Saylorville Lake
A Des Moines River reservoir just north of Des Moines. It's known for white bass, walleye, crappie and catfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
White Bass
Schools chasing shad in open water, and spring river runs.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Bass | ||||||||||||
| Walleye | ||||||||||||
| Crappie | ||||||||||||
| Channel Catfish |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish Reservoir limit; possession 30 | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 15 / 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.
- Sportsman's Warehouse4.4 mi921 Southeast Oralabor Road, AnkenyDirections ↗
- Bass Pro Shops8.5 mi1000 Bass Pro Drive Northwest, Altoona(515) 957-5500Directions ↗
- Scheels9.1 mi101 South Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des MoinesDirections ↗
Local tips
- The spillway below the dam is a hot spot in spring.
- Levels change a lot with flood control.
- Close to the city, so it gets busy on weekends.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Saylorville Lake.
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.