Iowa Fishing Regulations - Iowa Department of Natural Resources

GENERAL FISHING REGULATIONS
Artificial Light
Artificial light may be used in the taking of any fish except those
species listed as threatened or endangered (p. 21).
Bait Definitions
“Bait” includes, but is not limited to, minnows, green sunfish,
orange-spotted sunfish, dead gizzard shad, frogs, crayfish, salamanders
and mussels. “Minnows” are chubs, shiners, suckers, dace,
stonerollers, mudminnows, redhorse, bluntnose and fathead minnows.
Live mussels may only be taken from the Mississippi River and its
connected backwaters. The daily and possession limit is 24 live mussels
(p. 9).
Bait Collection
A valid sport fishing license is required to collect bait for individual
use. Minnow traps not exceeding 3 feet in length may be used.
Each trap, when in use, shall have a metal tag attached plainly labeled
with the owner’s name and address. You can use a minnow dip net
not larger than 4 feet in diameter, a cast net not larger than 10 feet in
diameter and a minnow seine not longer than 20 feet and having mesh
not smaller than one-quarter inch bar measure. You cannot possess
live gizzard shad at any lake.
You cannot take or attempt to take bait for commercial purposes
from any waters of the state, or transport minnows without first obtaining
a bait dealer’s license. “Commercial purposes” means selling,
giving or furnishing to others. Bait dealers must notify their DNR
conservation officer prior to operating. The licensee needs to be present
with license in hand when bait is collected. Licensed bait dealers
may use minnow seines not longer than 50 feet. Call 515-281-5918
for information on the differences of a retail bait dealer license versus
a wholesale bait dealer license.
Bait Dumping
It is against the law to dump bait in Iowa lakes, rivers or streams.
Boundary Water Sport Trotline
A boundary water sport trotline license allows a maximum of
four trotlines with 200 hooks (total) in the waters of the Mississippi,
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