Fishing Tegeler Pond in Dubuque County, Iowa

• Overview

  Tegeler Pond falls in Dubuque County, part of Iowa. The setting is pine and birch. The closest town, Dyersville, is 1 mile away. Cedar Rapids sits 42 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Others close at hand: Backbone Lake lies 22 miles on, Leisure Lake out at 25 miles, Central Park Lake lies 26 miles on, Round Lake out at 28 miles and West Goose Lake lies 36 miles on. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Tegeler Pond

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Dubuque County include bluegill, johnny darter and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Tegeler Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 73°F, while January sits near 17°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late March. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Tegeler Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Backbone Lake, 22 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Where Tegeler Pond is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.