Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Fontana Mill Lake


About Fontana Mill Lake

Surface Area (acres): 63.00
Maximum Depth (feet): Unknown
Motoring Restrictions: Electric Motors Only
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Buchanan
Description: Fontana Mill
Coordinates: 42.60656440, -91.91085798

Nearby Parks

- No results found

Amenities

Amenities at Fontana Mill Lake include:
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Accessible Pier
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Carry Down Boat Launch

Fishing Report

- No recent updates found

Fishing Forecast

Fontana is a small impoundment located near Buchanan County Conservation Board Headquarters. Anglers can expect to catch bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass. Most fish are small given habitat conditions at this location but there are some larger bass, carp, and suckers. Concentrate efforts on the lower end of the lake as the upper portion is heavily silted in.(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

  • 09/13/2021 - 1,134 Channel Catfish (8.8)
  • 09/11/2019 - 1,135 Channel Catfish (8.7)
  • 9/7/2017 - 1,137 Channel Catfish (7.6")
  • 09/28/2015 - 1,136 Channel Catfish (8")

Management

    - No results found

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: Electric Motors Only

Contacts for this Location

Fishing Regulations

  • 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, 15 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.
  • Largemouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 12-inch minimum
    • Other:

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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