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Bield:Fish
Fish stocking schedule

Iowa fish stocking schedule 2026.

Year-RoundIowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa's signature stocking program is the Driftless region trout streams in the northeast corner of the state — these spring-fed creeks receive weekly stockings during the season and support a growing wild trout population.

Official source

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Stocking Report

Iowa Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative Iowa stocking schedule — Weekly updates in Searchable database format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.

View official Iowa stocking report

This page summarizes the Iowa stocking program for planning purposes. The agency report is the authoritative source — verify before any trip.

Primary stocked species in Iowa

Typical stocking pattern by species. Heavy fill marks primary stocking months; moderate fill marks possible stocking. Verify exact dates against the official report.

  • Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss
    JanJan — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesFebFeb — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMarMar — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAprApr — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMayMay — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJunJun — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJulJul — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAugAug — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesSepSep — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesOctOct — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesDecDec — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
    Typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
  • Brown TroutSalmo trutta
    JanJan — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesFebFeb — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMarMar — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAprApr — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMayMay — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJunJun — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJulJul — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAugAug — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesSepSep — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesOctOct — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesDecDec — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
    Typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
  • Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatus
    JanJan — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingFebFeb — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingMarMar — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingAprApr — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingMayMay — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingJulJul — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingAugAug — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingSepSep — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingOctOct — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingNovNov — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingDecDec — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerling
  • WalleyeSander vitreus
    JanJan — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingFebFeb — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMarMar — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAprApr — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMayMay — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJulJul — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAugAug — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingSepSep — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingOctOct — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingNovNov — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingDecDec — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
  • MuskellungeEsox masquinongy
    JanJan — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingFebFeb — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingMarMar — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingAprApr — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingMayMay — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingJulJul — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingAugAug — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingSepSep — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingOctOct — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingNovNov — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingDecDec — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 8–12 inch fingerling

Notable Iowa programs

  • Driftless Trout Streams (NE Iowa)
  • Walleye Fry Program
  • Community Fishing Lake Stockings

State hatchery system

Iowa operates 3 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.

Iowa urban fishing program

Iowa maintains a designated urban fishing program — typically frequent stockings of catfish, trout, and panfish in city ponds and lakes. These programs are designed to make fishing accessible to families and first-time anglers.

Iowa urban fishing program details →

Weekly stocking alerts for Iowa.

Bield: Fish reads Iowa Department of Natural Resources's stocking reports and alerts you when your saved waters are stocked. Set your county once and you'll know the day fish hit your home river.

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