Good places to fish in central Iowa? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Good places to fish in central Iowa?

Posted: 4/21/2016 9:00:50 PM EDT

Man, I've lived in this part of the state for over a decade, but I haven't found any good places to fish, aside from private farm ponds. Do you guys know of any good public lakes to fish? I'm looking for pretty much anything, including bluegill, crappie, largemouth, catfish or whatever. Thanks!

Posted: 4/21/2016 10:03:19 PM EDT

[#1]

No idea how good it is now, but Saylorville Dam used to be pretty good for eating size catfish and freshwater drum. Over 20 years since the last time I fished there though.

Posted: 4/21/2016 10:24:03 PM EDT

[#2]

Big creek and sayloville is the bet spot I've found. There's usually a big crowd at the bottom of the spillway but the fishing is good and so easy even the girlfriend has fun.

Posted: 4/22/2016 10:38:45 AM EDT

[#3]

Saylorville spillway is hot if you want to catch wipers. Red Rock is great for crappie, walleye sometimes, and the occasional deer.

Several years ago we used to slip back into the ponds behind Hallett, they are jam packed full of crappies and bass. You could catch a 5-gallon bucket worth of crappie in about an hour if things were right.

Posted: 4/23/2016 11:10:37 AM EDT

[#4]

I always see people fishing around the Saylorville spillway so they must be catching something. Can't help you any further as I have a lifetime hunting and fishing license but have never used either.

Posted: 4/23/2016 4:07:51 PM EDT

[#5]

Try Mills dam in Panora. I'm always pulling nice sized walleye out of there with white jigs. Fish below the damn unless you want snags every cast

Posted: 4/23/2016 11:51:18 PM EDT

[#6]

OST. I can tell you some good places in Eastern Iowa, but I'm relatively new to the central part of the shape too.

Posted: 4/24/2016 8:17:04 AM EDT

[#7]

Ive never had any luck at big creek. And if you dont have a boat, youre screwed. A couple months back at saylorville dam i saw people slaying strippers. Huge ones and lots of them. Ive always had good luck with channel cats in saylorville

Posted: 4/24/2016 11:08:38 AM EDT

[#8]

You could always try the Bridge Fishing lifestyle downtown.

Show up in your van, take half your furniture with you and set up shop to fish all night. Smoke some crack rocks, get drunk, harass pedestrians.

Don't knock it till you try it. Might be the best thing you never knew you liked.

Posted: 4/24/2016 11:29:11 AM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
You could always try the Bridge Fishing lifestyle downtown.

Show up in your van, take half your furniture with you and set up shop to fish all night. Smoke some crack rocks, get drunk, harass pedestrians.

Don't knock it till you try it. Might be the best thing you never knew you liked.

View Quote

My neighbor fishes almosy daily. He is always catching huge catfish and walleye downtown.

I suck at fishing. The most luck I've had was Ahquabi when the bluegill were biting empty hooks at the shore and Twelve mile and 3 mile lakes down by Creston for bass. There is also a 500yd range on the North side of the lake.

Posted: 4/24/2016 5:00:15 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
You could always try the Bridge Fishing lifestyle downtown.

Show up in your van, take half your furniture with you and set up shop to fish all night. Smoke some crack rocks, get drunk, harass pedestrians.

Don't knock it till you try it. Might be the best thing you never knew you liked.

View Quote

Funniest part

Posted: 4/26/2016 7:43:19 AM EDT

[#11]

If you are looking for a smaller place to go that is public, go to Falcon Ridge pond on Altoona. It's good fishing. Thomas Mitchell Park just renovated their entire pond a few years ago and it is starting to produce some decent fish as well.

Posted: 4/29/2016 11:58:14 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
You could always try the Bridge Fishing lifestyle downtown.

Show up in your van, take half your furniture with you and set up shop to fish all night. Smoke some crack rocks, get drunk, harass pedestrians.

Don't knock it till you try it. Might be the best thing you never knew you liked.

View Quote

LOL, you definitely know how to spin a good yarn.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. We'll see how it goes. Wish I knew more farmers with ponds.....that's where the nice fishing is. I just catch and release, but it's tons of fun to me.

Posted: 4/29/2016 12:00:02 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
If you are looking for a smaller place to go that is public, go to Falcon Ridge pond on Altoona. It's good fishing. Thomas Mitchell Park just renovated their entire pond a few years ago and it is starting to produce some decent fish as well.

View Quote

Where in Altoona is this pond?

Posted: 4/29/2016 5:05:13 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:

Where in Altoona is this pond?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
If you are looking for a smaller place to go that is public, go to Falcon Ridge pond on Altoona. It's good fishing. Thomas Mitchell Park just renovated their entire pond a few years ago and it is starting to produce some decent fish as well.

Where in Altoona is this pond?

The city calls the street 14th Ave SE. The county calls it NE 80th St. Drive on 8th St (main drag through town) to the East like you're leaving town and turn right (South) onto 14th/80th. The pond will be on the West side of the road. Most people park on the shoulder and fish but I park on 10th Ave Se and walk in on a trail to the western edge of the pond where there is a cove. That's where I've caught the decent sized Catfish.

Let me know when you want to go and I'll see if I can make time to meet you there. My kids are always ready to fish.

Edited for wrong info.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Good places to fish in central Iowa?

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