Fishing at Big G Lake, Decatur County, Iowa

• Overview

  The Decatur County entry here is Big G Lake, in Iowa. The water sits 1,112 feet up. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. For supplies, Lamoni is 0.9 miles out. Leon lies 13 miles off, Mount Ayr another 18 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish. The water is easy to walk round in a long session.

• Where to Fish on Big G Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Take Big G Lake a stretch at a time. Slack water beside moving water is always worth a look.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 76°F for July and 22°F for January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid March. Ice clears near mid March and comes back about mid December in a typical year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Big G Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Leave the car at East Events Parking, about half a mile from the bank. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Founders Lake, 0.6 miles away. None of that is settled for Big G Lake in what we hold.