Big Woods Lake

General Information

County: Black Hawk
Location: Northwest edge of Cedar Falls
Acres: 55.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions: No wake

Nearby Parks

George Wyth State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Big Woods Lake include:

• Boat Access
• Fishing Jetty
• Picnic Area
• Trails
• Restrooms
• Camping
• Good/Excellent Shorefishing
• Hard Surface Boat Ramp

Fishing Report

No recent updates

Popular Fish Species at this Lake

• Black Bullhead
• Black Crappie
• Bluegill
• Channel Catfish
• Common Carp
• Largemouth Bass
• Northern Pike
• White Crappie

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map
Download Printable Fishing Structures Map

You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes

Fish Stocking

• 09/29/2021 - 992 Channel Catfish (9)
• 06/29/2021 - 891 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.7)
• 09/10/2019 - 1,006 Channel Catfish (9)
• 9/6/2017 - 989 Channel Catfish (8.3")
• 09/22/2015 - 993 Channel Catfish (8")

Aquatic Invasive Species

    No known aquatic invasive species have been found

Regulations

The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

• Black Bullhead
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• 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: 15-inch minimum
• Other:
• Northern Pike
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
• Possession Limit: 6 fish
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• White 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

Fishing Forecast

Big Woods Lake provides a good option for fishing in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo metro area. The lake has good shoreline and boat access and the fishery currently provides opportunities for bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass and northern pike.(2020)

Fish Survey Data

Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

Contacts

• Dan Kirby, Fisheries Biologist; 563-927-3276; Daniel.Kirby@dnr.iowa.gov
• Lynn Koch, Conservation Officer; 319-240-5034; Lynn.Koch@dnr.iowa.gov

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.

Return