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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
  • Community Fishing Location

Interior rivers remain at low levels and have frozen over with the recent cold snap. As of this morning there have been a few reports of ice fishing in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area. Ice conditions are improving daily with reports around most areas with six to eight inches of good ice, as always use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition and provide great angling opportunities for both rainbow and brown trout.
There have been fair reports of anglers catching bluegill and crappie on Big Woods Lake, some sorting may be necessary.
Bluegill - Fair: Try locating structure and use a ice jig tipped with a waxworm off of the bottom.
Black Crappie - Fair: Try locating structure and use a ice jig tipped with a minnow or waxworm, look for suspended fish near the structure using electronics.
Interior rivers remain at low levels and have frozen over with the recent cold snap. Walleye fishing had been good prior to the cold weather. As of this morning there have been a few reports of ice fishing in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area. Ice conditions are improving daily with reports around most areas with six to eight inches of good ice, as always use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition and provide great angling opportunities for both rainbow and brown trout.
Black Crappie - Fair: Try locating structure and use a ice jig tipped with a minnow or waxworm, look for suspended fish near the structure using electronics.
Bluegill - Fair: Try locating structure and use a ice jig tipped with a waxworm off of the bottom.
There have been fair reports of anglers catching bluegill and crappie on Big Woods Lake, some sorting may be necessary.

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map
Download Printable Fishing Structures Map

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

  • 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")

    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: 15-inch minimum
    • 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
  • Yellow Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

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/white crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass and yellow bass.(2025)

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.