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Lake Macbride

General Information

County: Johnson
Location: 4 miles West of Solon
Acres: 940.00
Maximum Depth: 45 ft. (2003 - Data collected as part of the statewide lake mapping project (USGS provided soundings).)
Motoring Restrictions: From Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, there is a 10 hp limit at 5 mph maximum speed.

Nearby Parks

Palisades-Kepler State Park
Lake Macbride State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Lake Macbride include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Accessible Pier
  • Boat Rental
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Accessible Facilities
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Concessions
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Accessible Shoreline
  • Fish Cleaning Station

For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
At this time, any sized motor may be used at no-wake speed (5 mph). Water temps are around 50 degrees. Most docks have been removed but permanent slips are located at Opie Ave ramp and Main ramp. Year round docks can also be found at Main ramp and Anglers Point ramp.
Black Crappie - Fair: Target brush in 5-15' of water with jigs or minnows.
Walleye - Fair: Fish windblown rock. Evenings are best.
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Target shallow to mid depth rock or laydowns.
Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Troll crankbaits for suspended fish during the day and target windblown banks towards evening.
Muskellunge - Fair: Casting large rubber baits near cover has been producing some fish.

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map

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

  • October 2022 - 6,588 Walleye (8.9)
  • May 2022 - 2,820,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 5/19/22 - 300,000 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fry)
  • 5/18/22 - 285 Muskellunge (12.8)
  • Fall 2021 - 6,026 Channel Catfish (9.2)
  • 11/03/2021 - 4,704 Walleye (8.8)
  • 06/29/2021 - 9,525 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.7)
  • 05/14/2021 - 185 Muskellunge (<12)
  • 04/28/2021 - 2,820,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 11/13/2020 - 6,579 Walleye (9.2)
  • 05/19/2020 - 450,000 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fry)
  • 05/12/2020 - 470 Muskellunge (13.3)
  • October 2019 - 4,811 Walleye (9.1)
  • 09/03/2019 - 5,640 Channel Catfish (8.5)
  • 06/28/2019 - 9,570 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.6)
  • 05/13/2019 - 750 Muskellunge (13.2)
  • 05/01/2019 - 2,820,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/22/2018 - 4,701 Walleye (7.8)
  • 09/18/2018 - 11,338 Channel Catfish (8.4)
  • 05/14/2018 - 191 Muskellunge (12.1)
  • 05/10/2018 - 700,000 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fry)
  • 05/08/2018 - 2,820,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 6/30/2017 - 11,316 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
  • 6/28/2017 - 10,343 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
  • 4/27/2017 - 2,820,000 Walleye (fry)
  • 10/25/2017 - 3,253 Walleye (9")
  • 10/24/2017 - 3,204 Walleye (9")
  • 10/23/2017 - 3,185 Walleye (9")
  • fall 2016 - 8,368 Channel Catfish (9.3")
  • 5/9/16 - 941 Muskellunge (14.5")
  • 5/11/16 - 500,000 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fry)
  • 4/27/16 - 2,820,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/26/16 - 9,445 Walleye (10.3")
  • 10/21/16 - 18,500 Redear Sunfish (Fingerling)
  • 10/20/2015 - 9,398 Walleye (8")
  • 06/18/2015 - 9,773 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.5")
  • 05/06/2015 - 600,000 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fry)
  • 04/24/2015 - 275,000 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fry)
  • 04/23/2015 - 2,800,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • annual 2014 - 9,400 Walleye (8")
  • 09/10/2014 - 5,644 Channel Catfish (8")
  • 06/26/2014 - 15,000 Largemouth Bass (2")
  • 05/22/2014 - 600,000 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fry)
  • 05/20/2014 - 940 Muskellunge (10.5")
  • 05/05/2014 - 2,820,000 Walleye (Fry)

  • Brittle Naiad
  • Curlyleaf Pondweed

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: 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.
  • Flathead 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:
  • 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:
  • Muskellunge
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
    • Length Limit: 40-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.
  • 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: No daily limit on private waters
  • Yellow Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

There is an abundance of 4- to 6-inch bluegills, but they rarely reach 8 inches. Crappies are moderate in numbers and most are 8- to 10-inches, but some larger ones are available. There is a decent year class of 6 inch fish coming on as well. Largemouth bass are moderate with most fish 11- to 15-inches with larger ones available. Spotted bass make up about 30 percent of the black bass population and most are 10- to 14-inches. Walleye numbers are moderate in the 12- to 18-inch range with a large number of 8- to 10-inch walleyes coming on from fish fry stocked this spring and large fingerlings stocked this fall. There are some larger walleyes, up to 28 inches possible as well. Hybrid striped bass numbers are good with most fish 14- to 20-inches and fish up to 28 inches possible. White bass numbers are fair with most 10- to 14-inches. Channel catfish numbers are good with the largest catches in the 2-8 pound class, but larger ones are available. There is also a healthy musky population with many 30- to 36-inch fish, with much larger ones available.(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.