Big Creek Lake
Big Creek Lake in Polk County covers 814 acres with a maximum depth of 51 feet per Iowa DNR. It is managed for wipers, crappie, walleye, bass, channel catfish and muskellunge.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Wiper
Fair; jig shad-imitating plastics (Iowa DNR)
Largemouth Bass
8-19.5 in.
Smallmouth Bass
Fair, mostly lower half
Walleye
Good, April-June
Channel Catfish
Very abundant
Muskellunge
Fair, 24-38 in.
Bluegill
to about 8.5 in.
Yellow Perch
regulated species listed
White Bass
regulated species listed
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Hard surface boat rampPublicListed by Iowa DNR with boat access, rentals and a fishing jetty; No Size Limit at 5 mphDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the state agency or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 18 in min | 3 (black bass combined) |
| Smallmouth Bass | 15 in min | 3 (black bass combined) |
| Walleye | 15 in min; 1 over 20 in | 3 |
| Muskellunge | 40 in min | 1 |
| Crappie | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 25 combined |
| Bluegill | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 25 |
| Channel/Blue/Flathead Catfish | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 8 combined |
| Yellow Perch | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 25 |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Iowa Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Big Creek Lake ↗Local tips
- Wipers: jig shad-imitating plastics and watch for surface-feeding schools.
- Walleye fishing is best April through June before the gizzard shad hatch.
- Rock jetties give good shore access early or late in the day.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Iowa lakes
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.