Hannen Lake Fishing Guide, Benton County, Iowa

• Overview

  Hannen Lake is listed under Benton County, Iowa. The bank is 827 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 38 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 1.3 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Marengo lies 5.3 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Cedar Rapids, 26 miles away. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Hannen Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Fish documented in Benton County include bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie and redear sunfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Hannen Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 74°F in July and bottoms out near 18°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hannen Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Lily Pond, 13 miles away. Treat Hannen Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.