Fishing

Fishing will be in accordance with applicable State of Iowa regulations subject to the conditions stated in this publication. Brochures may be obtained by mail, at the refuge visitor center, or from the refuge website.

• Refuge lands are open to fishing, year round, 1 hour before legal sunrise to 1 hour after legal sunset, except in bison/elk enclosure.
• Night fishing, access from private property and entry into closed areas are prohibited.
• We prohibit the taking of any turtle, frog, snake, lizard, leech, minnow, crayfish, mussel (clam), and any other non-fish species by any method on the refuge

Prohibited Activities

• By law, recreational activities on national wildlife refuges are prohibited unless expressly permitted
• Possession of alcoholic beverages
• Camping and fires
• Searching for or removal of any natural items such as antlers, bison skulls, plants, and historic/ archaeological features
• Boats, canoes, kayaks, etc.
• Use of electronic or photographic trail monitoring devices
• Marking or flagging any tree or other refuge feature with reflectors, paint, or other substance
• ATVs or any other mechanized device used for retrieving game or transportation
• Access to the refuge from private property
• Use of spotlights or other artificial lights to spot, locate, or take any wildlife within the boundaries of any Refuge or along the right-of-way on public or private roads
• Drones (UAVs) taking off, landing and/or flying on or over refuge lands.
• Fishing in the bison/elk enclosure