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Mormon Trail Lake

General Information

County: Adair
Location: 1 1/2 miles southeast of Bridgewater
Acres: 33.00
Maximum Depth: 32 ft. (2008 - Data collected as part of the statewide lake mapping project.)
Motoring Restrictions: Electric Motors Only

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Mormon Trail Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Fish Cleaning Station

For information on lakes in the Cold Springs District call (712) 769-2587.
Bluegill - No Report:
Channel Catfish - No Report:
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are having success fishing top water baits early in the morning and then switching to plastics in deeper water.

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map
Download Printable Fishing Structures Map

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

  • 09/16/2021 - 590 Channel Catfish (8.8)
  • fall 2019 - 1,200 Walleye (6)
  • 09/30/2019 - 590 Channel Catfish (9.6)
  • fall 2017 - 1,100 Walleye (6)
  • 9/19/2017 - 475 Channel Catfish (8.2")
  • fall 2016 - 1,100 Walleye (6)
  • fall 2015 - 1,100 Walleye (6)
  • 09/21/2015 - 594 Channel Catfish (8")
  • fall 2014 - 1,100 Walleye (6.9)

  • Curlyleaf Pondweed

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:
  • 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:
  • 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:

Mormon Trail Lake has a good all around fishery with quality size largemouth bass, redear sunfish, black crappie, walleye and channel catfish. Largemouth bass from 12- to 19-inches are common. Black crappie are 8- to 10-inches. Channel catfish numbers are high making this lake a favorite for catfish anglers. The bluegills are 7- to 8-inches and lack quality. The Adair County Conservation Board stocks walleyes into Mormon Trail to provide diversity in the fishery. (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.