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Blue Lake

General Information

County: Monona
Location: 3 miles west of Onawa
Acres: 275.00
Maximum Depth: 11.5 ft. (2020)
Motoring Restrictions: none

Nearby Parks

Lewis and Clark State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Blue Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
No recent updates
Download Printable Lake Map

You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes

  • 9/26/22 - 1,339 Channel Catfish (9.3)
  • 09/10/2020 - 1,348 Channel Catfish (8.1)
  • 05/13/2019 - 2,775 Northern Pike (1.22)
  • 09/17/2018 - 1,620 Channel Catfish (8.4)
  • 06/04/2018 - 2,700 Northern Pike (2.7)
  • 5/26/2017 - 5,656 Northern Pike (2.6")
  • 5/22/2017 - 2,990 Northern Pike (2.4")
  • spring 2016 - 2,737 Northern Pike (2.1")
  • 10/10/16 - 1,630 Channel Catfish (9.3")
  • 05/20/2015 - 2,755 Northern Pike (2.9")
  • 09/29/2014 - 1,618 Channel Catfish (8")
  • 06/03/2014 - 1,494 Northern Pike (2-3")
    No known aquatic invasive species have been found
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Black Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers (Missouri, Big Sioux, and Des Moines) where intermittent or constant flow occur have a catfish combined daily bag of 15 fish. Associated chutes and backwaters of the Mississippi River have no daily bag or possession limit.
  • 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: 15-inch minimum
    • Other:
  • Northern Pike
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 6 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Associated chutes and backwaters of border rivers where intermittent or constant flow occur have the following limits: Mississippi River-5 fish daily bag, 10 fish possession limit; Missouri River-5 fish daily bag, 10 fish possession limit; Big Sioux River-6 fish daily bag, 12 fish possession limit
The size structure of largemouth bass is very good in Blue Lake. It's a good lake to catch a memorable or trophy, but don't expect a lot of fish as densities are average. Abundant 6- to 7-inches bluegill and 10-inch bullheads. The channel catfish population is good and underutilized.(2020)
Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

Contacts

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.