Sunken Lake Fishing Guide, Dickinson County, Iowa

• Overview

  Dickinson County in Iowa is where Sunken Lake sits. It sits at 1,381 feet above sea level. Small at around 13 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Dickinson County list. The closest town, Spirit Lake, is 4.2 miles away. Further out sit Arnolds Park (7.5 miles) and Lake Park (9.8 miles). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Sunken Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Dickinson County, recorded fish include common carp, yellow perch and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Sunken Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 72°F and January near 13°F on the long-run figures. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The lid tends to go about early April and return around early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan around that when you fish Sunken Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, East Hottes Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Check the position on Sunken Lake before loading the car.