Guard Lake Fishing Guide, Monona County, Iowa

• Overview

  Guard Lake is a Monona County water, in Iowa. Around the bank it is lake country bush. About 8 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The nearest town is Onawa, 2.7 miles away. Further out sit Macy (15 miles) and Tekamah (16 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water. There is room enough here for more than one party without crowding.

• Where to Fish on Guard Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Monona County include common carp, black crappie, bluegill and channel catfish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Guard Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 75°F and January reads 20°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid March. The season between ice runs from about mid March to mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Guard Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Badger Lake is 13 miles distant. What applies at Guard Lake may have changed since it was mapped.