Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Cold Springs Lake


About Cold Springs Lake

Surface Area (acres): 16.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 15.5 ft. (2012)
Motoring Restrictions: Electric Motors Only
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Cass
Description: Cold Springs
Coordinates: 41.29198089, -95.08704958

Nearby Parks

- No results found

Amenities

Amenities at Cold Springs Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp

Fishing Report

Please contact the local fisheries management biologist for current information.

Fishing Summary

Lake was drawn down 4.5' and renovated on 8/21/25 to remove redear sunfish. Pea gravel spawning bed was constructed from the North side of the beach around the peninsula. - Last updated on 10/28/2025.

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

  • 9/27/23 - 411 Channel Catfish (8.4)
  • 11/01/2021 - 10 Walleye (9.7)
  • 09/29/2021 - 400 Channel Catfish (9)
  • 09/09/2019 - 288 Channel Catfish (9)
  • 9/27/2017 - 1,378 Channel Catfish (9.3")
  • 09/14/2015 - 350 Channel Catfish (8")

Management

  • 2025 - Stocking-Bluegill: 1-3" YOY Bluegill were night electrofished from Prairie Rose and moved to Cold Springs during this time. 323/acre.
  • 2025 - Vegetation-Treatment: Curly leaf pondweed control for water quality purposes
  • 2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: 64 ounces of Sonar A.S. was applied to lake after a one foot draw down.
  • 2024 - Survey-Population: General electrofishing survey.
  • 2023 - Vegetation-Treatment: whole lake treatment for POCR3 with Sonar A.S.
  • 2022 - Vegetation-Treatment: Whole lake treatment to control southern naiad utilizing systemic herbicide Sonar. Treatment completed by Cold Springs Fish Management.
  • 2019 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: 8" channel catfish stocked.
  • 2018 - Vegetation-Treatment: Aquashadow black dye added at 1 gallon/4 acft rate
  • 2017 - Vegetation-Treatment: Aquashadow black dye added to bump concentration.
  • 2017 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: 8" channel catfish were stocked at a rate of 36 per acre.
  • 2017 - Vegetation-Treatment: Aquashadow black dye - 1 gal./4 acft application rate
  • 2016 - Vegetation-Treatment: Aquashadow dye treatment divided into 3 applications.
  • 2015 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Channel catfish 8" stocked.
  • 2015 - Vegetation-Treatment: Aquashadow Black Dye treatment at 1 gal/8 acft rate failed to suppress plant growth
  • 2014 - Vegetation-Treatment: Aquashadow black dye treatment at 1 gal./4 acft rate to suppress aquatic plant growth.
  • 2013 - Stocking-Black Crappie: 4-inch Black Crappies stocked from Carter Lake.
  • 2013 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Channel catfish 8.6" stocked.
  • 2013 - Stocking-Largemouth Bass: From Little River (Decatur County) to control stunted bluegill/redear.
  • 2013 - Vegetation-Treatment: 100lbs of Aquathol Super K granular herbicide was applied to clear boating lanes and improve fishing access.
  • 2013 - Vegetation-Treatment: Aquathol Super K was applied to southeast corner to remove coontail.
  • 2013 - Regulations-Fishing: An 18-inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass was implemented on 1/1/2013 to reduce the harvest and increase predation on bluegill.
  • 2012 - Fishery Renovation-Chemical-Rotenone: Selective renovation of bluegills. Target concentration 9.5µg/l.
  • 2012 - Water Sampling-Other: Rotenone concentration 1 day post treatment results 17µg/l
  • 2012 - Water Sampling-Other: Rotenone concentration 5 day post treatment results 10 µg/l
  • 2012 - Water Sampling-Other: Rotenone concentration 10 days post treatment 7.7 µg/l
  • 2012 - Water Sampling-Other: Rotenone concentration 20 days post treatment 3.7 µg/l
  • 2012 - RAFT sampling-RAFT: Preditor (lmb) and bottom feeder (ccf) collected
  • 2011 - Vegetation-Treatment: Treated 5.7 acres w Aquathol Super K

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: Electric Motors 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

    No known aquatic invasive species have been found

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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