Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Big Timber Complex

Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs DNR Homepage

About Big Timber Complex

Surface Area (acres): 1252.00
Maximum Depth (feet): Unknown
Motoring Restrictions: None
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Louisa
Description: Mississippi River Backwater Complex made up of sloughs and bottom land forest on Pool 17. Big Timber(The Breaks) is part of the Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge.
Coordinates: 41.26558376, -91.11306719

Nearby Parks

- No results found

Amenities

Amenities at Big Timber Complex include:
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Accessible Shoreline

Fishing Report

- No recent updates found

Popular Fish Species

Fishing Forecast

- 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 .

Stocking

  • 06/17/2015 - 150 Largemouth Bass (Adult)
  • 05/12/2015 - 3,500 Northern Pike (2")

Management

    - No results found

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: None

Contacts for this Location

Fishing Regulations

  • Bigmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Black Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited; Mississippi River backwaters, combined black and white crappie - 50 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • Bluegill
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish; Mississippi River backwaters, combined bluegill and pumpkinseed - 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited; Mississippi River backwaters, combined bluegill and pumpkinseed - 50 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • Bowfin
    • 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.
  • Channel Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers (Missouri, Big Sioux, and Des Moines) where intermittent or constant flow occur have a catfish combined daily bag of 15 fish. Associated chutes and backwaters of the Mississippi River have no daily bag or possession limit.
  • 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, 8 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers (Missouri, Big Sioux, and Des Moines) where intermittent or constant flow occur have a catfish combined daily bag of 15 fish. Associated chutes and backwaters of the Mississippi River have no daily bag or possession limit.
  • 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.
  • Largemouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
    • Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers are included where intermittent or constant flow occur. A 14-inch length limit applies to Mississippi River backwaters, and a 12-inch length limit applies to Missouri River backwaters.
  • Northern Pike
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 6 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers where intermittent or constant flow occur have the following limits: Mississippi River-5 fish daily bag, 10 fish possession limit; Missouri River-5 fish daily bag, 10 fish possession limit; Big Sioux River-6 fish daily bag, 12 fish possession limit
  • Smallmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • White Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of the Mississippi River are included where intermittent or constant flow occur. In these areas, the daily bag and possession limit for the Mississippi River apply.
  • White Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited; Mississippi River backwaters, combined black and white crappie - 50 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters

Aquatic Invasive Species

    No known aquatic invasive species have been found

To learn more about AIS, visit the Iowa DNR's Aquatic Invasive Species page for more information and resources.

Fish Surveys

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