Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

If you live in the Hawkeye State, you're near some great catfishin'.

Cats are found just about everywhere in Iowa. There aren't many waters without a cat or two in them, and in some rivers and lakes, the fishing is downright excellent.

Here's a look at waters you'll want to try this year for plenty of eating-size catfish as well as a few line-breakers.

DESOTO BEND OXBOW
DeSoto Bend has been a channel catfish hotspot for years and it's still pumping out more than its share of fish, according to Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries management biologist Chris Larson.

"The Desoto Bend Oxbow in Harrison County has some nice channel cats up into the 10-pound range and lunker flatheads up to 50 pounds," said Larson. "The fishing is considered good for a Missouri River oxbow lake and the reason is because of the stocking efforts of both the Iowa and Nebraska DNR hatcheries.

"Each fall, 8,000 fingerling channels are stocked and since the lake is so fertile, they grow fast. Because the stocked cats are 7 to 9 inches when they're released, the survival rate is good and they're harvestable within a year. The 2006 DNR fish survey showed decent numbers of keeper-sized fish with some 24-inchers weighing in at about 6 pounds."

According to Larson, anglers also have a chance at taking lunker-class flatheads. About a thousand flatheads were stocked in the mid-1990s to help control the overabundant bullheads.

"These flatheads have grown tremendously since then," said Larson. "A netting survey in 2005 yielded 12 flatheads that ranged from 26 to 49 inches with an average weight of 23 pounds. One angler landed a 39-incher in May of 2006."

Catfish guides like Jim McDonnell have a few tricks up their sleeves on smaller lakes.

"I use a bobber or long float ahead of a hook just high enough to keep the bait off the bottom if there's a lot of silt," said McDonnell. "Have just enough weight to keep it there."

Anglers have access to a hard-surfaced ramp on this 118-acre lake. A no-wake restriction is in place with no motor size restrictions.

Additional information is available from the Southwest Management Region office at (712) 769-2587.

BADGER CREEK LAKE
Badger Creek Lake has long been known as a hotspot for channel cats. It gets a lot of pressure being just a 15-minute drive from Des Moines.

"The catfish that we've sampled in Badger Creek Lake are quite large," said Gary Sobotka, a fisheries management biologist with the Mount Ayr Fish Management office.

According to Sobotka, some of the channel cats are up to 30 inches and weigh about 13 or 14 pounds. More common are the 2-pounders that dominate the lake.

Much of the best fishing in the early summer months is in the upper end of the lake. This area has lots of shoreline access and a few fishing jetties to set up on. The shallow flats are a good bet at night, said Sobotka.