Five Island Lake
973-acre lake near Emmetsburg in Palo Alto County, 23.73 feet deep at its deepest (2024). 2025 surveys found channel catfish highly abundant and largemouth bass and bluegill moderately abundant.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Channel Catfish
Highly abundant in 2025 hoop nets
Largemouth Bass
Fish up to 20 in
Bluegill
Mostly small
Crappie
Black crappie present, not abundant
Walleye
Regularly stocked
Northern Pike
Low abundance
Yellow Perch
Low abundance
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Five Island Lake boat rampPublicHard-surface ramp, accessible pier, beach, camping; no motoring restrictionsDirections ↗
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 8 |
| Largemouth Bass | 15 in | 3 |
| Walleye | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 5 |
| Northern Pike | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 3 |
| Crappie | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 25 |
| Bluegill | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 25 |
| 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 Five Island Lake ↗Local tips
- Hoop nets produced the most channel catfish.
- Good to excellent shore fishing; accessible pier.
- Largemouth bass need 15 inches to keep.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Iowa lakes
Saylorville Lake Big Spirit Lake Coralville Lake West Okoboji Lake Clear Lake Storm Lake Lake Odessa East Okoboji Lake All Iowa lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.