Official State of Iowa Website

LakeDetails

  Fishing   >   Where to Fish   >   Lakes Ponds & Reservoirs   >   LakeDetails

Coralville Reservoir

General Information

County: Johnson
Location: 4 miles north of Iowa City
Acres: 5340.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions: None

Nearby Parks

Lake Macbride State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Coralville Reservoir include:
  • Boat Access
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp

For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
As of 11/20, the lake level is 686.9. Water temps are in the upper 40's.
Black Crappie - Fair: Fish rock bluffs or sunken brush with minnows or bright jigs.
White Crappie - Fair: Fish rock bluffs or sunken brush with minnows or bright jigs.
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish rock banks or laydowns with artificials.

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map

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

  • May 2022 - 5,340,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • June 2022 - 80,098 Walleye (1.6)
  • 6/21/22 - 55,188 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.2)
  • 4/25/22 - 319,000 Saugeye (Fry)
  • June 2021 - 79,665 Walleye (1.6)
  • 06/29/2021 - 54,726 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.7)
  • 04/16/2021 - 70,400 Saugeye (Fry)
  • June 2020 - 80,189 Walleye (1.6)
  • 04/30/2020 - 50,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 04/30/2020 - 100,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • June 2019 - 88,121 Walleye (1.7)
  • 06/28/2019 - 40,130 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.6)
  • 05/01/2019 - 5,340,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 07/03/2018 - 25,998 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.81)
  • 06/29/2018 - 53,536 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.68)
  • 06/05/2018 - 80,192 Walleye (1.41)
  • 05/08/2018 - 5,340,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 6/29/2017 - 54,044 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
  • 6/2/2017 - 12,664 Walleye (1.7")
  • 6/2/2017 - 14,037 Walleye (1.8")
  • 5/30/2017 - 85,410 Walleye (1.7")
  • 4/26/2017 - 5,340,000 Walleye (fry)
  • 6/8/16 - 105,073 Walleye (1.5")
  • 6/22/2016 - 42,989 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.5")
  • 6/17/2016 - 56,211 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.4")
  • 5/4/16 - 1,000,000 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fry)
  • 5/26/16 - 53,900 Walleye (Fingerling)
  • 4/27/16 - 5,340,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 06/18/2015 - 75,070 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.5")
  • 05/12/2015 - 500,000 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fry)
  • 04/23/2015 - 5,200,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • annual 2014 - 81,308 Saugeye (2")
  • annual 2014 - 78,937 Walleye (2")
  • annual 2014 - 112,707 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
  • 08/14/2014 - 82,180 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
  • 06/26/2014 - 3,000 Largemouth Bass (2")
  • 06/12/2014 - 75,000 Largemouth Bass (1")
  • 05/05/2014 - 5,340,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 04/28/2014 - 1,006,500 Walleye (Fry)

    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.

  • Bigmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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:
  • Channel Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 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.
  • Flathead Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Freshwater Drum
    • 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.
  • Green Sunfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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:
  • Quillback
    • 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.
  • Shorthead redhorse
    • 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.
  • Smallmouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
    • Other:
  • Smallmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Spotted bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
    • Other:
  • Walleye
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 5 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 10 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • White Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • 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:
  • White Sucker
    • 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.

Bluegill numbers are fair; most fish are 4- to 7-inches. Larger crappies have not been seen since spring. Most fish this fall were 7- to 9-inches. If the bigger ones are still out there, they will be 11- to 13-inches. Largemouth bass numbers are on the rise and most fish are 10- to 17-inches. White bass numbers are moderate with most 10- to 14-inches. Walleyes and saugeyes are difficult to sample here, but there should be many smaller fish, with walleyes up to 28-inches available. Channel catfish and flathead catfish numbers are down from last winter's winter kill, but numbers are still good and most channels are 1-8 pounds and flatheads up to 40-50 pounds.(2015)

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.