Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs

Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs DNR Homepage

About Union Grove Lake

Surface Area (acres): 100.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 20 ft. (2017)
Motoring Restrictions: No Size Limit at No Wake
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Tama
Description: Constructed lake
Coordinates: 42.12835509, -92.72414603

Nearby Parks

Union Grove State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Union Grove Lake include:

Boat Access
Fishing Jetty
Picnic Area
Beach
Playground
Restrooms
Camping
Good/Excellent Shorefishing
Hard Surface Boat Ramp
Accessible Shoreline
Fish Cleaning Station

What to Fish For

Fishing Report

Please contact the local fisheries management biologist for current information.

Fishing Summary

- No results found

Popular Fish Species

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 .

Where to Go

View Map (.pdf)

Explore the full Fishing Atlas

Stocking and Management

Stocking

9/27/23 - 1,135 Channel Catfish (8.4)
9/25/23 - 15,000 Bluegill (2.5)
9/25/23 - 29 Redear Sunfish (Adult)
9/25/23 - 22,000 Redear Sunfish (3)
09/14/2021 - 2,065 Channel Catfish (8.8)
03/19/2020 - 100,000 Bluegill (2)
10/01/2019 - 1,400 Channel Catfish (9.6)
09/05/2019 - 29,544 Redear Sunfish (1.4)
fall 2018 - 4,404 Channel Catfish (8.4)
5/8/2017 - 165 Black Crappie (7" - 9")
5/11/2017 - 355 Black Crappie (7" - 9")
6/7/16 - 10,000 Channel Catfish (1.8")
5/5/16 - 14,000 Bluegill (Fingerling)
10/11/16 - 1,113 Channel Catfish (9.3")

Management

2025 - Vegetation-Treatment: Control curly leaf for access and water quality.
2025 - Vegetation-Treatment: Treatment of native plants at ramps and access points.
2025 - Vegetation-Treatment: Treatment of native plants at ramps and access points.
2025 - Stocking-Walleye: 375 6" Walleyes and 500 8" Walleyes stocked by Union Grove Lake and Park Holding Corp.
2024 - Stocking-Walleye: 1108 6" Walleyes stocked by Union Grove Lake and Park Holding Corp.
2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: two treatments for POCR3, private and DNR zones
2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: treatment for narrowleaf pondweeds - private and dnr zones
2023 - Vegetation-Treatment: Spot treatment to reduce curly leaf pondweed abundance. Funding from MFT, LR, and private group.
2023 - Fish Cleaning Station-Fish Cleaning Station: By West side boat ramp
2023 - Vegetation-Treatment: Narrow leaf pondweed and algae management in DNR and Private zones. Not all zones in management plan needed treatment due to algae bloom.
2023 - Stocking-Walleye: 1200 6" Walleyes stocked by Union Grove Lake and Park Holding Corp.
2022 - Stocking-Walleye: 1600 6" Walleyes stocked by Union Grove Lake and Park Holding Corp.
2021 - Stocking-Walleye: 1385 6" Walleyes stocked by Union Grove Lake and Park Holding Corp.
2021 - Vegetation-Treatment: Spot treatment for curlyleaf control.
2021 - Vegetation-Treatment: Under the ice whole lake treatment utilizing systemic herbicide Sonar (A.S.)
2021 - Vegetation-Treatment: Under the ice whole lake treatment utilizing systemic herbicide Sonar (A.S.)
2020 - Vegetation-Treatment: Spot treatment control of curly leaf pondweed that wasn't controlled during the under the ice application of Sonar (A.S.)
2020 - Vegetation-Treatment: Under the ice whole lake treatment to control curly leaf pondweed utilizing a systemic herbicide Sonar (A.S.)
2020 - Vegetation-Treatment: Under the ice whole lake control for curly leaf pondweed utilizing systemic herbicide Sonar (A.S.).
2020 - Vegetation-Treatment: Under the ice whole lake treatment to control curly leaf pondweed utilizing a systemic herbicide Sonar (A.S.)
2020 - Stocking-Walleye: 1850 6" Walleyes stocked by Union Grove Lake and Park Holding Corp.
2019 - Stocking-Walleye: 1000 6" Walleyes stocked by Union Grove Lake and Park Holding Corp.
2019 - Vegetation-Treatment: Spot treated using Reward tank mixed with Cide Kick II in 9 treatment zones identified in vegetation management plan.
2019 - Vegetation-Treatment: Whole lake treatment using Sonar (A.S.) under the ice for curly leaf pondweed control. Initial treatment concentration of 10 ppb for this treatment.
2018 - Vegetation-Treatment: Under the ice curly-leaf pondweed treatment using Sonar (A.S.) at 10 ppb, herbicide applied on upper end.
2018 - Vegetation-Treatment: Whole lake treatment using Sonar (A.S.) for control of curly-leaf pondweed. Herbicide concentration at 6 ppb applied on the upper end.
2018 - Vegetation-Treatment: Sonar (A.S.) bump of concentration to 5.5 ppb for curly-leaf pondweed control.
2018 - Stocking-Walleye: 1000 6" Walleyes stocked by Union Grove Lake and Park Holding Corp.
2012 - Watershed-Activities: Acquired the 116 acre Umphrey property that is a crucial component in the future lake restoration plans. This property boarders the north end of the Park and is on the main drainage that enters the lake.
2011 - Watershed-Activities: This spring an 8.6 acres of native prairie was seeded and 1.1 acres of grassed waterway were installed.

Regulations and Who to Talk To

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: No Size Limit at No Wake

Contacts for this Location

Chris Mack, Fisheries Biologist; 3193508093; chris.mack@dnr.iowa.gov
Brett Reece, Conservation Officer (Tama); 641-751-0931; Brett.Reece@dnr.iowa.gov

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.

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:

Green Sunfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

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:

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:

Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Union Grove Lake