Fishing at McFarland Lake, Story County, Iowa

• Overview

  McFarland Lake is set in Story County, Iowa. The surface lies 1,014 feet up. The water measures roughly 8 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Gilbert at 4.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. Beyond it, Ames at 4.8 miles and Roland at 6.1 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications. It is a working water rather than a showpiece.

• Where to Fish on McFarland Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Reported across Story County: green sunfish, bluegill and johnny darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish McFarland Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 74°F and January near 17°F on the long-run figures. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late March. In an average year the thaw lands around late March and the freeze near early December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on McFarland Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A boat ramp sits about half a mile from the water. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Mapping shows a picnic spot within half a mile. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Arnold Lake, 2.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at McFarland Lake for certain.