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

Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs DNR Homepage

About Lake Hendricks

Surface Area (acres): 47.40
Maximum Depth (feet): 17.6 ft. (2019)
Motoring Restrictions: electric motors only
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Howard
Description: Lake Hendricks
Coordinates: 43.37457096, -92.54578371

Nearby Parks

- No results found

Amenities

Amenities at Lake Hendricks include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Accessible Pier
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp

Fishing Report

Most area rivers remain low and mostly ice covered. The majority of lakes and ponds still have 12 inches covered with 1 to 3 inches of snow. Ice conditions can change rapidly with warmer temperatures. A cloudy weekend with highs in upper 20's and teens for lows. For fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Three inches of snow covered ice. Ice depths about 16 inches. Avoid area around the aerator. Few anglers out this week.
Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a spike or waxworm about a foot off the bottom near brush piles.
Black Crappie - Fair: A small jig tipped with minnow or waxworm fished near the bottom works.

Popular Fish Species

Fishing Forecast

The extension of rock reefs in the north arm in 2020 provide additional places for fish to hang around. Bluegills, mostly 6- to 8-inches, are common with some exceeding 8-inches. The Largemouth Bass population is balanced, with fish up to 18-inches. Channel Catfish will be stocked this year. Fish from 9- to 25-inches are ready to be caught. Nice numbers of Black Crappie are available. See more at http://co.howard.ia.us/offices/conservation/lakehendricks.htm.(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

  • 09/08/2021 - 720 Channel Catfish (8.1)
  • 10/01/2019 - 898 Channel Catfish (9.6)
  • 9/8/2017 - 900 Channel Catfish (7.6")
  • 09/22/2015 - 898 Channel Catfish (8")

Management

  • 2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: POCR3 treatment around access areas
  • 2023 - Vegetation-Treatment: Curly leaf pondweed management using contract herbicide and surfactant.
  • 2022 - Structures-Other: Decorah Fish Mngt. and Howard CCB staff installed 20 crappie condos in 8 ft. water.
  • 2022 - Structures-Other: Decorah Fish Mngt. and Howard CCB installed 18 crappie condos around jetty across from boat ramp in 10' water.
  • 2022 - Structures-Other: Decorah Fish Mngt. and Howard CCB installed 10 crappie condos around jetty north of beach between palettes.
  • 2022 - Vegetation-Treatment: Certified Howard CCB personnel treated 1 acre of shoreline from boat ramp past the beach using Reward Landscape & Aquatic Herbicide at a rate of 2 gallons/acre with a boom sprayer to treat POCR3 & other weeds to prevent the potential spread of AIS.
  • 2021 - Vegetation-Treatment: Certified Howard CCB personnel treated 1 acre of shoreline from boat ramp past the beach using Reward Landscape & Aquatic Herbicide at a rate of 2 gallons/acre with a boom sprayer to treat POCR3 & other weeds to prevent the potential spread of AIS.
  • 2020 - Structures-Rock Reefs: This project connected reefs constructed in 2014 in the middle and extended both on the west ends.
  • 2019 - Vegetation-Treatment: Certified Howard CCB personnel treated 1 acre of shoreline from boat ramp past the beach using Reward Landscape & Aquatic Herbicide at a rate of 2 gallons/acre with a boom sprayer to treat POCR3 & other weeds to prevent the potential spread of AIS.
  • 2018 - Vegetation-Treatment: Certified Howard CCB personnel treated 1 acre of shoreline from boat ramp past the beach using Reward Landscape & Aquatic Herbicide at a rate of 2 gallons/acre with a boom sprayer to treat POCR3 & other weeds to prevent the potential spread of AIS to
  • 2017 - Vegetation-Treatment: Certified Howard CCB personnel treated 1 acre of shoreline from boat ramp past the beach using Reward Landscape & Aquatic Herbicide at a rate of 2 gallons/acre with a boom sprayer to treat POCR3 & other weeds to prevent the potential spread of AIS
  • 2016 - Jetty-Construction: A 90 ft. by 25 ft. rock jetty was constructed across from the boat ramp. It replaces the universal access fishing pier.
  • 2014 - Vegetation-Treatment: Certified Howard CCB personnel treated 1 acre of shoreline from boat ramp past the beach using Reward Landscape & Aquatic Herbicide at a rate of 2 gallons/acre with a boom sprayer to treat POCR3 & other weeds to prevent the potential spread of AIS
  • 2014 - Structures-Rock Reefs: A single 125 ft. by 20 ft. wide rock reef was constructed in 6 ft. water and parallels the shoreline on the north side of the lake east of the boat ramp. Approximate start coordinates 536935/4802563. Approximate end coordinates 536900/4802611.
  • 2014 - Structures-Rock Reefs: A 100 ft. by 20 ft. rock reef was placed by barge on the north end in 9 ft. water and parallels the north shoreline. It is the upper most parallel reef of 3. Approximate start coordinates 536869/4802494. End coordinates 536855/4802519.
  • 2014 - Structures-Rock Reefs: A 120 ft. by 20 ft. rock reef was constructed in 9 ft water perpendicular to the north shore and intersects the mid sections of 3 additional reefs in the project. Approximate start coordinates 536835/4802461. End coordinates 536873/4802505.
  • 2014 - Structures-Rock Reefs: A 180 ft. by 20 ft. rock reef was placed in 10 ft. to 7 ft. of water parallel to north shoreline and is middle parallel reef of 3. Approximate start coordinates 536882/4802476. End coordinates 536825/4802519.
  • 2014 - Structures-Rock Reefs: A 100 ft by 20 ft rock reef was placed in 9 ft water parallel to north shore east of boat ramp and is the southern most parallel structure of 3.
  • 2013 - Structures-Culverts: Four culverts were placed on ice at the end of the newly constructed fishing jetty. All culverts in 2013 were added by Howard County Conservation Board through private donation.
  • 2013 - Structures-Culverts: Four culverts were placed off a jetty on the southeast side of the lake. All culverts in 2013 were added by Howard County Conservation Board through private donation.
  • 2013 - Structures-Culverts: Twenty-two culverts were placed around a new fishing jetty on the southwest side of the lake. All culverts in 2013 were added by Howard County Conservation Board through private donation.
  • 2013 - Structures-Pallets: Six pallets structures were placed in a horseshoe around a jetty midlake on west side. All pallets in 2013 were added by Howard County Conservation Board through private donation.
  • 2013 - Structures-Trees Cedar: Approximately 5 cedar tree clusters were placed on ice by Howard County Conservation Board in February along the shoreline around the universal accessible dock. All cedar trees in 2013 were added by Howard County Conservation Board through private d
  • 2013 - Structures-Other: Twenty-four crappie condos (made out of pvc pipe and cement blocks) were placed on the southeast side of the lake. All crappie condos in 2013 were constructed by Howard County Conservation Board through private donation.
  • 2013 - Structures-Other: Nine crappie condos (made out of pvc pipe and cement blocks) were placed on the southeast side of the lake. All crappie condos in 2013 were constructed by Howard County Conservation Board through private donation.
  • 2013 - Structures-Other: Nine crappie condos (made out of pvc pipe and cement blocks) were placed on the southeast side of the lake. All crappie condos in 2013 were constructed by Howard County Conservation Board through private donation.
  • 2012 - Jetty-Construction: Howard County Conservation Board put in a 80' x 10' fishing jetty on the south side of the beach area.
  • 2012 - Jetty-Construction: Howard County Conservation Board put in a 50' x 10' fishing jetty on the southeast side of the lake.
  • 2012 - Shoreline Activities-Rip-rap: Approximately 750 feet of shoreline north of the beach was sloped at 2:1 and rip-rapped with Class E rock by Howard County Conservation Board.
  • 2009 - Shoreline Activities-Rip-rap: Approximately 952 feet of bank will be sloped and rip-rapped with 350 tons of Class E rock and covered with dirt and seeded. Work will be done through the Howard County Conservation Board.

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: electric motors only

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:
  • 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.
  • Largemouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 18-inch minimum
    • Other:
  • Yellow Perch
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: 50 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

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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