Crystal Lake fishing: Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye

Target species: Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Bluegill

The lake

Crystal Lake covers 264 acres in Iowa, across Hancock County. It is a lake: 93% of it is 15 feet deep or less; the deepest point measured is at least 18 feet (5.5 m). Our records hold 5 species for this water.

Crystal Lake in the Morning - Looking back at the Southern Shore.jpg
RuralResurrection · CC BY 4.0

5 target fish, led by Northern Pike

  • Northern Pike — Feeding water: 50–75°F.
  • Largemouth Bass — Feeding water: 65–85°F.
  • Walleye — Feeding water: 50–75°F.
  • Channel Catfish — Feeding water: 70–85°F.
  • Bluegill — Feeding water: 70–85°F.

Stocking: 1,871,978 fish, 1999–2025

Iowa DNR records list 1,871,978 fish released into this water from 1999 to 2025.

World's Largest Bullhead - Crystal Lake, Iowa.jpg
RuralResurrection · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Walleye: 670,213 in 2009–2022
  • Northern Pike: 542,664 in 2000–2025
  • Bluegill: 515,800 in 2004–2021
  • Largemouth Bass: 73,084 in 2000–2021
  • Channel Catfish: 70,217 in 1999–2024

Depth and bottom

Deepest measured point: at least 18 ft (5.5 m). That is the deepest contour line: the bottom goes deeper. 93% of the water is 15 feet or shallower. We hold 25 depth contour lines for this water.

Crystal Lake in the Morning - From Across the Road.jpg
RuralResurrection · CC BY 4.0
  • 0–2 ft: 8.8% of the water
  • 2–3 ft: 8.7% of the water
  • 3–4 ft: 8.7% of the water
  • 4–5 ft: 9% of the water
  • 5–6 ft: 9.8% of the water
  • 6–7 ft: 10.3% of the water
  • 7–8 ft: 9.6% of the water
  • 8–9 ft: 6% of the water
  • 9–11 ft: 9.1% of the water
  • 11–13 ft: 7% of the water
  • 13–15 ft: 6% of the water
  • 15–17 ft: 7% of the water

Water and conditions

Our water temperature readings average 71°F; they do not cover the whole year, so this is not a yearly average. pH averages 8.5. These readings span 2017–2024.

What is hard here

With 93% of the water 15 feet or less, low level turns the flats into hazards.

Where this data comes from

  • Iowa DNR — Iowa DNR: depth contours: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • Webster, K.E., McCullough, I.M., Soranno, P.A. LAGOS-US DEPTH v1.0, EDI, doi:10.6073/pasta/64ddc4d04661d9aef4bd702dc5d8984f (CC BY 4.0); Cheruvelil et al. LAGOS-US LOCUS v1.0 (EDI) — LAGOS-US DEPTH v1.0: Lake depth for 17,675 lakes in the conterminous U.S.: class B, a depth figure measured and published by an agency, without a bottom map.