Fishing Dale Maffitt Reservoir in Polk County, Iowa

• Overview

  Look for Dale Maffitt Reservoir in Polk County, Iowa. The setting is lake country bush on every side. At about 209 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Supplies mean a trip to West Des Moines, 6.1 miles off. Des Moines sits 11 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Dale Maffitt Reservoir

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. County-wide records name bluegill, green sunfish, channel catfish, common carp and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Dale Maffitt Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 20°F to 75°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid March and starts locking again about mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That is the shape of the year on Dale Maffitt Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Sugar Creek Lake, 4.3 miles out. For Dale Maffitt Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.