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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
Fort Dodge to Des Moines The river tops out around 11 ft. This chart interpolates between a real shoreline and a known maximum depth. It will point you at likely water, but it is not a navigation product. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The outline encloses 11,061 acres, worked by 212 miles of shoreline, broken up by 2 islands. With a shoreline index of 14.4, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Tip to tip the water measures near 70.5 mi with an 8.2-mi widest point. It sits in Boone County. Don Williams Lake sits 8 mi northwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 11 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 11 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 11 ft. The chart's best answer is Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) — creek channel, 8 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) |
Early season flathead catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 11 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 11 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 11 ft. Put Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 8 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 3 to 11 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 11 ft covers summer, 3 to 11 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Riffle & run (mile 3.1), a rock pile in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 3.1) (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Current seam (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Start shallow in spring: white bass sit in 2 to 11 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 11 ft covers summer, 3 to 11 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 0.6), a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for white bass in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
When the water first warms, freshwater drum slide up into 3 to 11 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 11 ft, winter 3 to 11 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0): a creek channel around 8 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Keep a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Come spring, look for common carp tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 11 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 11 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0). It's a creek channel holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | |
| Summer | 2 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) (8 ft) |
Des Moines River also holds northern pike (3 to 11 ft in summer), smallmouth bass (3 to 11 ft in summer), largemouth bass (3 to 11 ft in summer), yellow perch (3 to 11 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 49 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0), sits near 8 ft.
Access data: Iowa DNR — Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Iowa waters are set by the Iowa DNR — and special regulations can apply to Des Moines River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Iowa fishing regulations →
Des Moines River is about 11 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target channel catfish, flathead catfish, walleye, white bass, freshwater drum, common carp, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch on Des Moines River.
Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For channel catfish, the summer bite is best in after dark and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Des Moines River is regulated by the Iowa DNR. Check the official Iowa regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Don Williams Lake 8 mi · Peterson Pit West 16 mi · Big Creek Lake 17 mi · Spring Lake 20 mi · Little Wall Lake 21 mi · Brushy Creek Lake 26 mi · Ankeny Lake (DMACC) 27 mi · Hickory Grove Lake 28 mi · Briggs Woods Lake 28 mi · Springbrook Lake 34 mi · Grays Lake 35 mi · Easter Lake 38 mi
See how Des Moines River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Iowa · best smallmouth bass lakes in Iowa · best walleye lakes in Iowa · best white bass lakes in Iowa
Browse all Iowa fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.