Hey guys I'm in Ames for the summer and I was wondering where are some good places to go fishing, and what have you caught there.
Fishing around Ames
- Thread starter Mycology
- Start date
The skunk river in town is good for smallmouth, fish below the dams in the spring and early summer, then wade the river when it gets low in late summer. Big Creek is good, Des Moines River can be as well, Mcfarland Park or Hickory Grove, you can catch some cats there, Little Wall Lake is a hidden jewel for bass, perch, catfish. This info is all from like 2000-2006 when I lived in Ames, so it could be different now.
My best advice is to get to know some farmers in the area, then ask if you can fish their farm ponds. Pond fishing probably the best fishing in the state anywhere, usually well stocked and not over fished.
Little Wall was good in the day for bass. Big Creek below the spillway was good. What is the name of the lake near Ogden?
As CloneIce said above try the Skunk River. Ames to Story City is some phenomenal smallmouth water and can be waded easily when not high.
I've had pretty good luck up around the Anderson Canoe access and wade either north or south from there. I have fished some world class smallmouth fisheries and my personal best smallmouth is from the Skunk River 7 years ago. Wading the Skunk is turning into one of my favorites. Pack some small minnow baits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and a couple crawdad lures and your set.
I have never fished it but a cousin of mine used to fish squaw creek and apparently it has pretty good bass fishing as well.
Also staying on the theme of Smallmouth try hitting the Boone river as well. Easily wadable at times and has great smallmouth in stretches.
Hickory grove can be great during the early summer, decent crappie and great bluegill and bass early in the year.
Big Creek can be hit or miss but is normally worth the trip, however it can be tough fishing if you don't have a boat. I like to take my boat into the area below the big creek spillway and hammer the white bass. It is very easily fished without a boat as well. Although they did rip rap the shores this year which will make it a little harder to walk around on.
As others have said check for farm ponds, but they are very few and far between in Story county and are pretty protected.
Also if you are in Ankeny don't be afraid to hit up some of the city park lakes. I went with a friend last summer and fished some of those ponds in Ankeny and they were awesome. Just have to get over the fact that you are fishing in town in Ankeny.
I've had pretty good luck up around the Anderson Canoe access and wade either north or south from there. I have fished some world class smallmouth fisheries and my personal best smallmouth is from the Skunk River 7 years ago. Wading the Skunk is turning into one of my favorites. Pack some small minnow baits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and a couple crawdad lures and your set.
I have never fished it but a cousin of mine used to fish squaw creek and apparently it has pretty good bass fishing as well.
Also staying on the theme of Smallmouth try hitting the Boone river as well. Easily wadable at times and has great smallmouth in stretches.
Hickory grove can be great during the early summer, decent crappie and great bluegill and bass early in the year.
Big Creek can be hit or miss but is normally worth the trip, however it can be tough fishing if you don't have a boat. I like to take my boat into the area below the big creek spillway and hammer the white bass. It is very easily fished without a boat as well. Although they did rip rap the shores this year which will make it a little harder to walk around on.
As others have said check for farm ponds, but they are very few and far between in Story county and are pretty protected.
Also if you are in Ankeny don't be afraid to hit up some of the city park lakes. I went with a friend last summer and fished some of those ponds in Ankeny and they were awesome. Just have to get over the fact that you are fishing in town in Ankeny.
Don Williams and Little Wall are good for your usual panfish and bass. I've had good luck on catfish in Don Williams. I'd personally stay away from Ada Hayden. No matter how much they tried to dress it up, it is still a gravel pit and I've never had much luck there fishing on open water. Ice fishing yes, but otherwise no.
On May 29 I caught a 16" walleye and two largemouth bass at Ada Hayden. Then it was on to Peterson Pits for a stringer full of small crappie that sure tasted good that night.
If you do not have access to a boat, try Hickory Grove for large crappie and bluegill.
If you do not have access to a boat, try Hickory Grove for large crappie and bluegill.
