Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Lake Petocka


About Lake Petocka

Surface Area (acres): 19.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 19 ft. (1978)
Motoring Restrictions: Non-motorized (including electric) watercraft may be hand launched only
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Polk
Description: Bondurant Lake
Coordinates: 41.70664585, -93.44210739

Nearby Parks

- No results found

Amenities

Amenities at Lake Petocka include:
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Accessible Facilities
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Carry Down Boat Launch
  • Community Fishing Location
  • Ice Fishing Allowed

Fishing Report

  • Ice Condition: Not Recommended
  • Water Temperature (°F):
  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Comments: As of December 4, ice thickness was just under 3 inches. Waterfowl are keeping a small area of open water on the SW corner. Last updated on 12/04/2025
- No recent fish updates found

Fishing Summary

Largemouth Bass were sampled in good numbers from 9.5- to 17.5-inches. The Bluegill population looks very good with larger Bluegill from 8- to 9-inches. Black Crappies are present in low numbers, but good sizes from 9.5- to 15.5-inches. Channel Catfish are in fair numbers and good size from 13- to just over 30-inches. Rainbow trout are stocked during the fall/spring as part of the community trout stocking program and persist into June. - Last updated on 01/10/2022.

Consumption Guidelines

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.

To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .

Stocking

  • 9/19/23 - 195 Channel Catfish (7.7)
  • Winter 2022 - 2,697 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Winter 2021 - 2,913 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • 09/29/2021 - 190 Channel Catfish (9)
  • Winter 2020 - 3,027 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • winter 2019 - 3,042 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • 06/21/2019 - 1,020 Channel Catfish (2.4)
  • annual 2018 - 3,100 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • 03/20/2018 - 390 Bluegill (1.5)
  • 9/13/2017 - 201 Channel Catfish (7.4")
  • Jan 2016 - 750 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • Jan 2016 - 2,250 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 3,000 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • 09/28/2015 - 300 Channel Catfish (8")

Management

  • 2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: whole lake treatment for NAMI
  • 2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: bump of sonar one form NAMI treatment
  • 2023 - Exotic Species-Invertebrates: Rusty Crawfish found by Iowa State
  • 2023 - Vegetation-Treatment: systemic whole lake treatment for NAMI
  • 2023 - Vegetation-Treatment: whole lake systemic herbicide for NAMI
  • 2023 - Vegetation-Treatment: whole lake systemic herbicide treatment for NAMI

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: Non-motorized (including electric) watercraft may be hand launched only

Contacts for this Location

Fishing Regulations

The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.

Aquatic Invasive Species

  • Rusty Crayfish

To learn more about AIS, visit the Iowa DNR's Aquatic Invasive Species page for more information and resources.

Fish Surveys

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