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Grays Lake

General Information

County: Polk
Location: Fleur Drive, Des Moines
Acres: 96.00
Maximum Depth: 16.4 ft. (2018)
Motoring Restrictions: Electric Motors Only

Nearby Parks

Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
Walnut Woods State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Grays Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • 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

  • 6/21/22 - 1,059 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.2)
  • 06/24/2021 - 977 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.5)
  • 06/26/2019 - 950 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.3)
  • 6/29/2017 - 950 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
  • 10/9/2017 - 548 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (6.13")
    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 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:
  • 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.
  • Freshwater Drum
    • 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:
  • White 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
  • Yellow Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
Grays Lake contains a good Largemouth Bass fishery. Surveys in 2023 found bass at sizes from 8- to 18-inches. Bluegill were sampled in good numbers, but size is topping out around 6-inches. White Crappies are fairly abundant in the 8- to 9.5- inch range. Channel catfish are the most abundant game fish with the majority being 11.5- to 15-inches. Channel catfish have been found up to 28-inches.(2023)
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.