Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Badger Creek Lake


About Badger Creek Lake

Surface Area (acres): 276.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 21 ft. (2018)
Motoring Restrictions: No Size Limit at No Wake
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Madison
Description: Badger Creek
Coordinates: 41.47088002, -93.91144353

Amenities

Amenities at Badger Creek Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Accessible Pier
  • Picnic Area
  • Accessible Facilities
  • Restrooms
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Community Fishing Location

Fishing Forecast

Spring electrofishing indicated a moderate Largemouth Bass abundance with bass up to 18 inches available to anglers. There are large Redear Sunfish up to 11 inches available to anglers. There are good numbers of Bluegill up to 8.5 inches and Crappie up to 10 inches. There are low numbers of Walleye, but Walleye in the 14-15 inch length range are available to anglers.(2024)

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

  • 5/4/22 - 100,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 09/09/2021 - 1,657 Channel Catfish (8.1)
  • 04/29/2021 - 100,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 04/24/2020 - 104,900 Walleye (Fry)
  • 09/17/2019 - 1,651 Channel Catfish (8.6)
  • 04/30/2019 - 100,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 05/07/2018 - 100,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 9/13/2017 - 1,656 Channel Catfish (7.4")
  • 6/29/2017 - 2,842 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
  • 6/16/2016 - 2,784 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.4")
  • 6/16/2016 - 3,656 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.3")
  • 09/16/2015 - 2,696 Channel Catfish (8")
  • 06/29/2015 - 2,756 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.7")
  • 06/16/2015 - 2,758 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (479/lb)

Management

  • 2024 - Survey-Population: A standard trend survey was conducted using spring electrofishing.
  • 2023 - Survey-Population: A comprehensive survey was conducted using electrofishing, baited hoop nets, and fyke nets.
  • 2022 - Survey-Population: A standard trend survey was conducted using spring electrofishing.
  • 2022 - Vegetation-Treatment: Curly-leaf pondweed was treated in May according to the treatment plan
  • 2021 - Survey-Population: A standard trend survey was conducted using spring electrofishing.
  • 2021 - Vegetation-Treatment: Curly-leaf pondweed was treated in March
  • 2020 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Refurbished existing cedar tree brushpiles and created new deep brushpile for ice fishing.
  • 2020 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Cedar trees.
  • 2020 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Cedar trees.
  • 2020 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Cedar trees.
  • 2020 - Survey-Population: A standard trend fish population survey was conducted using electrofishing and fyke nets.
  • 2019 - Survey-Population: A standard trend fish population survey was conducted using electrofishing and fyke nets.
  • 2018 - Survey-Population: A comprehensive fish survey was conducted using electrofishing, baited hoop nets, and fyke nets.
  • 2018 - Vegetation-Treatment: 84 gallons of Aquathol-K was applied on March 30, 2018 to reduce abundance of curly-leaf pondweed. The treatment resulted in approximately 70% reduction in curly-leaf abundance.
  • 2017 - Survey-Population: A standard trend fish population survey was conducted using electrofishing and fyke nets.
  • 2016 - Survey-Population: A standard sample was done with electrofishing and fyke netting.
  • 2015 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Cedar Trees
  • 2015 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Cedar trees
  • 2015 - Survey-Population: A standard sample was done with electrofishing and fyke netting.
  • 2015 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Cedar trees.
  • 2015 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Cedar trees
  • 2014 - Survey-Population: A standard sample was done on Badger Creek with electrofishing and trapnetting gears.
  • 2013 - Survey-Population: A standard sample was done on Badger Creek with electrofishing and trapnetting gears.
  • 2012 - Survey-Population: A fishery comprehensive survey was done with electrofishing, fyke netting, and hoop netting.
  • 2011 - Survey-Population: A standard sample was done on Badger Creek with electrofishing and trapnetting gears.
  • 2011 - Fishery Renovation-Chemical-Rotenone: Low dose rotenone treatment to remove gizzard shad.
  • 2010 - Survey-Population: A standard sample was done on Badger Creek with electrofishing and trapnetting gears.
  • 2009 - Survey-Population: Badger Creek was sampled with spring electrofishing and fall trapnetting.

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: No Size Limit at No Wake

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
  • 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:
  • 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

Aquatic Invasive Species

  • 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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