Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
General Information
County: Story
Location: North side of Ames, west of Grand Avenue/Highway 69.
Acres: 137.00
Maximum Depth: 61 ft. (2002)
Motoring Restrictions: no gas motors allowed at this water body
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake include:
- Boat Access
- Accessible Pier
- Trails
- Restrooms
- Good/Excellent Shorefishing
- Hard Surface Boat Ramp
- Carry Down Boat Launch
- Community Fishing Location
| For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885. |
| Rainbow Trout - Good: Trout were stocked on Thurs, Oct 31st. Use spinners, spoons, minnows, wax worms, or flies. |
- Winter 2022 - 4,032 Rainbow Trout (12)
- Winter 2021 - 4,054 Rainbow Trout (12)
- 06/24/2021 - 1,497 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.5)
- Winter 2020 - 4,438 Rainbow Trout (12)
- May 2020 - 1,680 Rainbow Trout (11.2)
- winter 2019 - 4,423 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
- 09/16/2019 - 1,514 Channel Catfish (8.6)
- 06/26/2019 - 750 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.3)
- annual 2018 - 4,769 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
- annual 2017 - 4,400 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
- 9/8/2017 - 1,505 Channel Catfish (7.6")
- 6/29/2017 - 750 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
- Feb 2016 - 1,060 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
- Feb 2016 - 3,590 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
- annual 2015 - 4,400 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
- 09/28/2015 - 1,499 Channel Catfish (8")
- annual 2014 - 1,980 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
No known aquatic invasive species have been found
The
Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.
- Black Crappie
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other: No daily limit on private waters
- Bluegill
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other: No daily limit on private waters
- Channel Catfish
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
- Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
- Common Carp
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: none
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
- Largemouth Bass
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
- Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
- Length Limit: 18-inch minimum
- Other:
- Rainbow Trout
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 5 fish
- Possession Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 10 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other: Anglers must have paid the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout
- Yellow Perch
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
- Possession Limit: 50 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other:
Sampling in 2022 showed Bluegills from 3- to just under 8-inches. Most Bluegill were 5- to 7-inches. The most common sizes of Largemouth Bass surveyed were 9- to 10.5-inches and 12- to 14-inches with fish up to 16.5-inches. Larger bass over 18-inches are present, but were not captured during the surveys. White and Black Crappies were surveyed. The Black Crappies were mostly 6.5- to 9-inches with some up to 11.5-inches. The largest White Crappies were 9- to 10-inches. There is a good group of 20.5- to 22-inch Hybrid Striped Bass and a younger group of 14.5- to 15.5-inch fish following them. Ada Hayden has a quality Channel Catfish population with sizes surveyed from 10- to 23-inches. A unique trout fishery exists as fall and winter stocked Rainbow Trout are surviving and growing year round. Trout are most often caught in the spring, fall and winter when water temperatures are below 70 degrees. Other species present in lower numbers that can provide the occasional catch include Walleye and Yellow perch.(2022)
Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.
Contacts
Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases
The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information.