| Most ice in the district is anywhere from 5 to 9 inches thick and covered with several inches of snow. Even with the recent cold weather, ice conditions have not improved and many lakes have open water pockets. Use caution if venturing out. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. |
| Rainbow trout were stocked this winter. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10. Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but together, they can only keep one daily limit. Children can pay the trout fee, allowing them to keep their own daily limit. |
| Rainbow Trout - Fair: Try using a small hook with either a nightcrawler, corn, or powerbait trout bites fished under a small bobber. A small and shiny jig or spoon tipped with bait also works well. |
Moorland Pond has decent fishing for bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, and largemouth bass. Channel catfish are stocked on a regular basis. Shore fishing access is good, but if you want to get on the water you'll need to carry in a kayak or a canoe. Trout are stocked annually during the cold water season and fishing can be excellent following a stocking event.(2020)
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 .