Summit Lake Fishing in Union County, Iowa

• Overview

  Summit Lake is one of the Union County listings for Iowa. The setting is lake country bush on every side. With some 229 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Creston is the closest town at 1.9 miles. Beyond it, Lenox at 15 miles and Greenfield at 17 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Summit Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Union County records list largemouth bass, bluegill and common carp among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Summit Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 20°F in January to roughly 75°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid March. Climate averages put the opening at about mid March and the closing near mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On Summit Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Lake McKinley is 1.1 miles distant. None of that is settled for Summit Lake in what we hold.