Best Spots for Fishing near Ankeny

[ISUcyclones11]

Just got into fishing, and I caught 1 fish in 5 hours yesterday at the Marina. What are the best spots near Ankeny?

Hoping for 5 mile radius from Git n Go near Crocker Elementary but am willing to expand my range if needed.

 

[CarlHungus]

Try Big Creek. It's hit or miss, but it's close

 

[cyclone1975]

What are you fishing for? If you just want to get bites ranging from bluegill to bass, try the ponds around the soccer complex at prairie ridge. Or the ponds in the development just west of there.

 

[Storkenheimer]

Big creek used to be good for large quantities of decent sized crappie and bluegill. From what I've seen this year the populations are not so good.

 

[ISUcyclones11]

What are you fishing for? If you just want to get bites ranging from bluegill to bass, try the ponds around the soccer complex at prairie ridge. Or the ponds in the development just west of there.

Big creek used to be good for large quantities of decent sized crappie and bluegill. From what I've seen this year the populations are not so good.

I used to go fishing there and never caught a thing. Maybe it was just bad luck, but I haven't heard positive things about it.

I'm a novice so for now I'll be happy with anything. I really don't like the Bluegills, however, because they just nibble at your worm and bite it off without grabbing the hook. I was hoping maybe for some large mouth bass, catffish, etc.

Is Cherry Glenn any good?

 

[clone4life82]

Caught a bunch of small walleyes at big creek last year father's day (out of a boat - but heard it's possible off the shores as well). I

 

[jtdoyle1]

How about DMACC?

 

[Sterling4Cy]

All the city park ponds are stocked. I have cought some decent Bass in springwood park. Easy fishing.

 

[blizzisu]

Catching walleyes is pretty easy at big creek. Use a slip bobber and minnow rig. I've only been a couple times with my 5 year old, but we did catch several small ones.

 

[ruflosn]

Just got into fishing, and I caught 1 fish in 5 hours yesterday at the Marina. What are the best spots near Ankeny?

Hoping for 5 mile radius from Git n Go near Crocker Elementary but am willing to expand my range if needed.

Get a can of corn and go below the Saylorville dam for carp. They are not good to eat, but are very fun to catch. Hang on to your pole, or they will take it in.

 

[besserheimerphat]

I used to go fishing there and never caught a thing. Maybe it was just bad luck, but I haven't heard positive things about it.

I'm a novice so for now I'll be happy with anything. I really don't like the Bluegills, however, because they just nibble at your worm and bite it off without grabbing the hook. I was hoping maybe for some large mouth bass, catffish, etc.

Is Cherry Glenn any good?

Hook size and how you thread the worm on the hook can make a big difference for panfish. Bluegills have small mouths so they need smaller hooks. I like to use something where the distance from the barb to the shaft is small enough to fit completely inside their mouth so that when they suck the bait in you know the barb is getting in as well. I thread the worm on like you're putting your socks on your feet - the hook runs through the entire section of worm. I might leave a 1/4" or so off the point to move around a bit. I also make sure the point is just below the surface of the worm.

Here's a quick breakdown of hook sizing if you're not familiar: http://www.dimensionsinfo.com/fishing-hook-size-chart/

I love catching panfish - they're usually close to shore, they tend to be in big schools so once you find them there are lots of 'em, they pull hard for all the bigger they are, and they are delicious!

 

[NickTheGreat]

Get a can of corn and go below the Saylorville dam for carp. They are not good to eat, but are very fun to catch. Hang on to your pole, or they will take it in.

Don't discount carp.

Best seafood in Omaha ( kinda )
http://joetessplace.com/

 

[Hoiball92]

What's the best fishing spot in Ames?

 

[Cytasticlone]

What's the best fishing spot in Ames?

I'd be interested if anyone has any tips as well. I've tried Ada Haden and the pits some, but have never had much luck. That's all from shore and I'm definitely no expert. I've heard Hickory Grove over SE of Nevada is decent, but I haven't made it over there this year.

 

[mj4cy]

Just got into fishing, and I caught 1 fish in 5 hours yesterday at the Marina. What are the best spots near Ankeny?

Hoping for 5 mile radius from Git n Go near Crocker Elementary but am willing to expand my range if needed.

Always see people fishing the pond at Sawgrass Park. Just south of the Git-n-Go you speak of.

 

[besserheimerphat]

Places I remember going as a kid growing up in Ames: Little Wall Lake (gets weedy mid to late summer), Hickory Grove (east of Ames, south of Hwy 30 near Colo), Big Creek, Des Moines River at lower Ledges State Park, the pond at McFarland Park, Don Williams Lake (north of Ogden).

Check out the DNR website for tons of info, including maps to lakes, maps of lakes (shows depths and fish structure), lists of gamefish in each lake, stocking schedules, etc.: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing.aspx

 

[CloneIce]

Skunk River in Ames can be great fishing for smallmouths during the right time of year.. or at least that was the case 10 years ago.

 

[ISUcyclones11]

Fished under the 415 bridge at Big Creek today and the southern Big Creek reservoir north of the marina where the water pipes are. Got one nibble when I was using a spinner but didn't catch jack all.

Would I have better luck with a kayak?

 

[nfrine]

Would I have better luck with a kayak?

If you drag a big net behind the kayak, yes you will.

 

[clonebb]

I have a great spot near Ankeny. Huge bass and bluegills way bigger than my hand. No way in hell am I telling anyone where it is.