Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Lower Gar Lake


About Lower Gar Lake

Surface Area (acres): 251.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 6.9 ft. (2015)
Motoring Restrictions: none
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Dickinson
Description: Lower Gar
Coordinates: 43.34942140, -95.11935627

Amenities

Amenities at Lower Gar Lake include:
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Restrooms
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing

Fishing Forecast

Catch walleye, northern pike, channel catfish, bullheads, largemouth bass and panfish in Lower Gar Lake during spring. The bridge and north shoreline are constant producers; but, don't overlook other areas. Fish northern pike and channel catfish shortly after the ice out using cut bait fished on the bottom. Walleye anglers will produce good results casting twisters and other traditional baits throughout the spring season. Action starts early after ice out for bluegill, yellow perch and crappie anglers. Fish the shallow water habitat and docks throughout the spring for a good mixed bag of fish. Fishing the shallow water areas along the state park will provide bullhead anglers excellent opportunities to catch exceptional numbers of large fish. Other species (white bass and largemouth bass) caught by the specialized Lower Gar Lake angler will be an occasional event; anglers will be pleased by the current size of these species. (2015)

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

- No results found

Management

  • 2025 - Vegetation-Treatment: 5 ppb treatment to control POCR3
  • 2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: Under the ice treatment of curly leaf pondweed with sonar a.s.
  • 2023 - Vegetation-Treatment: Bump to 5 ppb with Sonar (A.S.)
  • 2022 - Vegetation-Treatment: Whole lake systemic treatment utilizing Sonar (A.S.) to control Eurasian watermilfoil and curly leaf pondweed. East Okoboji and rest of lower chain also part of project.
  • 2022 - Vegetation-Treatment: Bumped 1.1 ppb concentration for whole lake systemic treatment targeting MYSP2.
  • 2022 - Vegetation-Treatment: Applied bump to the fluridone concentration of 2.4 ppb.
  • 2022 - Exotic Species-Vegetation: Eurasian watermilfoil found by vegetation survey crew
  • 2016 - Other-Other: An emergency stop system was installed in 2016 to the exterior of the control building at the IGL barrier.
  • 2016 - Other-Other: Filamentous algae and zebra mussels were scraped from the surface of the barrier and general grounds maintenance including herbicide treatment of the waterway were completed.
  • 2016 - Other-Other: The Iowa Great Lakes electric fish barrier ran continually through 2016.
  • 2015 - Exotic Species-Mussels: Veliger sampling was completed monthly from May through September
  • 2014 - Other-Other: The electric fish barrier was activated in June following heavy rains that raised water levels in the lakes nearly a foot.
  • 2014 - Exotic Species-Mussels: Veliger sampling was completed monthly from May through August
  • 2014 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: Winter D.O. readings were taken under the ice.
  • 2013 - Exotic Species-Fish: The barrier was commissioned in February 2013 and was operational through the spring as water levels rose to 7 inches over crest
  • 2013 - Exotic Species-Mussels: Subsequent sampling of boat hoists from the lake confirmed zebra mussel infestation
  • 2012 - Other-Other: An electric fish barrier was constructed on the outlet of the Iowa Great Lakes
  • 2012 - Exotic Species-Fish: A temporary barrier was installed as a “stop gap” measure between May 30th and June 4th while the electric barrier was designed.
  • 2012 - Exotic Species-Fish: Smith-Root Inc. was selected on June 6th and subsequently contracted to design, engineer, and provide construction oversight for the installation of an electric fish barrier at the Iowa Great Lakes outlet
  • 2012 - Exotic Species-Fish: Electric barrier completed and operational
  • 2009 - Shoreline Activities-Vegetative Plantings: Shoreline vegetation project - Installed coconut fiber logs and aquatic plant plugs.

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: none

Contacts for this Location

Fishing Regulations

  • Black Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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
  • Brown Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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:
  • White 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
  • Yellow Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

Aquatic Invasive Species

  • Curlyleaf Pondweed
  • Eurasian Watermilfoil
  • Zebra Mussel

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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