Terra Lake
General Information
County: Polk
Location: Within city of Johnston south of Pioneer Parkway.
Acres: 7.30
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions:
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Terra Lake include:
- Accessible Pier
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Accessible Facilities
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Good/Excellent Shorefishing
- Carry Down Boat Launch
- Community Fishing Location
| 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. |
| On December 18 Terra Lake was covered in thin ice. |
| Rainbow Trout - Slow: When ice fishing conditions become good, catch trout with jigging spoons or panfish jigs tipped with waxworms. |
| As of December 23, larger lakes in Central Iowa range from open water areas to thin ice. Ponds in Central Iowa were mostly frozen. Anglers are beginning to ice fish, but need to check thickness frequently. Warm temperatures and rain in the forecast will likely deteriorate ice quickly. 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. |
| On December 23 Terra Lake was covered in thin ice. |
| Rainbow Trout - Slow: When ice fishing conditions become good, catch trout with jigging spoons or panfish jigs tipped with waxworms. |
You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes
- Winter 2022 - 3,693 Rainbow Trout (12)
- Winter 2021 - 2,600 Rainbow Trout (12)
- 09/29/2021 - 130 Channel Catfish (9)
- Annual 2020 - 1,816 Rainbow Trout (12)
- annual 2019 - 2,032 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
- 09/12/2019 - 151 Channel Catfish (8.7)
- October 2018 - 800 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
- 10/09/2018 - 153 Channel Catfish (8.3)
- 9/18/2017 - 150 Channel Catfish (8.2")
- 09/29/2015 - 150 Channel Catfish (8")
- 04/15/2015 - 2,550 Bluegill (2")
- 03/23/2015 - 16 Largemouth Bass (Adult)
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.
- 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:
- 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:
- Rainbow Trout
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 5 fish
- Possession Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 10 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other: Anglers must have paid the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout
The fishery in Terra Lake has developed well since 2015. A fish survey in 2018 showed 6- to 14-inch largemouth bass and bluegills under 5 inches. Larger fish, especially bluegills, are present, but evaded capture due to very clear water at the time of sampling. The originally stocked channel catfish are around 18-inches long. Catchable size trout are here from November through April. (2019)
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.