Fishing Lizard Lake in Pocahontas County, Iowa

• Overview

  Pocahontas County, Iowa, is where Lizard Lake sits. It lies 1,184 feet above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 274 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. Shoreline comes to about 2.8 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Supplies mean a trip to Pocahontas, 9.9 miles off. The nearest city of size is Des Moines, 87 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lizard Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. At Lizard Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes. Small features hold more than big empty water.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 73°F and January at 15°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Time your trip to Lizard Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The water borders Lizard Lake, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is North Twin Lake, 15 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Lizard Lake.