Best July Fishing Destinations

Best July Fishing Destinations

By Ben Leal

Ahhh…July in Iowa. One word best describes it, HOT! For the entire state, we’ll average about 85 degrees for highs, and lows will range from 61 to 66 degrees. Mornings will be comfortable, but midday fishing will be hot, especially if the wind is light or nonexistent. And as the evening draws close, temps will cool, and there will be some comfortable evening and night fishing to be had. Quite a few fishing destinations within Iowa are well worth the visit. Whether you’re looking for solitude or have a family event to help plan for, options are certainly available.

Northwest Iowa
It goes without saying that the IGLs (Iowa’s Great Lakes) are one of the premier destinations for fishing throughout the year. It offers a tremendous array of outdoor recreational activities. You can find events throughout the summer with a little bit of sleuthing. Here you can find east and west Lake Okoboji and Spirit Lake. These are the significant bodies of water within the IGLs. Other smaller lakes would include Center Lake and Lower Gar Lake WMA.

Located in Dickenson County, West Okoboji is a natural body of water. West Okoboji Lake is the largest in the area and covers 3,847 surface acres, with a maximum depth of 138 feet. Legend has it that West Okoboji was one of three blue water lakes in the world, the others being Lake Geneva in Switzerland and Lake Louise in Canada. While there is no scientific basis that West Okoboji is in fact, a blue water later lake, scientists and non-scientists alike believe that the lake has exceptional water quality and color.

It is one of only a handful of waterbodies included on the DNR’s Outstanding Iowa Waters list. The list of popular fish species in this lake is quite extensive. But among those at the top are largemouth and smallmouth bass, musky, northern pike, walleye, bluegill, and crappie. This lake also has white bass and yellow bass and can offer hours of catching fun for the younger anglers.

Amenities in the area include hard surface boat ramps, boat rentals, if you’re just looking to get out for the day, picnic and beach areas, and good to excellent shore access. You can camp in several places and spend the night under the stars. Emerson Bay State Recreation Area, Minnewashta Campground, Oar’s Campground, and Cedar Ridge Campground, to name a few. There are also RV parks where you can bring your camper up and spend a week with the family.

If you plan on fishing West Okoboji, get up before the sun and be on the lake as it rises. This is a top-rated recreational lake, and it takes little time for boaters and jet skiers to stir up the lake. There’s a large number of docks that you can fish, and mornings can be pretty productive. Top water action can also be fun, early and late in the day as the sun goes down.
East Okoboji is literally connected to West Okoboji and is only separated by a small channel running between the two. The water quality at East Okoboji is considerably different and often will be cloudy or stained. The fishing however, is just as good. One summer morning, my wife and I caught quite a few largemouth bass simply pitching a plastic crawfish bait next to and under docks. One dock, in particular, turned into a catching opportunity! Again, this is also a popular recreational boating destination, so up early and fishing early is the best bet.

East Okoboji covers 1,835 acres and has a maximum depth of 21 feet. There are plenty of hard surface boat ramps and shore access. You can also rent boats and jet skis on East Okoboji. The campgrounds listed above are also close to East Okoboji. Resorts and other accommodations are available for individuals or families to enjoy. East Okoboji is also home to the very popular Barefoot Bar, which can be accessed from the lake. They have a public docking area where you can pull up your boat, tie off and enjoy a nice cool beverage and some good eats!

North Central Iowa
Another popular destination in the summer is Clear Lake, located in Cerro Gordo County. A straight shot up I-35 and about two hours from Des Moines, this lake has had a significant turnaround in fishability and quality of fish. Yellow bass had inundated the fishery, but with the help of a couple of bait and tackle shop winter ice fishing tournaments, the yellow bass population is much lower. The quality of the yellow bass has definitely improved.

This lake covers 3,684 acres and has a maximum depth of 18 feet. Along with the yellow bass that can be readily caught, great walleye fishing is had right after ice out, along with musky and northern pike. Largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill are among the summertime favorites. There’s plenty of boat access at several public ramps and easy access to the shoreline. For those who want to spend the night camping, there are Twin Oaks Campgrounds, Oakwood RV Park, and Clear Lake State Park. Several lodges are also spread out along the shoreline. Hidden Lakes Campground, though not right on Clear Lakes shores, is just east of I-35, with quick, easy access to the town of Clear Lake and the lake itself.

Southeast Iowa
Another very popular destination for summer fishing and family activities is Rathbun Reservoir. This waterbody covers 11,000 acres and has a maximum depth of 48 feet. Located eight miles northwest of Centerville in Appanoose County, the lake offers plenty of hard surface boat ramps, easy carry-down boat ramps, access to fishing jetties, and shoreline fishing.

While many of Iowa’s lakes offer excellent walleye fishing right after ice out, however according to Iowa DNR Fisheries Biologist Mark Flammang, walleye fishing on Rathbun is typically a March to August bite. Along with walleye, Rathbun offers angling opportunities for crappie, white bass, largemouth bass, catfish, and wipers (hybrid striped bass).

Honey Creek Resort is nestled along the shoreline at Rathbun. In March of 2023, the DNR announced that an agreement had been reached with Achieva Enterprises to take over the resort’s management. The company has agreed to spend up to $6.8M in state funds for improvements and $1.6M of its own money to build attractions and update existing ones.

For those looking for a camping adventure, there are over 700 campsites available in the rolling hills of southern Iowa. Bridgeview, Buck Creek, Island View, and Prairie Ridge are all located on the lake and have overnight camping and day-use areas. Also available are camping cabins managed by the Iowa DNR. Reservations can be made on the Iowa DNR’s website under places to go and state parks. Not only are there cabins available at Rathbun Lake, but over 90 cabins throughout Iowa can be rented for a weekend of fun with family and friends. These are very popular destinations, and reservations must be made early as most summer dates fill quickly.

July Fishing
Undoubtedly, July is a great time to head out and chase after your favorite quarry. For walleye anglers, remember that there have been new slot limits instituted on several of Iowa’s lakes, be sure to check those before harvesting any fish. Sharing your passion with young and old alike will keep the sport of fishing growing and improving. Remember to limit your catch, don’t catch your limit. Release the trophies so those genetics stay in the fishery. A simple photo will capture that memory for a lifetime. Stewardship is everyone’s responsibility; the fishing we enjoy today that we hope to pass on to our children will only be there for them if we lead by example. Enjoy the opportunities and resources we have, and as always…Tight Lines!