Fishing in Des Moines: 46 Waters, Nearest 1.3km

Looking for somewhere to fish near Des Moines? Des Moines is rivers country: 65% of the 46 named waters within 20km are rivers, with lakes the next most common. The closest is Raccoon River, 1.3km out — and 4 more sit inside 5km.

What you can expect to catch near Des Moines

What's realistic here follows the water you've actually got in range, and it varies by type:

Rivers (30, closest 1.3km) — Smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish through most warmwater rivers; trout where the water runs cold and fast.
Lakes (9, closest 2.1km) — Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish are the usual mix, with walleye and pike in the northern states.
Reservoirs (6, closest 6.8km) — Largemouth and spotted bass, crappie and catfish, with striped bass in the larger impoundments.
Canals (1, closest 17.7km) — Canals and channels tend to hold catfish, panfish and bass that have moved in from connected water.

Fishing the water around Des Moines

On rivers, read the flow before you cast. Fish hold on the seam where fast water meets slow, in the crease behind obstructions, and under undercut banks. Approach from downstream where you can — fish face into the current, so you'll be behind them.

Before you go

Fishing licences in the US are issued by the state, so you'll need one for the state you're fishing in — check your state wildlife agency for the current rules, and note that seasons, size limits and bag limits vary by species and water.

Every named water within 20km

46 in total, closest first — a live slice of the 500,000+ waters in CastLog. Photograph a catch on any of them and the app names the species, estimates its size, and logs the spot and conditions automatically.

Rivers near Des Moines

Raccoon River · river · 1.3km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Walnut Creek · river · 4.7km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Frink Creek · river · 4.8km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Saylor Creek · river · 6.0km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Norwood Branch · river · 7.4km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
North Walnut Creek · river · 7.9km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Beaver Creek · river · 8.0km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Jordan Creek · river · 8.3km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Little Fourmile Creek · river · 8.4km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Magnolia Creek · river · 8.5km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Yeader Creek · river · 9.0km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Fourmile Creek · river · 9.7km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Muchikinock Creek · river · 10.8km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Rock Creek · river · 13.1km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Little Beaver Creek · river · 15.1km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Bull Run · river · 16.3km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
White Oak Creek · river · 16.6km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
North River · river · 16.9km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Little Walnut Creek · river · 17.0km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Sugar Creek · river · 17.1km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Deer Creek · river · 17.1km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Spring Creek · river · 17.7km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Plug Run · river · 17.7km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Cavitt Creek · river · 18.2km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.
Big Creek · river · 18.2km from Des Moines centre
Typically smallmouth bass, catfish and panfish; trout where the water runs cold.

+5 more within range — open CastLog to search the full list.

Lakes near Des Moines

Grays Lake · lake · 2.1km from Des Moines centre
Typically largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, with walleye and pike further north.
Dean Lake · lake · 4.0km from Des Moines centre
Typically largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, with walleye and pike further north.
Case Lake · lake · 5.6km from Des Moines centre
Typically largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, with walleye and pike further north.
Canary Lake (historical) · lake · 6.9km from Des Moines centre
Typically largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, with walleye and pike further north.
Horseshoe Lake · lake · 7.7km from Des Moines centre
Typically largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, with walleye and pike further north.
Lake Halice · lake · 10.1km from Des Moines centre
Typically largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, with walleye and pike further north.
Avon Lake · lake · 13.0km from Des Moines centre
Typically largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, with walleye and pike further north.
Randleman Lake · lake · 14.7km from Des Moines centre
Typically largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, with walleye and pike further north.
Sugar Creek Lake · lake · 19.4km from Des Moines centre
Typically largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, with walleye and pike further north.

Reservoirs near Des Moines

Lake Easter · reservoir · 6.8km from Des Moines centre
Largemouth and spotted bass, crappie and catfish, with striped bass in bigger impoundments.
Lake Colechester · reservoir · 10.7km from Des Moines centre
Largemouth and spotted bass, crappie and catfish, with striped bass in bigger impoundments.
Hickory Lake · reservoir · 14.5km from Des Moines centre
Largemouth and spotted bass, crappie and catfish, with striped bass in bigger impoundments.
Lake Country Club · reservoir · 15.1km from Des Moines centre
Largemouth and spotted bass, crappie and catfish, with striped bass in bigger impoundments.
Dale Maffit Reservoir · reservoir · 16.2km from Des Moines centre
Largemouth and spotted bass, crappie and catfish, with striped bass in bigger impoundments.
Faith Pond · reservoir · 16.9km from Des Moines centre
Largemouth and spotted bass, crappie and catfish, with striped bass in bigger impoundments.

Canals near Des Moines

Ditch Number 2 · canal · 17.7km from Des Moines centre
Catfish, panfish and bass moved in from connected water.

Find these waters in CastLog