Bays Branch Lake Fishing Guide, Guthrie County, Iowa

• Overview

  Iowa holds Bays Branch Lake, in Guthrie County. Around the bank it is lake country bush. The water covers some 192 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Panora is the closest place, 2.7 miles off. The big place round here is Des Moines, 38 miles distant. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Bays Branch Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Public occurrence data for Guthrie County names channel catfish, johnny darter, smallmouth bass, slenderhead darter and stonecat. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Anyone new to Bays Branch Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 19°F in January and 74°F in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. The water is typically free of ice between late March and mid December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Time your trip to Bays Branch Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Lake Panorama is 4.3 miles off. Ask locally about Bays Branch Lake if anything is unclear.