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Big Creek Lake

General Information

County: Polk
Location: 2 miles north of Polk City
Acres: 814.00
Maximum Depth: 51 ft. (2019)
Motoring Restrictions: No Size Limit at 5mph

Nearby Parks

Big Creek State Park

Amenities

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

As of December 18, larger lakes in Central Iowa range from open water areas to thin ice. Ponds in Central Iowa were mostly covered in thin ice. Anglers beginning to ice fish on ponds should check ice thickness frequently. More fishing reports will be added as ice fishing activity increases. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.
As of December 18 Big Creek Lake had thin ice and large areas of open water.

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map
Download Printable Fishing Structures Map

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

  • October 2022 - 4,484 Walleye (9)
  • 6/21/22 - 8,004 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.2)
  • 5/8/22 - 1,766,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 5/17/22 - 300 Muskellunge (12.8)
  • 10/25/22 - 525 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (8)
  • October 2021 - 600 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (8.2)
  • Fall 2021 - 4,882 Channel Catfish (8.9)
  • 10/28/2021 - 4,573 Walleye (9.7)
  • 06/24/2021 - 8,138 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.5)
  • 05/12/2021 - 300 Muskellunge (>12)
  • 04/29/2021 - 1,766,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • October 2020 - 4,400 Walleye (8.7)
  • 05/14/2020 - 300 Muskellunge (12.4)
  • 04/28/2020 - 1,766,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • October 2019 - 4,405 Walleye (9.3)
  • 05/15/2019 - 300 Muskellunge (13.2)
  • 05/09/2019 - 73 Largemouth Bass (Adult)
  • 05/01/2019 - 1,766,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • November 2018 - 1,618 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (9.4)
  • 10/25/2018 - 4,406 Walleye (8.7)
  • 06/27/2018 - 12,250 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.64)
  • 06/07/2018 - 9,552 Largemouth Bass (1.6)
  • 05/14/2018 - 317 Muskellunge (12.1)
  • 05/08/2018 - 1,766,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 6/30/2017 - 400 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
  • 6/29/2017 - 10,625 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
  • 5/10/2017 - 315 Muskellunge (13.1")
  • 4/28/2017 - 1,817,000 Walleye (fry)
  • 10/26/2017 - 2,562 Walleye (8.9")
  • 10/26/2017 - 87 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (7.2")
  • 10/23/2017 - 1,885 Walleye (9")
  • fall 2016 - 4,401 Walleye (9.8")
  • 6/16/2016 - 8,151 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.3")
  • 5/2/16 - 1,834,500 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/19/2015 - 4,070 Walleye (8")
  • 05/11/2015 - 300 Muskellunge (12.3")
  • 04/28/2015 - 1,766,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/24/2014 - 4,400 Walleye (8")
  • 05/12/2014 - 2,000,000 Walleye (Fry)

  • Brittle Naiad
  • Curlyleaf Pondweed
  • Rusty Crawfish

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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:
  • 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:
  • 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:
  • Walleye
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 15-inch minimum length limit
    • Other: No more than one walleye longer than 20 inches may be taken per day
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Yellow Perch
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: 50 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

2023 fish surveys showed a good distribution of Largemouth Bass sizes from 9- to 19.5-inches. Bass are most abundant from 12.5- to 15.5-inches. There is a fair population of Smallmouth Bass found mostly in the lower half of the lake with sizes surveyed between 7- and 15.5-inches. Bluegills are topping out around 8.5-inches with fair number of 7- to 8-in fish. Crappie populations look very good. Black Crappies were surveyed at all sizes from 5.5- to 13-inches, with most in the 9- to 11-inch range. White Crappies surveyed were 6-to 12-inches. Hybrid Striped Bass have been stocked into Big Creek since 2016 to take advantage of the large gizzard shad population. Hybrid Striped Bass fishing has been good during the summer through early fall and even through the ice. Hybrids up to 24-inches can be expected. Walleye fishing is good, especially in April, May and June before the Gizzard Shad hatch. 2023 fish surveys showed a good distribution of sizes from 7- to 28.5-inches. Fry stocked Walleye had fair survival in 2023, so population numbers look to remain good. Channel Catfish are very abundant from 11- to 17-inches and good numbers of 18- to 30-inch fish. The Muskie population is fair. Muskie surveyed in 2023 ranged in size from 22- to 47.5-inches. Chances at 45- to 50-inch fish exist.(2023)

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.