Iowa is home to almost 170 different species of fish, including some that are rare and difficult to find, some that are invasive, and some that are our favorite to catch! Search or use the checkboxes below to find more information about each species and where it is located in Iowa.
| Species Name | Scientific Name | Family | Fishing Allowed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sucker | Cycleptus elongatus |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Rainbow Trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss |
Salmonidae |
Yes
|
|
| Brown Trout | Salmo trutta |
Salmonidae |
Yes
|
|
| Brook Trout | Salvelinus fontinalis |
Salmonidae |
Yes
|
|
| Northern Pike | Esox lucius |
Esocidae |
Yes
|
|
| Channel Catfish | Ictalurus punctatus |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| Flathead Catfish | Pylodictis olivaris |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| White Bass | Morone chrysops |
Moronidae |
Yes
|
|
| Bluegill | Lepomis macrochirus |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Smallmouth Bass | Micropterus dolomieu |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Largemouth Bass | Micropterus salmoides |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Yellow Perch | Perca flavescens |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Sauger | Sander canadense |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Walleye | Sander vitreum |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Freshwater Drum | Aplodinotus grunniens |
Sciaenidae |
Yes
|
|
| Muskellunge | Esox masquinongy |
Esocidae |
Yes
|
|
| Yellow Bass | Morone mississippiensis |
Moronidae |
Yes
|
|
| Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) | Morone saxatilis x M. chrysops |
Moronidae |
Yes
|
|
| Redear Sunfish | Lepomis microlophus |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Common Carp | Cyprinus carpio |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| American Brook Lamprey | Lethenteron appendix |
Petromyzontidae |
Yes
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need |
| American Eel | Anguilla rostrata |
Anguillidae |
Yes
|
|
| Banded Darter | Etheostoma zonale |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Banded Killifish | Fundulus diaphanus |
Fundulidae |
Yes
|
|
| Brassy Minnow | Hybognathus hankinsoni |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Blue Catfish | Ictalurus furcatus |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| Bigmouth Buffalo | Ictiobus cyprinellus |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Bighead Carp | Hypophthalmichthys nobilis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
Invasive Species |
| Blacknose Dace | Rhinichthys atratulus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Brook Stickleback | Culaea inconstans |
Gasterosteidae |
Yes
|
|
| Black Bullhead | Ameiurus melas |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| Black Crappie | Pomoxis nigromaculatus |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Bluntnose Minnow | Pimephales notatus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Blackstripe Topminnow | Fundulus notatus |
Fundulidae |
Yes
|
|
| Bigmouth Shiner | Notropis dorsalis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Blacknose Shiner | Notropis heterolepis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need |
| Bowfin | Amia calva |
Amiidae |
Yes
|
|
| Brown Bullhead | Ameiurus nebulosus |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| Brook Silverside | Labidesthes sicculus |
Atherinopsidae |
Yes
|
|
| Burbot | Lota lota |
Gadidae |
Yes
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need |
| Central Mudminnow | Umbra limi |
Esocidae |
Yes
|
|
| Chestnut Lamprey | Ichthyomyzon castaneus |
Petromyzontidae |
Yes
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need |
| Common Shiner | Luxilus cornutus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Central Stoneroller | Campostoma anomalum |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Creek Chub | Semotilus atromaculatus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Emerald shiner | Notropis atherinoides |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Fantail Darter | Etheostoma flabellare |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Fathead Minnow | Pimephales promelas |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Flathead Chub | Platygobio gracilis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Goldfish | Carassius auratus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Goldeye | Hiodon alosoides |
Hiodontidae |
Yes
|
|
| Golden Redhorse | Moxostoma erythrurum |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Golden Shiner | Notemigonus crysoleucas |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Grass Carp | Ctenopharyngodon idella |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Grass Pickerel | Esox americanus |
Esocidae |
Yes
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need |
| Green Sunfish | Lepomis cyanellus |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Gravel Chub | Erimystax x-punctatus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Gizzard Shad | Dorosoma cepedianum |
Clupeidae |
Yes
|
|
| Hornyhead chub | Nocomis biguttatus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Johnny darter | Etheostoma nigrum |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Lake Sturgeon | Acipenser fulvescens |
Acipenseridae |
No
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need ThreatenedEndangered |
| Longnose dace | Rhinichthys cataractae |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Northern Logperch | Percina caprodes |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Mooneye | Hiodon tergisus |
Hiodontidae |
Yes
|
|
| Mottled sculpin | Cottus bairdii |
Cottidae |
Yes
|
|
| Northern brook lamprey | Ichthyomyzon fossor |
Petromyzontidae |
Yes
|
|
| Northern hog sucker | Hypentelium nigricans |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Orangethroat darter | Etheostoma spectabile |
Percidae |
Yes
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need |
| Orangespotted sunfish | Lepomis humilis |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Iowa darter | Etheostoma exile |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Ozark minnow | Notropis nubilus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Paddlefish | Polyodon spathula |
Polyodontidae |
Yes
|
|
| Pallid Sturgeon | Scaphirhynchus albus |
Acipenseridae |
No
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need ThreatenedEndangered |
| Pearl Dace | Margariscus margarita |
Cyprinidae |
No
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need ThreatenedEndangered |
| Pumpkinseed | Lepomis gibbosus |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Rainbow Darter | Etheostoma caeruleum |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Redfin shiner | Lythrurus umbratilus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Red shiner | Cyprinella lutrensis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Rock Bass | Ambloplites rupestris |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| River carpsucker | Carpiodes carpio |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Carmine Shiner | Notropis percobromus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Smallmouth Buffalo | Ictiobus bubalus |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Spotted sucker | Minytrema melanops |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Spotfin shiner | Cyprinella spiloptera |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Slenderhead darter | Percina phoxocephala |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Shorthead redhorse | Moxostoma macrolepidotum |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Scaphirhynchus platorynchus |
Acipenseridae |
Yes
|
|
| Slender madtom | Noturus exilis |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| Slimy Sculpin | Cottus cognatus |
Cottidae |
Yes
|
|
| Spotted bass | Micropterus punctulatus |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Spottail Shiner | Notropis hudsonius |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Southern Redbelly Dace | Chrosomus erythrogaster |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Stone Cat | Noturus flavus |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| Suckermouth minnow | Phenacobius mirabilis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Silver chub | Macrhybopsis storeriana |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Tiger muskie | Esox masquinongy x E. lucius |
Esocidae |
Yes
|
|
| Topeka Shiner | Notropis topeka |
Cyprinidae |
No
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need ThreatenedEndangered |
| Tadpole madtom | Noturus gyrinus |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| Trout-perch | Percopsis omiscomaycus |
Percopsidae |
Yes
|
|
| Quillback | Carpiodes cyprinus |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Warmouth | Lepomis gulosus |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Weed shiner | Notropis texanus |
Cyprinidae |
No
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need ThreatenedEndangered |
| White Crappie | Pomoxis annularis |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| White Sucker | Catostomus commersonii |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Yellow Bullhead | Ameiurus natalis |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| Longnose Gar | Lepisosteus osseus |
Lepisosteidae |
Yes
|
|
| Shortnose gar | Lepisosteus platostomus |
Lepisosteidae |
Yes
|
|
| Saugeye | Hybrid sauger x walleye |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Pirate Perch | Aphredoderus sayanus |
Aphredoderidae |
Yes
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need |
| White Perch | Morone americana |
Moronidae |
Yes
|
Invasive Species |
| Western sand darter | Ammocrypta clara |
Percidae |
Yes
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need |
| Western silvery minnow | Hybognathus argyritis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| White Catfish | Ameiurus catus |
Ictaluridae |
Yes
|
|
| Bigeye Shiner | Notropis boops |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Alabama Shad | Alosa alabamae |
Clupeidae |
No
|
ThreatenedEndangered |
| Black Buffalo | Ictiobus niger |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Black Redhorse | Moxostoma duquesnei |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need |
| Blackchin Shiner | Notropis heterodon |
Cyprinidae |
No
|
ThreatenedEndangered |
| Blackside Darter | Percina maculata |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Blue Sucker | Cycleptus elongatus |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Bluntnose Darter | Etheostoma chlorosoma |
Percidae |
No
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need ThreatenedEndangered |
| Bullhead Minnow | Pimephales vigilax |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Channel Shiner | Notropis wickliffi |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Crystal Darter | Crystallaria asprella |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Freckled Madtom | Noturus nocturnus |
Ictaluridae |
No
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need ThreatenedEndangered |
| Ghost shiner | Notropis buchanani |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Gilt Darter | Percina evides |
Percidae |
No
|
ThreatenedEndangered |
| Greater Redhorse | Moxostoma valenciennesi |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Highfin carpsucker | Carpiodes velifer |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Ironcolor shiner | Notropis chalybaeus |
Cyprinidae |
No
|
ThreatenedEndangered |
| Lake chub | Couesius plumbeus |
Cyprinidae |
No
|
ThreatenedEndangered |
| Lake chubsucker | Erimyzon sucetta |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Largescale stoneroller | Campostoma oligolepis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Least darter | Etheostoma microperca |
Percidae |
No
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need ThreatenedEndangered |
| Longear Sunfish | Lepomis megalotis |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Mimic Shiner | Notropis volucellus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Mississippi Silvery Minnow | Hybognathus nuchalis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Mosquitofish | Gambusia affinis |
Poeciliidae |
Yes
|
|
| Mud Darter | Etheostoma asprigene |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| Pallid Shiner | Hybopsis amnis |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Plains Minnow | Hybognathus placitus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Plains Topminnow | Fundulus sciadicus |
Fundulidae |
Yes
|
|
| Pugnose Minnow | Opsopoeodus emiliae |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Pugnose Shiner | Notropis anogenus |
Cyprinidae |
No
|
Species of Greatest Conservation Need ThreatenedEndangered |
| Rainbow Smelt | Osmerus mordax |
Osmeridae |
Yes
|
|
| Redside Dace | Clinostomus elongatus |
Cyprinidae |
No
|
ThreatenedEndangered |
| River Darter | Percina shumardi |
Percidae |
Yes
|
|
| River Redhorse | Moxostoma carinatum |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| River Shiner | Notropis blennius |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Roseyface Shiner | Notropis rubellus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Sand Shiner | Notropis stramineus |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Sicklefin Chub | Macrhybopsis meeki |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Silver Carp | Hypophthalmichthys molitrix |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
Invasive Species |
| Silver Lamprey | Ichthyomyzon unicuspis |
Petromyzontidae |
Yes
|
|
| Silver Redhorse | Moxostoma anisurum |
Catostomidae |
Yes
|
|
| Silverband Shiner | Notropis shumardi |
Cyprinidae |
No
|
ThreatenedEndangered |
| Skipjack Herring | Alosa chrysochloris |
Clupeidae |
Yes
|
|
| Spotted Gar | Lepisosteus oculatus |
Lepisosteidae |
Yes
|
|
| Starhead Topminnow | Fundulus dispar |
Fundulidae |
Yes
|
|
| Sturgeon Chub | Macrhybopsis gelida |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Threadfin Shad | Dorosoma petenense |
Clupeidae |
Yes
|
|
| Shoal Chub | Macrhybopsis hyostoma |
Cyprinidae |
Yes
|
|
| Northern Sunfish | Lepomis peltastes |
Centrarchidae |
No
|
ThreatenedEndangered |
| Ocean Striped Bass | Morone saxatilis |
Morone |
Yes
|
|
| Hybrid Crappie | Pomoxis nigromaculatus X Pomoxis annularis |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|
|
| Tiger Trout | Salvelinus fontinalis x Salmo trutta |
Salmonidae |
Yes
|
|
| Meanmouth Bass | Micropterus punctulatus x M. dolomieu |
Centrarchidae |
Yes
|