Fishing at Matson Pond, Johnson County, Iowa

• Overview

  Matson Pond is one of the Johnson County waters in Iowa. The setting is mixed forest on every side. The town to know is Walford, 7.1 miles out. Tiffin lies 8.1 miles off, Fairfax another 9.3 miles. Water in the same corner: Wisniewski Pond a touch under 3.1 miles, Swan Lake lies 5.2 miles on, Lily Pond a touch under 5.7 miles, Timber Lake lies 6 miles on and Twin Lake a touch under 8.1 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Matson Pond

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Johnson County cover green sunfish, common carp, spotted bass and black bullhead. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Matson Pond fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 74°F in July and bottom out at 19°F in January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice usually gives way near late March, and forms again about mid December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That shapes the year on Matson Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Boats go in at Matson Pond Boat Ramp, roughly half a mile from the water. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Wisniewski Pond, 3.1 miles away. Treat access at Matson Pond as something to verify.