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Carter Lake

General Information

County: Pottawattamie
Location: North edge of Carter Lake.
Acres: 315.00
Maximum Depth: 25.4 ft. (2013)
Motoring Restrictions: none

Nearby Parks

Lake Manawa State Park

Amenities

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

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

  • 9/11/2017 - 1,893 Channel Catfish (7.7")
  • spring 2016 - 1,692 Northern Pike (2.1")
  • Curlyleaf Pondweed
  • Eurasian Watermilfoil
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Black Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • 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.
  • Green Sunfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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:
The Carter Lake fishery has developed into a largemouth bass, channel catfish and common carp fishery since the 2010 renovation. Largemouth bass fishing quality will good again this year. Bass range in size from 13 to 20 inches. Reproduction of bass has declined in recent years a result of reduction in water quality and aquatic plants and a growing common carp population. Channel catfish are stocked by Nebraska to maintain numbers. The common carp are back in the lake and their population is expanding. Low water levels as a result of drought conditions has the lake drawn down going into the spring of '23. Access may be compromised. (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.