posted
on Thursday, June 1, 2023
Big Woods Lake
For those who fish, the sport is more than just about casting a line. You have to find the right fishing spot. You have to buy a license. You need to know which lakes have a dock. You might even want to know how deep the lakes are and whether they’re freshly stocked. We can offer you some resources.
LAKES
Big Woods Lake
Big Woods Lake is part of the Big Woods Recreation area which has rental cabins and shelters and a campground. It’s also adjacent Cedar Valley Trails and a 10-acre natural prairie. Fishing can be done from shore or by boat on this 65-acre, no-wake lake. You’re bound to catch black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass.
You’ll find current fishing reports, dock locations and a lake map HERE.
North Prairie Lake
North and South Prairie Lakes are nestled next door to the Cedar Falls Visitor Center, adjacent Cedar Valley Trails and in the middle of our city’s scenic industrial park in the southwest corner of Cedar Falls. Every year in the spring, the Iowa DNR stocks North Prairie Lake with trout and co-hosts a Family Fun Fishing Day with SCHEELS. This no-wake, 7-acre lake is home to brook trout, rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass.
You’ll find current fishing reports, dock locations and a lake map HERE.
South Prairie Lake
South Prairie Lake, located next to North Prairie Lake, has restrooms and a handicapped fishing dock adjacent the parking lot. The 23-acre lake is home to black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass.
You’ll find current fishing reports, dock locations and a lake map HERE.
Alice Wyth Lake (in George Wyth State Park) See our George Wyth State Park blog
George Wyth State Park is home to Alice Wyth, Brinker, Fisher and George Wyth Lakes. Alice Wyth Lake is 60 acres and allows electric motors only. It’s located on the west side of the park and boasts a population of bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, crappie, bluegills, green sunfish and largemouth bass.
You’ll find current fishing reports, dock locations and a lake map HERE.
Brinker Lake (in George Wyth State Park)
Brinker Lake (sometimes shown as East Lake on a map), is located on the east end of George Wyth State Park. At 120 acres, Brinker Lake is the largest of the lakes in the park and a popular spot for power boating. Popular species at this lake include black bullhead, black crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, walleye white crappie, yellow bass and yellow bullhead.
You’ll find current fishing reports, dock locations and a lake map HERE.
Fisher Lake (in George Wyth State Park)
Fisher Lake, located on the north side of George Wyth State Park, is a 40-acre natural lake with boat access on its north side. The lake is home to bluegill and largemouth bass.
You’ll find current fishing reports, dock locations and a lake map HERE.
George Wyth Lake (in George Wyth State Park)
George Wyth Lake, a 75-acre lake in the center of George Wyth State Park, is a popular location for swimming, kayaking and fishing. The state park is also attractive to bikers and hikers on Cedar Valley Trails (soft and hard-surfaced), picnickers and campers. Fish species in this lake include black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, white crappie and yellow bass.
You’ll find current fishing reports, dock locations and a lake map HERE.
Family Fun Fishing Day - April at North Prairie Lake
LICENSES
All anglers 16 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license. Licenses can be purchased through the Go Outdoors Iowa online licensing system or at a local retailer.
Or purchase your license online HERE.
In Cedar Falls, retail locations include:
Cook’s Outdoors, 1910 Center Street, 319-269-0128
Farm & Fleet, 219 Brandilynn Blvd., 319-277-1641
Fleet Farm, 400 W. Ridgeway Avenue, 920-731-8121
SCHEELS, 402 Viking Plaza Drive, 319-277-3033
Walmart, 525 Brandilynn Blvd, 319-277-6391
SUPPLIES
Locally owned, Cook’s Outdoors offers G3 fishing boats including pontoons and Yamaha Outboards, NuCanoe Kayaks and Vibe Kayaks for sale. They also sell live bait and tackle. They even have a bait tackle vending machine for 24-hour convenience.
National retailers can also help with your fishing needs. In Cedar Falls, that includes SCHEELS, Farm & Fleet, Fleet Farm and Walmart.
MORE FUN
If some members of your fishing party (perhaps a spouse or kids) want to do something a little different while enjoying local lakes, Maxx Rentals can help with paddleboard, kayak, canoe, water mat, lake tube and river tube rentals on George Wyth Lake in George Wyth State Park. They also have a mobile rental unit at Big Woods Lake on the weekends. They even sell night crawlers.
Cook’s Outdoors, located in northern Cedar Falls at 1910 Center Street, also rents 1-person and 2-person kayaks as well as single paddleboards and tandem pedal boats. You can reserve what you need online, pay at the store and pick up your rental at Big Woods Lake which is only a couple miles from Cook’s Outdoors.
RESOURCES
The Iowa DNR has a wealth of fishing information on their website. You’ll find fishing reports, regulations and popular fish species listed for each lake and several types of maps. You’ll also find their weekly Iowa fishing report HERE.
The Black Hawk County Conservation Board can also help. Check out MyCountyParks.com and view their Black Hawk County Parks Guide (or pick up a copy at the Cedar Falls Visitor Center).
Find more Things to Do, Places to Stay or Places to Eat & Drink while you're in Cedar Falls!
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Channel Catfish stocked at North Prairie Lake
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