Spawning at the Iowa DNR Rathbun Fish Hatchery

The Iowa DNR is in the midst of intensive walleye broodstock collection and spawning, a major effort that takes place each year to ensure high-quality walleye fishing across the state. Fisheries Bureau management, research and hatchery teams, along with some dedicated volunteers, join forces to collect hundreds of walleye, which produce millions of eggs. Walleye eggs are incubated at Rathbun and Spirit Lake hatcheries and stocked as fry or fingerlings throughout Iowa. 

Watch the video to see the process at Lake Rathbun and the Rathbun Fish Hatchery.

First Fish Award - Catch a Memory

Catch a memory when your favorite young angler hooks their first fish! Your child will receive a frameable certificate to commemorate this special event.

It’s easy and free to participate!

1. Take your child fishing.

2. Snap a photo of their first fish.

3. Fill out the First Fish entry form (or email the information along with a photo) and mail it in.

Spring Fishing Tackle Box Necessities

Pack your tackle box with these basic necessities for a fun and successful spring fishing trip. Don’t forget to bring along your fishing license and a camera to capture all the memories.

Hooks of various sizes

Hooks should be large enough to hold the bait, but small enough to fit in the fish’s mouth. Always use the smallest hook possible for the type of fish you are trying to catch. The smaller the fish, the smaller the hook you should use. Make sure your hooks are sharp. 

 

Bobbers

Bobbers keep your bait where the fish are biting, keep bait off the bottom and signal when a fish nibbles at the bait by bobbing up and down. The size of the bobber should match the weight of the bait and other tackle on the line.

Sinkers

These small weights carry your bait down to the depths where fish are lurking. They also keep the line tight so you can tell when a fish bites. Use enough split shot on your line so the bobber rests upright and half of it sticks out of the water.

Swivels

Swivels are attached to your line before the lure, so that the lure spins without twisting your fishing line. The size of your swivel should match the size of your lure.

Artificial lures

Artificial lures (jigs, plugs, spoons, spinners, plastic worms) are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Select a few types of lures in sizes that can be used for the fish you most often seek. Beatle spins and mighty mites are good for catching game fish.

It takes time to build up an assortment of lures. Start with an assortment of jigs (1/32 to ½ ounce) for deeper-water fishing, a standard floating crankbait for mid-depth fishing and a small buzz-bait for topwater fishing.

Extra fishing line

Fishing line often breaks or gets tangled up during a fishing trip. Keeping spare line in your tackle box lets you replace the line on your reel and continue your fishing experience.

Needle nose pliers

Helpful for removing hooks from the mouths of fish you catch. They're also handy to undo crimp sinkers from your line.

Finger nail clipper

A handy tool to cut free a hook swallowed by a fish or trim a knot.

Measuring tape

Measure your catch from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. Special regulations on some lakes and streams restrict the size of fish you can keep. Always have a copy of the current fishing regulations with you.

Small first aid kit

A basic first aid kit will help you quickly treat minor injurie such as punctures from hooks, scratches or bug bites.

Personal safety gear

Keep a bottle of sunscreen, a pair of sunglasses, and a hat with a brim in your tackle box to help protect you from the sun. Check weather conditions before leaving for your fishing trip. Wearing long sleeves will protect your skin from the sun and biting insects and don't forget the bug spray. A small flashlight is helpful if you are fishing late in the evening.

Start planning your first fishing outing of the season with the Iowa DNR places to fish web pages. Sign up for free weekly fishing information from Iowa’s fisheries experts - learn the best hotspots and latest news about Iowa’s fishing opportunities from region to region

Tips for Educators Conducting a Fishing Field Trip

Organization is the key to a successful field trip. The following suggestions are meant to help make your experience more enjoyable.

Beforehand

1. Make sure students who are 16 years of age or older know where/how to obtain a fishing license. Vendors are listed at www.iowadnr.gov. Students can purchase a 24-hour license.

2. Locate a pond or lake as close to the school grounds as possible. Make sure the fishing area is easily accessible and will accommodate your students. If you are unable to locate an area, contact your local DNR fisheries field office, county conservation board, or fishing club for assistance.

3. Contact your local tackle distribution center to reserve the rods and reels (if necessary).

4. Plan for other outdoor activities to enhance the field trip (e.g., identification of plants, animals, and habitats; biking, hiking, and walking; service projects – the possibilities are endless if you incorporate other areas of learning).

5. If you are planning a trip longer than one hour, are there restroom facilities available? Should students take refreshments?

6. If you are taking a large group of students, recruit volunteers such as parents, grandparents, or members of a local fishing club to assist.

7. Remind students to dress for the situation. Sturdy shoes and jeans are a must. Hats also are a good idea. Have a first aid kit on hand with sunscreen and insect repellent.

8. Prepare permission slips and obtain signatures from parents or guardians before the field trip. Include a list of “good conduct” rules students are expected to follow.

9. Discuss appropriate conduct in the field and “angler etiquette” before your trip.

10. If you are stopping to buy licenses on the way, allow enough time.

11. Allow enough time to reach the fishing site and fish for at least an hour before returning. (It will take some time to rig poles and get started.)

12. Have rods and reels, terminal tackle, and bait ready to go.

13. Discuss ahead of time what you will do with your catch. If you plan to keep fish, it's a good idea to take along a cooler with ice. If you plan to release fish, make sure students know how to properly handle fish to be released.

14. Take along trash bags and containers for your garbage. Take along gloves to pick up trash if your area needs a clean up.

At The Site

1. Go through the basic safety procedures and etiquette one last time.

2. Pair students so more experienced anglers can assist beginners. 

3. Hand out equipment and have students assemble their rigs before dispersing to different areas to fish.

4. Make sure students are safe distances from each other for casting purposes.

5. Keep the bait, first aid kit, and spare terminal tackle in a central location. Be sure to keep the bait cool. Provide smaller containers for individuals to carry some bait and tackle with them. 

6. If you plan to keep fish, make sure that students have stringers, buckets, etc. It ’s best to get them in a cooler of ice as soon as possible.

7. Pick up any garbage before you leave the site. Emphasize that the area should look as good (Or even better!) when you leave as when you came.

8. Make sure you have all equipment before leaving.

Iowa State Parks Featured in America’s Top Family and Boating Spots Sweepstakes

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) is searching for the top 100 family fishing and boating spots across the nation, and several Iowa state parks are among the potential spots being considered. Iowans participating in the vote can ensure their favorite places to boat and fish are recognized nationally.

Iowa locations include Lake Macbride (Solon), Lake Pahoja (west of Larchwood), Little River Watershed Lake (west of Leon) and Green Valley Lake (northwest of Creston).  Entrants can vote daily until April 12, 2015 for the three parks they feel offer the best experience based on family amenities, location and the likeliness to catch a fish or enjoy a day on the water. The parks with the most votes will be placed on 2015 America’s Top 100 Family Fishing and Boating Spots list.

To learn more about the sweepstakes and to vote for your favorite parks, got to www.takemefishing.org and click on the link to  America’s Top Family Fishing and Boating Spots Sweepstakes.

Visit the Iowa DNR web site for more information about each Iowa location including amenities, popular fish species and fish stocking information.

Prepping the Tackle Box for Spring Fishing

If this stretch of warmer weather has you itching for spring fishing, now is a great time to dust off the tackle box and prepare for a great fishing season. Some ideas for a good spring cleaning of your gear:

Clean Start
Clean your empty tackle box with soapy water and rinse. Wipe it down and let it dry.

Take Inventory
Before restocking your sparkly clean tackle box, check your favorite lures to make sure they are in top shape. Look for cracks or dings in the lure body, replace bent and rusty hooks, and make sure the hooks are sharp. Throw away plastic baits that have dried up.

 

Fresh Line
Fishing line weakens with exposure to sunlight, water and use. Re-spool all your reels.

Back to the Basics

Every tackle box should include these essential items: needle-nose pliers, various size hooks, extra line, bobbers, sinkers, line cutters or fingernail clippers, a sharp knife, a basic first aid kit, a small flashlight with extra batteries, and sunscreen. Be sure to check the batteries to make sure they're still fresh and replace the sunscreen if it's outdated.

Make a Plan
When your gear is ready to go, start planning your first outing with the Iowa DNR places to fish webpages.

Snag a Paddlefish This Spring with These Pointers

Anglers fishing the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers this spring have a new angling opportunity. The new paddlefish fishing season opens March 1 and runs through April 15 (sunrise to sunset).

You need a special paddlefish license and unused transportation tag, along with a valid Iowa fishing license, to fish for paddlefish on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers. These licenses were available from Dec. 15, 2014 to Jan. 31. A special paddlefish tag is not needed for the Mississippi and Des Moines rivers.

Paddlefish are filter feeders – they feed on microscopic organisms called zooplankton, so they can’t be caught with the traditional hook and worm. Snagging is the only efficient method of catching paddlefish.

Follow these basic tips for snagging paddlefish:

Basic Tackle
Use heavy weights (from one ounce on up to 4 or 4.5 ounces), a medium-heavy to heavy rod at least six feet long, and braided line of at least 50 pound test strength. Treble hooks can be no larger than 5/0 or measuring more than 1.25 inches in length when two hook points are placed on a ruler. A gaffe hook or other penetrating device cannot be used as an aid in landing a snagged fish.

Where to Snag
Paddlefish prefer slower, deep water. Scout with a depth finder for pockets of deep water, or head to areas slightly downstream from wing dams. Paddlefish feed in the current coming off the end of the dam.

Snagging Techniques
Some anglers prefer to vertical snag for paddlefish from a stationary boat over a deep hole or while trolling through current seams and behind the wing dams. Fishing from shore, or anchoring a boat and casting into the current seam and calm water are effective in shallower areas as fish are spooked out of the area.

Safety
Rivers can change over the winter with new downed trees, snags and changing locations of sandbars. Be aware of your surroundings while boating. Make sure your boat motor is running properly after being stored during the winter.

Be safe and have fun. Wear a life jacket and bring along dry clothes. Keep a knife or pliers accessible in case you need to free yourself from a treble hook or heavy fishing line. Pace yourself - the repetitive motions can result in sore muscles.

Check the 2015 Iowa Fishing Regulations for snagging restrictions, length limits and daily bag and possession limits.