Fishing at Prairie Lakes, Black Hawk County, Iowa

• Overview

  Prairie Lakes belongs to Black Hawk County, Iowa. It stands 912 feet above sea level. It covers about 24 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Black Hawk County list holds plenty of bigger water. Cedar Falls sits 3.5 miles from the bank. After that come Hudson at 4.9 miles and Waterloo at 6.1 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Prairie Lakes

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Fish documented in Black Hawk County include bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, black crappie and common carp. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. At Prairie Lakes light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 16°F in January up to 73°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Prairie Lakes more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Greenbelt Lake is 3.7 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Prairie Lakes.