DeSoto Lake

Special Fishing Regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Waterbody Regulations

• Anglers are limited to 2 lines, and 2 hooks per line.
• The daily bag and minimum length limit for all fish species in De Soto Lake are the most restrictive limit of either Iowa or Nebraska. Anglers are limited to 2 lines, and 2 hooks per line.
• Trotlines, bank lines, set lines, and float lines are prohibited. The daily bag and minimum length limit for all fish species in De Soto Lake are the most restrictive limit of either Iowa or Nebraska. Anglers are limited to 2 lines, and 2 hooks per line.
• The daily bag and minimum length limit for all fish species in De Soto Lake are the most restrictive limit of either Iowa or Nebraska. Anglers are limited to 2 lines, and 2 hooks per line.
• Trotlines, bank line, set lines and float lines are prohibited. The daily bag and minimum length limit for all fish species in De Soto Lake are the most restrictive limit of either Iowa or Nebraska. Anglers are limited to 2 lines, and 2 hooks per line.
• Trotlines, bank lines, set lines, and float lines are prohibited. The daily bag and minimum length limit for all fish species in De Soto Lake are the most restrictive limit of either Iowa or Nebraska. Anglers are limited to 2 lines, and 2 hooks per line.
• Trotlines, bank lines, set lines, and float lines are prohibited. The daily bag and minimum length limit for all fish species in De Soto Lake are the most restrictive limit of either Iowa or Nebraska. Anglers are limited to 2 lines, and 2 hooks per line.
• none

Special Species Regulations

• White Crappie: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply; combined bluegill and crappie, 15 fish. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: none.
• Blue Catfish: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: 1. Possession Limit: Federal refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: none.
• Black Crappie: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply; combined bluegill and crappie, 15 fish. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: none.
• Bluegill: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply; combined bluegill and crappie, 15 fish. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: none.
• Common Carp: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply.
• Channel Catfish: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply; 5 fish. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply.
• Flathead Catfish: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply; 5 fish, only one fish 30” or longer. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: none.
• Largemouth Bass: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish, only one fish 21” or longer; Federal Refuge regulations apply. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: 15-inch minimum; Federal Refuge regulations apply.
• Northern Pike: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply; 3 fish. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: 24 -inch minimum; Federal Refuge regulations apply.
• Paddlefish: closed: Daily Bag Limit: none, protected species. Possession Limit: cannot be possessed. Length Limit: cannot be possessed.
• Sauger: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye/sauger/saugeye, 3 fish, only one fish 22” or longer. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: 15-inch minimum.
• Shovelnose sturgeon: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: 10. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: none.
• Smallmouth Bass: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish, only one fish 21” or longer. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: 15-inch minimum.
• Saugeye: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye/sauger/saugeye, 3 fish, only one fish 22” or longer. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: 15-inch minimum.
• Walleye: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye/sauger/saugeye, 3 fish, only one fish 22” or longer. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: 15-inch minimum.
• White Bass: 30 min prior to sunrise until 30 min after sunset; open water, Apr 15 - Oct 14; ice, Jan 2-31 & Feb: Daily Bag Limit: 15 fish, only one fish 16” or longer. Possession Limit: Federal Refuge regulations apply. Length Limit: none.