Iowa Fishing Information: Rules and Regulations

With spring right around the corner, people are starting to prepare for the upcoming fishing season. Besides buying some new tackle, making sure the boat is ready to go, and putting some new line on the fishing reel, it is important to make sure you are aware of all of the fishing rules and regulations, and if any changes have been made from last year. In the case of Iowa, things have remained very similar from past years, so here is a quick break down of the important Iowa fishing rules and regulations.

Information for Iowa Residents

For Iowa residents, the basic fishing license requirements have remained the same. Here is a quick break down of fishing license costs and information. All prices come from the Iowa DNR website.

1) Fishing Licenses need to be purchased by Iowa residents that are 16 years of age and older. Iowa residents under the age of 16 may fish for free without any license.

2) The cost of fishing licenses are as follows: Full year license: $17.50, 7 Day fishing license: $12.00, 1 day fishing license is $8.00, and a lifetime fishing license for people 65 years of age or older is $51.00.

3) The best value is going to be the full year license which is good as soon as the ice is off the lakes and rivers, until the ice starts to come back and makes the water unfishable. 1 day and 7 day licenses are only good during those days listed on the license.

Information for Non-Iowa Residents

Non-Iowa residents do need to pay a little bit more money for fishing licenses, and you will have a wide variety of prices to choose from depending on the amount of time you want your license for. Again, all prices come from the Iowa DNR website.

1) Fishing licenses will need to be purchased by all non-Iowa residents looking to fish in the state who are 16 years of age or older. Non-residents under the age of 16 may fish without a fishing license.

2) The cost of out of state Iowa fishing licenses are as follows: $39.50 for a full year license, $30.50 for a 7 day license, $16.00 for a 3 day license, and $9.00 for a 1 day license.

3) Picking the right out of state license will depend on the amount of time you will be fishing in Iowa. If you make a lot of one or two day trips during the summer months, than a full year license is the best value. For people who only make one or two trips during the year, picking between the 7, 3, and 1 day licenses will be the best idea.

Important Rules and Regulations for All Iowa Fisherman

There are a few pieces of important information that all people looking to fish in Iowa should know about. Here are some of the most important ones.

1) Anyone fishing for trout in Iowa will need to purchase a trout stamp. It is a onetime purchase that will be good for the entire fishing season. Residents of Iowa will have to pay $11.00 for a trout stamp, and non-residents will need to pay $13.50.

2) There will be a period of free fishing days for Iowa residents only. In 2010 these days will be June 4, 5, and 6. Again this is for Iowa residents only.

3) One of the most popular types of fishing in Iowa is paddle fish fishing on the Mississippi river. It is important to remember that the season only runs from March until April 15^th. There are also restrictions on the type of hooks you can use. Before doing this type of fishing, please look at all the rules at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/regulations/iafshregs.html.

4) Specific size limitations and the amount of fish that you can keep can change from lake to lake. Be sure to check on the signs posted by boat ramps and talk to the park ranger if you have questions. Most seasons on fish are open all year, but again, certain lakes might change their rules, just be sure to check. The best place to look is at the Iowa DNR website, which is linked here: http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/regulations/species.html.

5) Fishing licenses can be found at a number of places, including court houses, fishing and hunting stores, gas stations, Wal-Mart, and numerous other places. Just make sure you bring your ID when purchasing.

By following the simple rules and regulations that Iowa has, you will be sure to have a great fishing season. Iowa lakes and rivers offer a wide variety of fishing options, and species ranging from walleye, bass, sunfish, northern pike, trout, catfish, carp, and much more. So for a fun outdoor activity, Iowa fishing ranks high during the spring, summer, and fall months.