Fishing at Pleasant Lake, Buena Vista County, Iowa

• Overview

  Set in Buena Vista County, Pleasant Lake is an Iowa water. It lies 1,240 feet above sea level. The nearest place of any size is Sac City, 10 miles away. Des Moines is the closest city, 98 miles away. Nearby alternatives: Sunken Island Lake just 7 miles, Storm Lake 11 miles off, Clear Lake just 13 miles, Little Storm Lake 13 miles off and Black Hawk Lake just 19 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Pleasant Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Buena Vista County include common carp, white bass and walleye. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Work Pleasant Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 73°F, with January the cold end at about 16°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late March. Break-up sits around late March on average, with the water closing again about early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. That is the shape of the year on Pleasant Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Pheasant Ridge Wildlife Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Sunken Island Lake, 7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Pleasant Lake before loading the car.