Des Moines area

So i am visiting my wife until thursday in Des Moines, and while she is at med school most of the day i dont really have much to do. i brought 2 rods down with me and was hoping to find some walleye or trout even within 20 minutes of des moines. anybody have any suggestions? fishing from shore FYI.

thanks!

Swing into the Bass Pro Shop out by Adventureland and ask around for recent reports. I don’t think there are any trout streams in the neighborhood. You might find the Des Moines river to be easiest to find access. Good luck

No trout rivers close to Des Moines. They do stock ponds for trout and the closest to Des Moines is Banner Lake. http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/IowasStateParks/ParkDetails.aspx?ParkID=2&idAdminBoundary=234

For walleye fishing there is the Des Moines river. There is a lake north of the city, Saylorville and from the spillway all the way to downtown you can find walleyes. It’s not easy but they are in there. The river is really low right now so throw in some waders and you can find some pools to fish. Also North of Des Moines there is a lake called Big Creek. There is some decent shore fishing at this lake.

Everything else is a few hours away if you want to go after walleyes.

Good Luck.

There isn’t any trout water in the Desmoines area, streams etc. I don’t know if there is a pond or lake that may have trout in it. The dams there in Des Moines are known for good catches of decent walleyes. Check with the local sporting goods stores and I’d bet someone will fill you in on the walleye fishing from shore, I heard its very good around the dams at times.

Hendo, does your wife go to DMU?

just don’t be surprised when you are fishing the dams near des moines and the shorelines are literally riddled with trash. its like a 3rd world country…just garbage everywhere. SOMEthing will be biting up at the dams. you just have to realize you are going to snag up on snarls of 100lb test mono that are stuck in the rocks more frequently the closer you get to the dam.

Tim, yes she is at DMU. Going to the local man store (fleetfarm) to see if they have any info for me

For a local bait shop stop in at Casey’s Bait and Tackle on Easton Blvd. They are on the East side of Des Moines off of I-235.

Due to the government shutdown I was not able to go to my first spot, so I ended up at big creek in Polk city. Found a few walleyes to keep me busy on moxies so I was satisfied!

Any size to your eyes at Big Creek? That fishery gets hit pretty hard being so close to Des Moines. There are a lot of dinks in that lake.