Purple Martin Lakes
General Information
County: Polk
Location: Located at the Dead-End of Army Post Road near Walnut Woods State Park, Des Moines
Acres: 87.20
Maximum Depth: 19.5 ft. (2018)
Motoring Restrictions:
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Purple Martin Lakes include:
- Community Fishing Location
- 06/24/2021 - 911 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.5)
- 06/26/2019 - 870 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.3)
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.
- 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:
- White Bass
- Season: Continuous
- Daily Bag Limit: none
- Possession Limit: unlimited
- Length Limit: none
- 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
Fish species surveyed in 2018 included largemouth bass, bluegill, white crappie, white bass and flathead catfish. Any species found in the Raccoon River is likely present. The crappie and bluegill surveyed were small, under 6 inches. Lager crappies are likely present, but just not surveyed with the gear used. Largemouth bass were surveyed up to 15 inches and white bass up to 13.5 inches.(2019)
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.