Fishing & Water Activities
Iowa is well-known as the home of the Iowa Great Lakes, which encompasses the magnificent splendor of Big Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Upper & Lower Gar, and Minnewashta. The Iowa Great Lakes are often regarded as the region’s most important tourist destination. This stunning chain of lakes stretches for several miles from the Minnesota border to the southwest and covers around 15,000 acres.
Residents and visitors in Okoboji can take advantage of the city’s year-round playground, which includes water sports under the summer sun and cold-weather pursuits such as snowmobile, ice fishing, and the University of Okoboji Winter Games, among others. Because of the vast area covered by the interconnected lakes, a wide range of exciting and fun water activities can be experienced on the water.
Fishing is also one of the most popular hobbies in the area, as the lakes are home to a diverse range of fish species available for catching. A number of watersports equipment businesses, boat rentals, and other watersports rentals are also available around the area. Discover the various fishing and water activities discovered in Okoboji!
Boat Okoboji Rentals
Alley St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Okoboji’s most exemplary rental service for boats is Boat Okoboji Rentals, which has Sea Ray and Sea-Doo Personal Watercraft models among its fleet for renters to choose from to get the most out of their time on Lake Okoboji. This rental business also offers a Lily Pad for you to utilize at your dock for the day or weekend and captains to operate your boat.
Extreme Watersports
37 Lake St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Extreme Watersports is a family-owned and run service. They provide their customers with water adventure equipment, including parasailing, ski boats, pontoon boat rentals, and more! They also rent customers other types of equipment, including wakeboards, water skis, and tubes.
Make-A-Wake Watersports
20785 170th St, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Make-A-Wake Watersports provides boat and jet ski rentals located on West Lake Okoboji. Stand-Up Paddleboards, Trainer Skis, Kayaks, Paddle Boats, and more are among the rental options offered. Rental packages are also available, and their team is always on hand to help you acquire the necessary equipment.
Oak Hill Marina
176 US-71 S, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
A maritime and Powersports establishment in Iowa’s Great Lakes region that offers a wide variety of marine items, services, rentals, and storing. Accessories and water gadgets are also available for purchase on the site. In addition to an ambiance that is certain to be friendly and relaxing, you’ll have all you possibly need for an amazing day on the lake.
Oak Hill Outdoor
2188 IA-86, Milford, Iowa 51351
Are you looking for a few more items to take along on your explorations? Look no farther than Oak Hill Outdoor has you covered! Outdoor is a one-stop-shop for all your Powersports, fishing, and hunting requirements, with names like Tracker Off-Road, Glacier Ice Houses, and Muddy Blinds, among the brands you’ll find here. Aside from providing excellent customer service, the staff is always happy to give suggestions and assistance.
Okoboji Boat Works
1401 Lakeshore Dr, Okoboji, Iowa 51355
Okoboji Boat Works, the only marina on West Lake Okoboji, offers daily and seasonal boat dock rentals, boating, water-sports renting, and a 24-hour on-water gas dock. The marina is also home to an impressive fleet of EIGHT excursion vessels. Daily recreational cruises depart from Okoboji Boat Works, and they are guaranteed to be a lot of fun in the sun. So pick a date and give Okoboji Boat Works a visit soon!
Okoboji Sailing Center
1900 Manhattan Blvd, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Okoboji Sailing Center is a community-based sailing facility. It is a non-profit organization aiming to educate people of all ages about sailing through courses taught by professional sailors.
Triggs Bay Resort Watersport Rentals
180 Linden Dr, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
The Triggs Bay Resort and Watersport Rentals are just across the street from one of Okoboji’s premier boat launches. It has been in the industry of renting boats in Okoboji for a more extended period than most other establishments. Water sports enthusiasts may hire a wide range of equipment from them at a price far less than that of other rental shops.
Big Fin Guide Service (Darrin Jones)
243 W Broadway St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
With extensive experience, Darrin Jones offers fully guided fishing trips on West Lake Okoboji, East Lake Okoboji, and Big Spirit Lake. Specializing in a variety of fish species, Darrin provides expert guidance for both open water and ice fishing adventures.
Blue Water Guide Service (Nick Klatt)
243 W Broadway St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Owned and operated by Nick Klatt, Blue Water Guide Service offers expert fishing trips for anglers of all levels. From casting techniques to reading electronics, Nick helps you sharpen your fishing skills. Full and half-day guided trips are available on Big Spirit, East Okoboji, West Okoboji, and Silver Lake.
Campbell Fishing Expeditions (John Campbell)
Arnolds Park, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Captain John Campbell has a wealth of knowledge and experience as a fisherman. After competing in wally competitions at the highest levels for over two decades, Campbell finished as one of the best anglers and has been featured as a fishing expert in several publications and magazines. As a bonus, he’s happy to teach others how to fish, so anybody who takes a class from him is sure to catch an array of fish!
Fisherman's Factory Outlet
1803 18th St, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Fisherman’s Factory Outlet offers deeply discounted, high-quality, name-brand fishing gear. Specializing in overstocks and closeouts, our inventory changes frequently, so be sure to check back often for the best deals!
Gopher Tackle
1606 P Ave, Milford, Iowa 51351
Ray Stephens and Stacey Manitz, with 30+ years in manufacturing and a passion for fishing, took over Gopher Tackle in 2020. Now based in Milford, Iowa, they handle all production in-house, ensuring high-quality products and prompt shipments.
Great Lakes Guide Service (Shane Akin)
243 W Broadway St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Lifelong local Shane Akin offers half and full-day fishing trips on the Iowa Great Lakes. Enjoy a comfortable boat, fresh bait, and quality gear while targeting Walleye, Bass, Crappie, and more. Ice fishing and nearby lakes available upon request.
Iowa Guide Service (Doug Burns)
806 28th St, Lot 48, Milford, Iowa 51351
People from all walks of life will definitely benefit from the services of the Iowa Guide Service, which has been operational since 1999. Aside from Doug Burns’ extensive local knowledge, his customers may be confident that they will have a first-rate experience and leave with a bag of fish in their hands. Look no further if you’re looking to take up fishing as a pastime or be an expert. You can rely on Iowa Guide Service for all of your guiding needs!
Jigmup Guide Service of Okoboji (Rod Blau)
243 W Broadway St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
With 35 years of experience, Rod Blau offers guided open water and ice fishing trips in the Iowa Great Lakes. Target species like bass, bluegill, crappie, musky, perch, and walleye year-round. Whether you’re a novice or experienced angler, Jigmup provides a memorable fishing experience for all ages.
JTG Expeditions (John Grosvenor)
664 Terrace Park Blvd, Milford, Iowa 51351
John Grosvenor has been a constant in families’ fishing memories for the last decade. If you’re interested in learning more about Grosvenor’s fishing hobby, he’s always happy to share his knowledge and experience with others. With Grosvenor, expect to catch at least seven different kinds of fish during your half-day fishing trip, and you should be able to master the basics of fishing in the Iowa Great Lakes by the end.
Kabele’s Trading Post
504 Hill Ave, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Established by Ed and Alice Kabele in 1968, Kabele’s Trading Post is situated in the center of Iowa’s Great Lakes region, surrounded by pristine fishing waterways. Since Thane Johnson and Tanya Petersen took over the management of Kabele, the company has evolved from a simple fishing equipment store to one that is comprehensive and up to date on fishing trends with the newest goods on the market.
Okoboji Bowfishing Charters (Nathan McLaury)
243 W Broadway St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Join Okoboji Bowfishing Charters in the Iowa Great Lakes, with all archery gear provided. Bring your own equipment for a discounted rate. They welcome groups of up to 6, and kids under 12 shoot for half price. Target species include carp, drum, buffalo, and gar in open water.
Stan's Bait and Tackle Center
2306 Okoboji Ave, Milford, Iowa 51351
As a bait shop, Stan’s Bait and Tackle offers an extensive assortment of fishing gear and bait at reasonable rates and an outdoor vending machine for live bait while the store is closed. The little town bait store also offers friendly employees who can help you with any fishing-related concerns.
The Hook Up at Oak Hill Outdoor
2188 IA-86, Milford, Iowa 51351
A convenient one-stop-shop for high-quality fishing bait, equipment, clothes, and accessories to complete your memorable fishing experience. They also offer fish cleaning services, and their staff is polite and willing to assist you with your needs whenever you need it.
Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery
122 252nd Ave, Orleans, Iowa 51360
The Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery is the ideal destination for anybody interested in learning more about fish hatching and rearing. It is a fish hatchery facility where you can see the whole process, from capturing the eggs to incubation. As many as 95 million walleye fry, 250,000 two-inch, 100,000 six-inch walleye fingerlings, and many more fish species are reportedly produced yearly at Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery.
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