Events and Activities : Something is Fishy in Benton County

Thanks to a successful interior river stocking program, this stretch of the Cedar River (especially in Benton County) has been experiencing some great walleye and northern pike fishing. The smallmouth bass also are doing well along with channel catfish. (2016)

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 .

• Bigmouth Buffalo
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Black Buffalo
• 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.
• Black Bullhead
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Black Crappie
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Bluegill
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• 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, 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, 3 fish
• Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
• Length Limit: 12-inch minimum
• Other:
• Northern Pike
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
• Possession Limit: 6 fish
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• 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; 5 fish
• Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 10 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.
• Smallmouth Bass
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
• Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
• Length Limit: 12-inch minimum
• Other:
• Smallmouth Buffalo
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Walleye
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 5 fish
• Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 10 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: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Yellow Bullhead
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: