WEATHER, WATER & TIMING
Des Moines, IA Fishing Forecast
Live fishing conditions for Des Moines — or enter another ZIP code.
US locations · Weather + calculated solunar periods
Illustrative outdoor sceneYour local outlook
Choose a place to see the conditions.
US ZIP code or device location · Times shown in the local time zone
Des Moines, IA · ZIP 50309 · NWS DMX forecast updated Oct 22, 7:36 AM
Is it too windy to fish in Des Moines right now?
11:00 AM: wind 3 mph S, gusts 6 mph · Sunny
No — good breeze
No — good breeze
No — good breeze
No — good breeze
Right-now fishing score: 62 (Marginal) for boat fishing. Pressure 1024 hPa, trend +0.2 hPa/3h. Wind thresholds are heuristics — see the wind guide.
Des Moines fishing today
- Light breeze — good chop (3 mph)
- Stable high pressure (1024 hPa) — bluebird conditions, go deeper/slower
- Sunrise/sunset low-light window
- Major solunar period (moon overhead/underfoot)
- 🧭 Wind under 4 mph: direction (S) not scored
- Minor solunar period (moonrise/moonset)
Best times
- 11:00 AM–1:00 PM 55 out of 100 Major solunar period (moon overhead/underfoot) · Light breeze — good chop (3 mph)
- 6:00 PM–8:00 PM 61 out of 100 Sunrise/sunset low-light window · Light breeze — good chop (5 mph)
- 9:00 PM–11:00 PM 59 out of 100 Light breeze — good chop (5 mph) · Major solunar period (moon overhead/underfoot)
Des Moines fishing tomorrow
- Light breeze — good chop (3 mph)
- Sunrise/sunset low-light window
- Breezy but fishable (12 mph)
- Minor solunar period (moonrise/moonset)
- Major solunar period (moon overhead/underfoot)
- 🧭 Wind under 4 mph: direction (SE) not scored
Best times
- 7:00 AM–9:00 AM 65 out of 100 Sunrise/sunset low-light window · Light breeze — good chop (5 mph)
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM 70 out of 100 Major solunar period (moon overhead/underfoot) · Light breeze — good chop (7 mph)
- 6:00 PM–8:00 PM 65 out of 100 Sunrise/sunset low-light window · Light breeze — good chop (10 mph)
7-day fishing outlook for Des Moines
Hunting conditions near Des Moines
Deer movement score today 67 (Good deer movement expected) · Rut phase (estimate): Seeking & chasing
- 5:00 PM–7:00 PM 72 out of 100 Dusk movement window · Wind 6 mph — ideal for covering sound/scent · Steady S wind (within ±13° over ±3 h): predictable scent cone
- 8:00 AM–10:00 AM 70 out of 100 Dawn movement window · Wind 6 mph — ideal for covering sound/scent · Steady SE wind (within ±13° over ±3 h): predictable scent cone
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM 65 out of 100 Wind 7 mph — ideal for covering sound/scent · Steady SSE wind (within ±16° over ±3 h): predictable scent cone · Moon overhead/underfoot (major period)
Des Moines at a glance
| Coordinates | 41.584, -93.622 |
|---|---|
| Time zone | America/Chicago |
| NWS forecast office / grid | DMX 73,49 |
| Grid elevation | 807 ft |
| Pressure data | Observed at KDSM (next 6 h only) |
| Sunrise / sunset today | 7:35 AM / 6:24 PM |
| Moon today | Waxing Gibbous, 86% illuminated |
| Solunar rating today | 2/5 |
Solunar calendar for Des Moines
Calendar downloads and subscriptions are included with an active Pro membership.
Scores are heuristics combining NWS forecast data with traditional solunar theory. They are not validated predictions of fish or deer behavior. Always check official forecasts, regulations and legal shooting hours.
Iowa fishing regulations
Seasons, licenses, size and creel limits are set by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Always check current Iowa fishing regulations before you go.
More Iowa locations: Cedar Rapids, Spirit Lake · Iowa fishing forecast
Frequently asked questions
Is today a good day to fish in Des Moines?
This forecast scores today 58/100 (“Marginal”) for Des Moines, based on the NWS DMX hourly forecast and solunar data. It’s a heuristic and updates through the day.
What is the best time to fish in Des Moines today?
Today’s best-scoring windows: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM (55), 6:00 PM–8:00 PM (61), 9:00 PM–11:00 PM (59) local time (America/Chicago).
Is it too windy to fish in Des Moines right now?
Current forecast wind is 3 mph with gusts to 6 mph: shore good, boat good, kayak good by our heuristic thresholds.
More forecasts
- Is today a good day to fish? — fishing forecast for today
- Fishing forecast near me — all states
- Fishing forecast for tomorrow
- Best time to fish today — hour-by-hour fishing times
- Is it too windy to fish? Live wind check
- Georgia fish & game forecast
- Hunting forecast & deer movement forecast
- Solunar calendar — major & minor feeding times
- Coastal tide forecast — NOAA high and low tide predictions