South Central Iowa Fishing Spots

[CDeets11]

Hi, I am currently attending school in south central Iowa and was wondering if anyone who is from the area or has fished in the area knows of any good spots?? I have a few spots already but am looking for more.

[lbriggs]

Saylorville, Big Creek, or the Des Moines river

[scaleface]

I fished Rathbun once . Caught everything but bass .

[beginningfisherman]

Where do you go to school? That could help me find you someplace close. 

[dmack]

There are quite a few good lakes south of the Metro area. Look into buying the book of maps of Iowa lakes. Most Walmarts carry them. I was visiting with an associate at Bass Pro in Altoona last weekend, he mentioned a number of lakes he fishes. Sugema, Wapello, Belva Deer, I may have misspelled all three of them.

[bowhunter22]

Lots around creston. 3 mile 12 mile green valley... pretty much any of the lakes around there 

[iaYakker]

On 1/26/2018 at 7:56 AM, dmack said:

There are quite a few good lakes south of the Metro area. Look into buying the book of maps of Iowa lakes. Most Walmarts carry them. I was visiting with an associate at Bass Pro in Altoona last weekend, he mentioned a number of lakes he fishes. Sugema, Wapello, Belva Deer, I may have misspelled all three of them.

3 of the best bass lakes in Iowa right there. I'm not quite sure about south central, but eastern Iowa has some awesome lakes that aren't talked about all that much. Lake Iowa is great, Diamond Lake is pretty solid. Hawthorn Lake was just redone and is already producing awesome fish - 3 or 4 years and that place is gonna be top notch.

[bowhunter22]

On February 16, 2018 at 10:10 AM, iaYakker said:

3 of the best bass lakes in Iowa right there. I'm not quite sure about south central, but eastern Iowa has some awesome lakes that aren't talked about all that much. Lake Iowa is great, Diamond Lake is pretty solid. Hawthorn Lake was just redone and is already producing awesome fish - 3 or 4 years and that place is gonna be top notch.

Never even heard of these, I'm from Ames area and fishing is rough here, might have to check these out

[iaYakker]

On 2/19/2018 at 9:46 AM, bowhunter22 said:

Never even heard of these, I'm from Ames area and fishing is rough here, might have to check these out

Diamond and Iowa are fun to camp too. Never been camping at Hawthorn.

 

Most of these small lakes are within an hour of me. So awesome.

[Russ E]

when I lived in Iowa, Diamond was a sleeper. not many new about it, but it produced a lot of 15 to 18 inch bass with an occasional pig. It was Montezuma's water supply, so they did not allow you to run a gas motor.

Hawthorne produced my personal best at 7.5 lbs. Plus quite a few over 5. it used to be one of the few lakes in Iowa that had a real chance of pushing the double digit weight. I know of one that was 9.5 lbs. they may not be that big after the renovation,but I would not count it out.

Lake Keomah, east of Oskaloosa, is another sleeper that has produced decent fish.

 

[iaYakker]

13 hours ago, Weedwhacker said:

when I lived in Iowa, Diamond was a sleeper. not many new about it, but it produced a lot of 15 to 18 inch bass with an occasional pig. It was Montezuma's water supply, so they did not allow you to run a gas motor.

Hawthorne produced my personal best at 7.5 lbs. Plus quite a few over 5. it used to be one of the few lakes in Iowa that had a real chance of pushing the double digit weight. I know of one that was 9.5 lbs. they may not be that big after the renovation,but I would not count it out.

Lake Keomah, east of Oskaloosa, is another sleeper that has produced decent fish.

 

My dad's family is from Monte and we always used to have family reunions out there. My dad would just show up everyone that was bank fishing and pull out 16-18 inchers all day long.

 

I used to go to Hawthorn way back in the day with my dad (late 90s/early 2000s) and that lake was on fire. I'm sure it'll get back to that with time... but man. I remember him catching an enormous muskie on a crankbait. Ever since then, I have wanted to catch one. Hopefully this year!

[RPreeb]

Don't know how good it is overall, but I caught a couple on a popper out of Pine Lake In Eldora last May just bank fishing at the State Park campground.  Watched guys in small boats fishing along the shore both evenings we camped there.  It's a pretty little lake, just a short drive north of Ames.