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

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About Volga Lake

Surface Area (acres): 135.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 23 ft. (2013)
Motoring Restrictions: No Size Limit at No Wake
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Fayette
Description: Volga Lake encompasses a 6,038 acre watershed and constructed between 1978-79 impounding Frog Hollow Creek.
Coordinates: 42.89889169, -91.77114242

Nearby Parks

Volga River State Recreation Area

Amenities

Amenities at Volga Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Accessible Pier
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Accessible Facilities
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Accessible Shoreline
  • Fish Cleaning Station

Fishing Report

- No recent updates found

Popular Fish Species

Fishing Forecast

Over the last several years, volunteers, Upper Iowa University students and staff, and park and fisheries staff have installed cedar tree clusters, rock piles, and most recently pallet structures and culverts to provide more habitat diversity and cover to enhance fish populations. Volga Lake is the place to go for trophy channel catfish with fish up to 31 inches. Black Crappie numbers in the 8 inch range remain high but a few 10 inchers are out there. Bluegill 7 inches are common. A nice population of Largemouth Bass are available.(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

  • 09/21/2021 - 1,915 Channel Catfish (9.2)
  • 09/19/2019 - 2,430 Channel Catfish (8.8)
  • 9/7/2017 - 2,433 Channel Catfish (7.6")
  • 09/29/2015 - 2,429 Channel Catfish (8")

Management

  • 2024 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 9 pallet units in 10 ft water.
  • 2024 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 6 pallet units in 10 ft water.
  • 2024 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 9 pallet units in 10 ft water.
  • 2024 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 5 pallet units in 10 ft water.
  • 2024 - Structures-Culverts: Volga State Park staff placed 3 culverts around jetty.
  • 2024 - Structures-Culverts: Volga State Park staff placed 3 culverts with a cedar tree cabled to each west and north of jetty.
  • 2024 - Structures-Culverts: Volga State Park staff placed 12 culverts with cedar trees attached in south east corner between jetty and corner.
  • 2024 - Shoreline Activities-Felled Trees: Volga State Park staff dropped about 20 trees along 1992 ft. of the west shoreline.
  • 2024 - Shoreline Activities-Felled Trees: Volga State Park staff dropped about 20 trees along 1517 ft. of the west southwest shoreline.
  • 2024 - Shoreline Activities-Felled Trees: Volga State Park staff dropped about 20 trees along 1655 ft. of west shoreline.
  • 2024 - Shoreline Activities-Felled Trees: Volga State Park staff dropped 20 trees along about half mile of north shoreline.
  • 2024 - Shoreline Activities-Felled Trees: Volga State Park staff dropped about 10 trees along 854 ft. of the east shoreline.
  • 2024 - Shoreline Activities-Felled Trees: Volga State Park staff dropped about 10 trees along 912 ft. of east shoreline.
  • 2022 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 12 pallet units in 10 ft of water.
  • 2022 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 9 pallet structures weighted with landscaping blocks in 10 ft. of water.
  • 2022 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 9 pallet structures weighted with landscaping blocks in 10 ft. of water.
  • 2022 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 3 pallet structures weighted with landscaping blocks in 10 ft. of water.
  • 2022 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 6 pallet structures weighted with landscaping blocks in 10 ft. of water.
  • 2022 - Structures-Pallets: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 8 pallet structures weighted with landscaping blocks in 20 ft. of water.
  • 2021 - Fish Cleaning Station-Fish Cleaning Station: A fish cleaning station was added between the boat ramp and universal dock.
  • 2021 - Ramp-Construction: Repairs were made to boat ramp. Curbs removed and sides rip-raped.
  • 2020 - Structures-Trees Cedar: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 17 cedar trees weighted with cinder blocks in 13 ft of water.
  • 2020 - Structures-Trees Cedar: DFM and Volga Lake park staff together with local individuals and Upper Iowa University staff and students installed 13 cedar trees weighted with cinder blocks in 13 ft of water.
  • 2019 - Structures-Trees Cedar: DFM with Volga SP staff, Upper Iowa University students/staff, and several volunteers installed 12 cedar trees in 12ft water at this site.
  • 2019 - Structures-Trees Cedar: DFM with Volga SP staff, Upper Iowa University students/staff, and several volunteers installed at this site 6 cedar trees in 13 ft. water.
  • 2019 - Structures-Other: DFM with Volga SP staff, Upper Iowa University students/staff, and several volunteers installed 15 blocks & 11 CCF tubes (old clay tile line about 18" long with 1 end cemented shut).
  • 2017 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 16 cedar trees at an old habitat site in 18 ft water with volunteers and Volga Lake State Park Staff.
  • 2017 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 10 cedar trees in 10 ft. water with volunteers and Volga Lake State Park Staff.
  • 2017 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 10 cedar trees in 10 ft. water.
  • 2017 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 5 cedar trees in front of fishing dock within casting distance.
  • 2017 - Structures-Rock Fields: Placed rock pile in middle arm of lake in 8 ft. water with Volga Lake State Park Staff and volunteers.
  • 2016 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 3 larger cedar trees off of fishing jetty on west side of lake with volunteers and Volga Lake Park Staff.
  • 2016 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 5 cedar trees perpendicular from bank along west side of dam face.
  • 2016 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 6 cedar trees perpendicular to shoreline about mid point of dam face.
  • 2016 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 5 cedar trees perpendicular to shoreline along dam face.
  • 2016 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 5 cedar trees perpendicular to shoreline on dam face west of fishing jetty on dam.
  • 2016 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 5 cedar trees within casting distance of first pier south of boat ramp.
  • 2016 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 12 cedar trees in 10 feet water between fishing docks on east side of lake.
  • 2016 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Added 4 cedar trees within casting distance of universal access fishing dock face.
  • 2016 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 6 cedar trees in 14 feet of water near universal access fishing dock.
  • 2013 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Forty-five cedar trees were placed out from the boat ramp about in the middle of the lake in 22 feet of water. Work was done with help from park staff and a group of local anglers.
  • 2013 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Twenty-four trees were placed in 14 feet of water in the north end.
  • 2013 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Seven very large trees were placed between the parking lot and universal accessible dock.
  • 2013 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Seven trees were placed within casting distance on the north side of the boat ramp.
  • 2012 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Three cedar trees were placed off old fishing dock.
  • 2012 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Seven trees were placed perpendicular to shore edge to deeper water.
  • 2012 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Seven trees were placed perpendicular to shore edge to deeper water.
  • 2012 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Seven trees were placed perpendicular to shore edge to deeper water.
  • 2012 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 10 trees in 18' of water on east side of lake with Park staff and local anglers.
  • 2012 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Placed 9 trees to boost existing structure on west side of lake with Park staff and local anglers.
  • 2011 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Fifteen cedar trees were clustered with 2 pallets weighted down with block and placed on the east side in 12ft water.
  • 2011 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Fifteen trees were clustered in 13ft water.
  • 2010 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Eleven tree clusters with a pile of blocks near were placed in 12 ft water.
  • 2010 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Thirteen trees clustered with a rock pile in 14 ft water.
  • 2010 - Structures-Brush Piles: 11 cedar trees were placed in 12ft. water by 5 local volunteers and 3 permanent personnel.

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: No Size Limit at No Wake

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, 8 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.
  • 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:
  • White Sucker
    • 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.
  • Yellow Perch
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: 50 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

Aquatic Invasive Species

  • Brittle Naiad
  • Curlyleaf Pondweed

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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