Fishing near me in Des Moines : 5 spots within 50 miles
There are 5 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of Des Moines, and the closest, Gray's Lake, is about 1.3 miles from the city center. Below they're ranked by distance, with Iowa license info, the species you can expect, and answers to the questions Des Moines anglers ask most.
Closest first
Top Fishing Spots Near Des Moines
Every mapped venue within 50 miles of Des Moines, nearest first. Click any spot for full venue details, directions, and species.
- 1
Gray's Lake
1.3 mi awayDes Moines city, Polk County
- 2
Walker Johnston Fishing Pond
6.6 mi awayUrbandale city, Polk County
- 3
Fisher Lake
6.8 mi awayPolk County
- 4
PCM High School Fishing Pond
28 mi awayMonroe city, Jasper County
- 5
Peterson Lake
34 mi awayStory County
Want more options? Browse all Iowa fishing venues or the Iowa fishing near me guide.
License Info
Do You Need a Fishing License in Iowa?
The short answer for Des Moines anglers, plus where to find the current Iowa prices, exemptions, and free fishing days.
In most cases, yes: a Iowa license before you cast
Anglers above the state minimum age need a valid Iowa fishing license to fish public water around Des Moines. Age thresholds, resident and non-resident fees, short-term options, and exemptions all vary by state and change each season, so treat any specific number you read elsewhere with caution and check the current rules before you buy.
The linked guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, where to buy online and in person, and this year's free fishing days.
What's Biting
What Can You Catch Near Des Moines?
We're still building species records for the venues around Des Moines. Log your catches on GilledIt to help map what's biting where.
Des Moines anglers commonly target bass, catfish, and panfish. Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports for any of these species near you.
More Resources
Keep Exploring Iowa Fishing
Fishing Near Me in Des Moines: FAQ
There are 5 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of Des Moines, and the closest is Gray's Lake, about 1.3 miles from the city center. The list above ranks them by distance: city-park ponds, reservoirs, and public-access water. Open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your exact location.
Often, yes. Many city-park ponds and public reservoirs around Des Moines are free to access once you hold a valid Iowa fishing license, and most states also run free fishing days each year when no license is needed. Dates and rules change, so confirm on the Iowa fish and wildlife website or in our Iowa license guide.
In most cases, yes: anglers above the state's minimum age need a valid Iowa fishing license to fish public water around Des Moines. Age cut-offs, fees, and exemptions vary by state and change each season, so check our Iowa fishing license guide for current prices, where to buy, and free fishing days before you go.
Our species records for these venues are still growing, but Iowa waters typically hold bass, catfish, and panfish. Open GilledIt for real-time catch reports around Des Moines, and log your own to help map what's biting.
For most waters around Des Moines, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most productive windows: fish feed hard around the spawn and again before winter. Early morning and the last hour of light are the best daily bites in summer. Check the GilledIt community feed for what's working near Des Moines this week.
Start logging catches around Des Moines
GilledIt is the social fishing app for American anglers. Log catches with photos, auto-tagged weather, pressure, moon and tide data. Free at launch on iOS and Android.