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The key to catching big fish is finding places
that have big fish. Quickly
find the best spots to catch master angler qualifying size fish with the electronic map recently
added to DNR Master Angler program website (click on "Map" above the photos) or search for local hotspots by species or location.
Try these simple
tips from DNR fisheries biologists to catch large bluegill, bass and crappie
during the summer heat at one of these top locations identified through a search on the Master Angler webpage.
Bluegills (10 inches to qualify)
- Farm Ponds – look for ponds surrounded by grass; fish the face of the dam or steep shorelines where the weed line is close to shore; drift or cast small jigs (1/32nd oz.) tipped with a 1-inch piece of worm 6 to 8 feet down; get permission from the landowner before entering.
- West Okoboji Lake, Dickinson County – fish the rock reefs or rocky humps in 20-25 feet of water; jig live bait (small crayfish, Belgium worms, piece of night crawler or leech) with a split shot 8-10 inches above the hook.
- Big Spirit Lake, Dickinson County – try the outside weed lines and rock piles, drops offs or natural underwater reefs.
- Twelve Mile Creek Lake, Union County – fish the rock piles or cedar tree brush piles along the roadbed; try also along the weed line.
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East Okoboji Lake, Dickinson County – try the outside weed lines and rock piles, drops offs or natural underwater reefs.
Largemouth Bass (20 inches to qualify)
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Farm
Ponds – use top water lures at the edge of aquatic plants early
and late in the day when the air is still; switch to a spinner bait or plastic
worm later in the morning or late afternoon next to the weed line or around
brush piles; get
permission from the landowner before entering.
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West
Okoboji Lake, Dickinson County – cast topwater lures, plastic worms, suspended
jerk baits, deep diving crank baits or spinner baits near shore or edges of weed
lines.
- Big
Creek Lake, Polk County – cast topwater lures, plastic worms, suspended jerk
baits, deep diving crank baits or spinner baits near shore or edges of weed
lines.
- Lake
Anita, Cass County – cast topwater lures, plastic worms, suspended jerk baits,
deep diving crank baits or spinner baits near shore or edges of weed lines.
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Badger
Creek Lake, Madison County – fish the cedar tree brush piles near the fishing
jetties or along the dam.
Black Crappie (14 inches to qualify)
- Farm
Ponds – look for ponds with standing timber or brush piles; fish close to the
brush with a minnow under a bobber or cast 1/32nd ounce jigs; get permission
from the landowner before entering.
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Coralville
Reservoir, Johnson County – look for
fish suspended on deeper rocks banks in
8-10 feet of water in the main reservoir; cast larger chartreuse
twister tails and slowly drop down the
bank.
- Red
Rock Reservoir, Marion County – focus on the Whitebreast arm of the lake or
areas with rock (and rip-rap); keep moving along the shoreline until you find
fish.
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Crawford Creek Impoundment,
Ida County – drift
fish 1/16 ounce chartreuse jigs tipped with a small minnow; try also fishing
around the brush piles.
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Lake Macbride, Johnson County – vertical jig a
tube jig on the deep side of brush piles right above the thermocline (12 feet);
work the outside or deeper end of the brush piles.
White Crappie (14 inches to qualify)
- Farm
Ponds – look for ponds with standing timber or brush piles; fish close to the
brush with a minnow under a bobber or cast 1/32nd ounce jigs; get permission
from the landowner before entering.
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Red
Rock Reservoir, Marion County – focus on the Whitebreast arm of the lake or
areas with rock (and rip-rap); keep moving along the shoreline until you find
fish.
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Saylorville
Reservoir, Polk County –focus on areas where the shoreline is protected with
rip-rap.
- Lake
Macbride, Johnson County – vertical jig a tube jig on the deep side of brush piles right above the thermocline (12
feet); work the outside or deeper end of the brush piles.
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Coralville
Reservoir, Johnson County – look for
fish suspended on deeper rocks banks in
8-10 feet of water in the main reservoir; cast chartreuse twister tails
and slowly drop down the bank.
For information on how to submit a Master Angler entry including a list of the 41 fish species eligible
and minimum lengths, visit the Master Angler website.
If you believe you have caught an all-time state record fish
in Iowa, follow these steps.
- Look up the size of the current state record in the Iowa Fishing Regulations or on the DNR webpage to see if your fish is larger than the current record (or at least close). Your fish must exceed the weight of the current state record fish by one ounce or more.
- Weigh your fish on a scale certified for trade (like at a grocery store, meat locker and some bait shops), preferably while it is still alive. The fish will start to lose weight the longer you keep it. The DNR will not accept the weight of a frozen fish. If you need to freeze the fish before you can get it weighed, you must thaw it out before you weigh it. The fish will be lighter after it is frozen and then thawed. A witness must attest to the weight of the fish to the nearest ounce.
- Contact your local conservation officer or fisheries biologist. The fisheries biologist must examine and verify the fish. If you cannot reach the biologist, the conservation officer will contact someone who can help. Contact information for the local conservation officers and fisheries biologist is listed on the DNR’s webpage.
- Submit your record fish online through the Master Angler system.
Hook some great memories with family and friends this summer. Find more fishing tips at www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing.
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