Fish Iowa - Rivers and Streams

Rivers and Streams DNR Homepage

About Big Sioux River

River length (miles): 129.00
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Woodbury
Description:
Coordinates: 42.49009325, -96.44531409

Nearby Parks

Stone State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Big Sioux River include:
- No amenities found

What to Fish For

Fishing Report

Please contact the local fisheries management biologist for current information.

Fishing Summary

- No results found

Consumption Guidelines

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.

To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .

Where to Go

View Map (.pdf)

Explore the full Fishing Atlas

Stocking and Management

Stocking

6/13/23 - 79,846 Walleye (1.1)
6/17/22 - 51,545 Walleye (1.5)
07/14/2021 - 5,513 Walleye (4)
07/14/2021 - 10,038 Walleye (1.6)
06/17/2021 - 67,706 Walleye (1.28)
06/10/2020 - 65,324 Walleye (1.7)
07/02/2019 - 52,448 Walleye (1.06)
7/7/2017 - 6,963 Walleye (2.5")
7/10/2017 - 5,509 Walleye (2.6")
7/10/2017 - 7,068 Walleye (2.6")
6/20/2017 - 35,780 Walleye (2.6")
6/21/16 - 51,720 Walleye (2.6")

Management

2013 - RAFT sampling-RAFT: Collected fish samples for contaminate monitoring
2013 - Dam-Removal: Construction began on the arch rapids and dam removal
2013 - Dam-Removal: Construction initiated on arched rapids on January 9th of 2013 with a completion date of March 1, 2013.
2012 - Dam-Removal: A construction contract was awarded
2011 - Dam-Removal: Archeological and mussel survey completed on site
2010 - Dam-Removal: High water prevented work from going forward - final design has been completed
2009 - Dam-Removal: Public open house to unviel plans for the dam March 25th and October 7th
2009 - Dam-Maintenance: Emergency repairs were made to a breach in the dam

Regulations and Who to Talk To

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: None

Contacts for this Location

Kirby Bragg, Conservation Officer (Woodbury); 712-870-2791; kirby.bragg@dnr.iowa.gov
Stacey Bragg, Conservation Officer (Woodbury); 712-301-6735; Stacey.Bragg@dnr.iowa.gov
Andrew Carlson, Fisheries Biologist; 7123361840; andrew.carlson@dnr.iowa.gov
Steven Griebel, Conservation Officer (Woodbury); 712-301-4009; Steven.Griebel@dnr.iowa.gov

Fishing Regulations

The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.

Bigmouth Buffalo

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

Black Bullhead

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

Black Crappie

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Blue Catfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
Length Limit: none
Other:

Bluegill

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Channel Catfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
Length Limit: none
Other:

Common Carp

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.

Flathead Catfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
Length Limit: none
Other:

Freshwater Drum

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.

Green Sunfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

Largemouth Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 5 fish
Possession Limit: combined black bass, 10 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Northern Pike

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: 6 fish
Possession Limit: 12 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Paddlefish

Season: Feb 2 - April 30
Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish
Possession Limit: 1 fish
Length Limit: less than 35-inches or more than 45-inches
Other: Snagging is permitted in the Iowa waters of the Big Sioux River from the I-29 bridge to the confluence with the Missouri River. No hook larger than a 5/0 treble hook or measuring more than 1 ¼ inches in length when two of the hook points are placed on a ruler are permitted when snagging.

Quillback

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.

Sauger

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 4 fish
Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 8 fish
Length Limit: none
Other:

Shorthead redhorse

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.

Shovelnose sturgeon

Season: Closed
Daily Bag Limit:
Possession Limit:
Length Limit: none
Other:

Smallmouth Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 5 fish
Possession Limit: combined black bass, 10 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Walleye

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 4 fish
Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 8 fish
Length Limit: none
Other:

White Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

White Crappie

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur

Fish Iowa - Rivers and Streams - Big Sioux River