Crystal Lake
General Information
County: Hancock
Location: north edge of Crystal Lake
Acres: 264.00
Maximum Depth: 18.6 ft. (2021 - 18.6 feet)
Motoring Restrictions: none
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Crystal Lake include:
- Boat Access
- Fishing Jetty
- Picnic Area
- Beach
- Trails
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Camping
- Hard Surface Boat Ramp
- Accessible Shoreline
- Fish Cleaning Station
| Clear Lake, Crystal Lake, Rice Lake and Silver Lake have aeration systems running. Avoid any open water areas and be cautious of waterfowl holes on these lakes. Check ice thickness often as you go. For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517. |
| Ice thickness is 5 to 7 inches. |
| Black Crappie - Slow: Fish a small jig tipped with bait. |
- 9/15/22 - 2,602 Channel Catfish (8.6)
- 6/3/22 - 1,446 Northern Pike (1.8)
- 5/9/22 - 606,475 Walleye (Fry)
- 4/22/22 - 96,655 Northern Pike (Fry)
- 10/11/2021 - 3,565 Walleye (4.7)
- 10/06/2021 - 60,000 Bluegill (2)
- 10/05/2021 - 1,337 Largemouth Bass (3.8)
- 04/08/2021 - 63,331 Northern Pike (Fry)
- 09/15/2020 - 1,658 Channel Catfish (8)
- 07/16/2020 - 10,000 Walleye (1.8)
- 05/13/2019 - 1,436 Northern Pike (1.22)
- 09/17/2018 - 1,580 Channel Catfish (8.4)
- 07/05/2018 - 2,645 Walleye (2.59)
- 06/04/2018 - 1,330 Northern Pike (2.7)
- 5/23/2017 - 1,330 Northern Pike (2.4")
- spring 2016 - 4,410 Northern Pike (2.1")
- fall 2016 - 1,580 Channel Catfish (9.3")
- 7/22/16 - 3,519 Walleye (3.2")
- 7/21/16 - 3,519 Walleye (3.2")
- 10/5/16 - 2,731 Walleye (4.5")
- 10/18/16 - 2,702 Largemouth Bass (4")
- 11/03/2015 - 2,601 Walleye (8")
- 10/22/2015 - 300 Largemouth Bass (11")
- 10/13/2015 - 4,026 Walleye (6")
- 10/01/2015 - 130,000 Bluegill (1.2")
- 10/01/2015 - 2,304 Channel Catfish (8")
- 05/18/2015 - 1,320 Northern Pike (2.9")
- 09/19/2014 - 822 Northern Pike (10")
- 09/18/2014 - 1,645 Channel Catfish (8")
- 07/31/2014 - 5,455 Walleye (2-3")
- 06/03/2014 - 1,398 Northern Pike (2-3")
- Curlyleaf Pondweed
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Zebra Mussel
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: Except for border lakes
- 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, except for boundary lakes
- Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
- Possession Limit: 6 fish
- Length Limit: none
- Other: Except for border lakes
- 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:
Crappie population is excellent with decent sized fish up to 11 inches. Walleye population has a couple age classes with the largest sized fish around 14-15 inches. Black Bullhead population is good with 9-10 inch fish available. Largemouth Bass population has improved since the 2021 summer kill.(2024)
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.