Fishing at Twin Lake, Johnson County, Iowa

• Overview

  Twin Lake sits within Johnson County in Iowa. It sits in mixed forest. For supplies, Ely is 4.5 miles out. After that come North Liberty at 4.9 miles and Solon at 6.8 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Timber Lake at about 2.4 miles, Coralville Lake at 2.4 miles, Swan Lake at about 4 miles, Wisniewski Pond at 5.3 miles and Matson Pond at about 8.1 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Twin Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Johnson County include green sunfish, common carp, spotted bass, black bullhead and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Twin Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 20°F in January to roughly 75°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late March. Ice usually gives way near late March, and forms again about mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. That is the shape of the year on Twin Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Recorded parking is 0.9 miles off, far enough to travel light. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Timber Lake sits 2.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Twin Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.