UTERJanuary
Ice fishing on the Great Lakes
Perch and walleye through the ice.
The Iowa Great Lakes to the Mississippi
Iowa freshwater fishing
What's biting in Iowa freshwater in October: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and black crappie at their peak, with bluegill, sauger and channel catfish around too. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows 20 fish here month by month, from Spirit Lake to Driftless trout streams.
Fall feed
The Iowa Great Lakes for walleye, perch and muskie, Clear Lake, the Mississippi River pools for walleye, sauger and catfish, flood-control reservoirs, and spring-fed trout creeks in the northeast driftless.
Spirit LakeWest OkobojiClear LakeMississippi River poolsSaylorvilleDriftless trout streams
Updated
Now · October
Fall feed
Crappie on brush.
WalleyeBlack crappie (speck)Yellow perchLargemouth bassMuskellunge (muskie)Smallmouth bass
This month here
From the season calendar, best firstPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakSpawningAroundAroundAroundAroundAroundAroundAround
Largemouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Black crappie (speck)
Yellow perch
Walleye
Northern pike
Muskellunge (muskie)
Blue catfish
Flathead catfish
White bass
Hybrid striped bass (sunshine)
Rainbow trout
Brown trout
Bluegill
Sauger
Channel catfish
Brown bullhead
Freshwater drum (sheepshead)
Common carp
Longnose gar
The water
Structure that matters
LakeReservoirRiverCreek / streamPond / pitDock / pilingsBridgeBoat ramp
Month by month
What's happening, and what to throwFebruary
Ice crappie and bluegill
Small jigs and wax worms.
March
Mississippi sauger and walleye
Below the locks.
April
River walleye run
Jig the tailwaters.
May
Crappie spawn
Clear Lake shallows.
June
Bass and bluegill beds
Topwater.
July
Channel cats
Stink bait on the rivers.
August
Summer walleye trolling
Crankbaits on the flats.
September
Fall muskie and walleye
Okoboji muskie.
October · now
Fall feed
Crappie on brush.
November
Late walleye
River tailwaters.
December
First ice
Small lakes freeze first.
Fish guides for Iowa freshwater
When, where and what to use, fish by fishFish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores every species for this hour on this water, draws every reef and wreck near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
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