CAST YOUR CARES AWAY
As school has come to an end and summer weather is in full swing, it’s the perfect time to get back to doing the outdoor activities you love! There’s plenty of opportunities – in and around Mason City – to get out and enjoy the outdoors with friends, family, or even for some alone time.
Fishing is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy time in nature. It’s also a great way to relax and release stress.
Never been fishing before? No worries. Download the “Fishing 101 Guide,” courtesy of Travel Iowa.
Grab your gear (don’t forget your fishing license) and head to one of these nearby spots to cast your line (and your cares) away:
Mason City
Lester Milligan Park: Located on approximately 74-acres of land that was once used as a quarry area for the Brick & Tile Co., Lester Milligan Park is home to two fishing ponds – Pierce Pond and Big Blue (stocked in the winter with lake trout).
East Park: Located on the east side of Mason City, East Park spans 57.6 acres of developed parkland. The two scenic rivers – Winnebago River and Willow Creek – enhance the immense beauty of this park and are great spots for fishing.
Parker’s Woods: Parker’s Woods was donated in 1939 by the family of A.T. Parker and is located on the west side of Mason City. Willow Creek flows through the park and the river is suitable for fishing.
West Park: West Park is located on 1st Street NW, directly south of Parkers Woods and includes 3 tennis courts and a picnic area with a walking trail along Willow Creek.
Clear Lake
Located just nine miles from Mason City, Clear Lake is a 3684-acre natural lake. The average depth is 10 feet…and the fishing is spectacular!
Cerro Gordo County
Blair Meadows Preserve (located along 12th Street NW, ½ mile west of Eisenhower Avenue)
Contains a 0.65 acre fishing pond with a maximum depth of 12 feet. The pond was stocked by the CGCCB in 1994 with Bluegill, Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish. The pond is easily fished from shore. Accessible only by foot.
Bluebill Wildlife Area (located along Indigo Avenue, 1.5 miles south of 250th Street/B-35)
Contains a 40 acre lake with a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake was initially stocked in the fall of 2002. The initial stocking included Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Channel Catfish. Created when fill material was removed to build an overpass for the Avenue of the Saints, the lake will feature both shore and boat fishing.
Kuhn Wildlife Area (1873 310th Street – located along 310th Street, ¼ mile west of Balsam Avenue)
Located along the Winnebago River. One-half mile of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, Redhorse. Contains a 4 acre quarry lake with a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake had been stocked with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Channel Catfish however, the Winnebago River occasionally floods into the lake. Accessible only by foot.
Wilkinson Pioneer Park (21425 Vine Avenue – located at the end of blacktop B-20 in Rock Falls)
Located along the Shell Rock River. One and one-quarter mile of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, White Sucker, Common Carp, Redhorse. Contains a 1-acre pond with a maximum depth of 8-feet. The pond is located adjacent to the campground. The pond contains Green Sunfish, Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Northern Pike. Promoted as a kids fishing pond, it is easily fished from shore. Accessible by foot and vehicles.
Clark Lake (located along 230th Street, ¾ miles east of Highway 65)
An 18-acre lake with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Originally stocked with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Channel Catfish in 1993. Accessible only by foot. Clark Lake is located on the east side of the Mike Zack Wildlife Area.
Fin & Feather Lake (located along 230th Street, ¾ mile east of Highway 65)
A 10-acre lake with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Renovated in 1997 and stocked with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Cat-fish and Grass Carp. Accessible by vehicle, with a boat ramp at the lake. The lake is easily fished from shore or by boat. Fin and Feather Lake is located on the west side of the Mike Zack Wildlife Area.
Winnebago Oxbow (3100-320th Street – located 1 mile north of the intersection of blacktop B-20 & Cardinal Avenue)
Located along the Winnebago River. One-quarter mile of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, Redhorse.
Kingfisher Hollow Access (10250 Wheelerwood Drive – located 2 miles north of blacktop B-20 on Jonquil Avenue and 1/4 mile east on Wheelerwood Road)
Located along the Winnebago River. One-quarter mile of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye.
Lime Creek Conservation Area (3501 Lime Creek Road – located off U.S. Highway 65, north of Mason City)
Located along the Winnebago River. Two and one-half miles of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, White Suck-er, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye.
Spring Creek Preserve (15829 300th Street – located 1/4 mile east of U.S. Highway 65 on blacktop B-20)
Located along the Winnebago River. One-half mile of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye.
Averydale Access (located just south of U.S. Highway 122 on Birch Drive)
Located along the Winnebago River. One-eighth mile of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye.
Goranson Access (3139 Birch Drive – located just south of U.S. Highway 122 on Birch Drive)
Located along the Winnebago River. One-quarter mile of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye.
Claybanks Forest (22924 225th Street – Two tracts of land: one 5 miles south of Nora Springs on blacktop S-70 and 3 miles west on 225th Street; another 1/2 mile east (from first site) and 1/2 mile north on Wren Avenue)
Located along the Winnebago River. Three-quarter miles of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye.
Strand Park (20057 340th Street – located southeast of the intersection of blacktop S-56 and 340th Street, just north of Plymouth)
Located along the Shell Rock River. One-half mile of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, White Sucker, Common Carp, Redhorse.
Shell Rock River Greenbelt (accessible from 295th Street, south of Wilkinson Pioneer Park and Highway 122, west of Nora Springs)
Located along the Shell Rock River. Four and one-half mile of river frontage is accessible. Common fish species present are Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, White Sucker, Common Carp, Redhorse.
A friendly reminder from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources: The way we interact with others may be a little different right now with Iowa’s current State of Emergency. The Iowa DNR has made adjustments to protect the health and safety of state employees, the public, and our angling community. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go fishing. Stay close to home, keep groups to fewer than 10 people, and once you find your fishing spot, be mindful of one another’s safety – keep at least 6 feet of distance between you and others.