Big Spirit Lake
Iowa's largest natural lake, next to the Okobojis. It's a strong walleye and perch lake and very popular for ice fishing.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Muskellunge
Big baits along weed edges and rock bars, best in fall.
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- More public accessPublicSee the Iowa DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge Open season May 21-Nov 30 | 40 in | 1 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Iowa Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Stan's Bait Shop7.4 mi2306 Okoboji Avenue, Milford(712) 338-2586Directions ↗
- Bill's Live Bait7.7 miDirections ↗
- Kabele's Trading PostNearby504 Hill Ave, Spirit Lake(712) 336-1512Directions ↗
Local tips
- Rock reefs on the east side hold walleye.
- Very popular ice-fishing lake.
- Shallow and wind-exposed. Waves build quickly.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
More Iowa lakes
Saylorville Lake Coralville Lake West Okoboji Lake Clear Lake Storm Lake Lake Odessa East Okoboji Lake Lost Island Lake All Iowa lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.