Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Big Lake (Including Gilbert's Pond)


About Big Lake (Including Gilbert's Pond)

Surface Area (acres): 5.00
Maximum Depth (feet): Unknown
Motoring Restrictions: None
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Pottawattamie
Description:
Coordinates: 41.29330536, -95.86185106

Amenities

Amenities at Big Lake (Including Gilbert's Pond) include:
  • Boat Access
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Accessible Shoreline
  • Community Fishing Location

Fishing Report

- No recent updates found

Fishing Forecast

A spring 2022 electrofishing survey sampled largemouth bass, bluegill, common carp, and rainbow trout. It is not good for the fishery that the river fish have re-established populations in Big Lake. Rainbow trout are stocked fall and winter to boost the fishing in this community fishing lake. Fishing will center around a few quality largemouth bass, channel catfish and rainbow trout.(2022)

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

  • Winter 2022 - 1,600 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Winter 2021 - 1,800 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • 10/06/2021 - 201 Channel Catfish (9)
  • Winter 2020 - 1,600 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • winter 2019 - 2,300 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • 09/23/2019 - 182 Channel Catfish (9.4)
  • annual 2018 - 1,900 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 1,800 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • 9/13/2017 - 91 Channel Catfish (7.4")
  • Jan 2016 - 1,800 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • 09/15/2015 - 270 Channel Catfish (8")

Management

  • 2019 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: 8" channel catfish stocked.
  • 2018 - Stocking-Rainbow Trout: Urban trout stocking through the ice.
  • 2017 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: 8" channel catfish stocked.
  • 2017 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Channel Catfish 8" stocked.
  • 2017 - Vegetation-Treatment: Treated 1.2 acres with 2.5 gallons of reward to control coontail ahead of a trout stocking.
  • 2017 - Stocking-Rainbow Trout: urban trout stocking
  • 2017 - Stocking-Rainbow Trout: Rainbow trout catchable size were stocked.
  • 2016 - Stocking-Rainbow Trout: Rainbow trout were stocked into West Big Lake.
  • 2016 - Stocking-Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout catchable size were stocked.
  • 2015 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Channel catfish 8" were stocked.
  • 2015 - Vegetation-Treatment: Treated 1 acre with 2 gallons of tribune to control coontail.
  • 2014 - Stocking-Rainbow Trout: Rainbow trout catchable size stocked.
  • 2014 - Stocking-Rainbow Trout: Rainbow trout catchable size stocked.
  • 2013 - Stocking-Rainbow Trout: Rainbow trout stocked into West Big Lake.
  • 2013 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Channel catfish 8.5" were stocked.
  • 2013 - Stocking-Rainbow Trout: Rainbow trout catchable size stocked.
  • 2012 - Fish Kills-Natural Causes: Occurred due to natural causes related to drought conditions and heat.
  • 2009 - Fishery Renovation-Chemical-Rotenone: Both the east and west ponds were treated to remove rough fish population. West side had been pumped down 4 feet.

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: None

Contacts for this Location

Fishing Regulations

  • Bigmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Bluegill
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • 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:
  • Rainbow Trout
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 5 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 10 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Anglers must have paid the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout

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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