Rules & Regulations

Cast net laws in Iowa

Legal with restrictions

Informational only — this is not legal advice

Fishing regulations change, sometimes with little notice, and can vary further by county, water body, or season within a state. This page is a starting point for research, not a substitute for the law. Always verify current rules directly with your state's fish & wildlife agency or TakeMeFishing.org before you fish. BasicGear is not responsible for citations, fines, or gear seizures resulting from reliance on this page.

Last verified: 2026-07-08 — regulations are re-checked periodically; see the date above before assuming this is current.

Summary

Cast nets may be used to collect personal bait or minnows only, not game fish.

Size, mesh & licensing

Max size: 10 ft diameter (5 ft radius)
Mesh: Not specified for cast nets
Water type: Freshwater only
License: Yes — valid Iowa fishing license

Recommended BasicGear net

Cast Net — Basic Series — Choose a 5 ft radius or smaller Basic Series size to stay under Iowa's cap.

Official source

Iowa Code §481A.145 / Iowa DNR↗

Medium confidence

The primary code PDF could not be directly rendered; confirmed via consistent quoted excerpts across independent searches.

Last verified: 2026-07-08

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