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Easter Lake

General Information

County: Polk
Location: southeast edge of Des Moines
Acres: 162.60
Maximum Depth: 26.4 ft. (2020)
Motoring Restrictions: No Size Limit at No Wake

Nearby Parks

Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
Walnut Woods State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Easter Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Boat Rental
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Accessible Facilities
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Concessions
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Community Fishing Location
No recent updates
Download Printable Lake Map

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

  • 9/27/22 - 1,620 Largemouth Bass (4.2)
  • 7/14/22 - 1,000 Walleye (4)
  • 5/4/22 - 30,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/4/22 - 330 Walleye (8.5)
  • 09/16/2021 - 2,506 Channel Catfish (8.8)
  • 06/28/2021 - 16,180 Largemouth Bass (1.6)
  • 04/29/2021 - 30,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/15/2020 - 161 Largemouth Bass (5.1)
  • fall 2019 - 1,998 Channel Catfish (8.5)
  • 06/14/2019 - 89 Walleye (14)
  • 05/01/2019 - 530,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 04/03/2019 - 51,208 Bluegill (2)
  • 04/03/2019 - 58 Largemouth Bass (Adult)
  • Brittle Naiad
  • Curlyleaf Pondweed
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • 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:
  • 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:
  • Walleye
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 5 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 10 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
Fishery surveys in 2022 found Bluegills at sizes from 3- to 7.5-inches, with most in the 5.5- to 6.5-inch range. Largemouth Bass were found at sizes from 8- to 20-inches, with most in the 8- to 13-inch range. Black Crappies are mostly between 6- and 9-inches, but are continuing to grow. Walleye are not yet abundant, but are present in low numbers from 7- to 20-inches. Channel catfish are growing well and have reached sizes between 15- and 20-inches.(2022)
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.