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Bigmouth Buffalo

Bigmouth Buffalo

Bigmouth Buffalo are Iowa's largest native sucker species and one of North America's longest-lived freshwater fish, capable of living over 100 years. They are extremely hardy, enduring oxygen levels less than 1 ppm and form large schools.

Physical Characteristics:
  • Adults commonly reach 15-27 inches and weigh 2-14 pounds, though individuals over 40 pounds occur in commercial landings.
  • Iowa's state record is a massive 64.38-pound, 41.5-inch fish caught from Lake Manawa in 2007.
  • These fish have a distinctive deeply rounded body with bluish-green coloration dorsally, shading to coppery-blue on the sides and light bluish-gray belly, with a large oblique mouth and sickle-shaped dorsal fin.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found throughout most of the state except the Nodaway River drainages, being most abundant in the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and their larger tributaries, river impoundments, and some natural lakes.
  • They prefer shallow, slow-moving waters in lakes, impoundments, marshes, and river backwaters.

Key Locations

  • Major rivers like the Mississippi (Pools 16-19), Missouri, Des Moines (Saylorville to Red Rock section), Iowa, Cedar, and Little Sioux Rivers; reservoirs including Coralville, Saylorville, Red Rock, and Rathbun; and natural lakes like West Okoboji, Clear Lake, Spirit Lake, and Storm Lake.
  • Lake Manawa.

Specific Spots

  • Focus on slow-moving backwaters, river pools, shallow lake areas with vegetation, and areas with current edges near dams.

Bigmouth Buffalo FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Bigmouth Buffalo in Iowa?

Corn, small worms, heavily scented dough balls, bread balls, and cut bait, though they rarely take live bait. Small jigs can be effective in murky water.

What flies work for Bigmouth Buffalo in Iowa?

Small nymph patterns, midge patterns, glo bugs drifted slowly near their feeding zones, flashy marabou jigs, and foam patterns that imitate cottonwood seeds work well.

When is the best time to fish for Bigmouth Buffalo in Iowa?

Spring through summer being most productive after spawning concludes in May. Spawning occurs in April when water temperatures reach 60°F - this period should be avoided for fishing to protect reproduction.

How do you catch Bigmouth Buffalo in Iowa?

Bottom fishing techniques work best - drift fishing and still fishing with baits presented close to muddy, silty bottoms where they naturally feed. In river eddies, target areas where they're sucking scum bubbles and surface trails.

What do Bigmouth Buffalo eat?

Unlike other buffalo species, Bigmouth Buffalo are filter-feeders that primarily consume zooplankton, particularly cladocerans and copepods, along with algae, chironomids, and small crustaceans.

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