Fishing Lake MacBride

AKA: Lake Macbride State Park

Popular Fish Species
Lake MacBride Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Lake MacBride, IA

Popular Fish Species Lake MacBride, IA

Walleye Fishing

In recent years, over 3 million walleye fry have been stocked into Lake MacBride. As a result of this good fisheries management by Iowa Department of Natural Resources, a healthy population of walleye are thriving in the waters of Lake MacBride this year. May and June tend to be the best time for weekend anglers to catch them. During this time they tend to move shallower and closer to shore. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. As always, stay around schools of baitfish. They are eager to feed throughout the lake, but tend to concentrate around structure on points, flats and ledges off the river channels. A proven method for catching walleye here is trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, or trolling with long-billed, deep diving crankbaits. However casting live bait, jigs, worms and spoons also works well at times.

Lake MacBride Popular Fish - Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid Striped Bass Fishing

Since 2020 over 350,000 hybrid striped bass, also known as wipers, have been stocked into Lake MacBride. Wipers are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Lake MacBride, as they are plentiful and grow to bragging size. As a hybrid of striped bass and white bass, they have great potential for spawning massive numbers and growing to large sizes. Fishing for hybrid stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and schools of hybrid striped bass are likely to be in the area. Mornings, during Fall, hybrids can be caught on topwater or shallow running lures, as they are feeding on baitfish at the surface. When they move deeper, fish finders improve your odds of locating both bait and schools of wipers. Live bait, spoons and jigs are very very effective here, and these hungry fish can be caught year round.

Lake MacBride Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

Lake MacBride, again this year, supports a healthy population of channel catfish, thanks to stocking programs by Iowa DNR. In Spring, channel catfish tend to migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. Night fishing for channel catfish often delivers better results than fishing during the day. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure in the area. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits. Flathead catfish and blue catfish also reside in the lake and fishing for them is often good as well.

Lake MacBride Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish, white bass, hybrid striped bass, muskie and northern pike at Lake MacBride in Iowa.

Over a dozen popular fish species reside in Lake MacBride, an 810-acre lake in east-central Iowa, 2 miles northeast of North Liberty. Anglers top choices here are bass, crappie and wipers.

Lake MacBride in Iowa provides excellent fishing opportunities for a variety of popular fish species, including walleye, black crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and muskellunge. Other species with good populations include white bass, bluegill, northern pike and sunfish. Amenities include a fishing jetty and pier, rental boats, a marina, seven boat launch ramps, numerous campgrounds, fish cleaning stations and a dozen miles of shoreline to explore. Lake Macbride State Park has plenty of areas for fishing from the bank, swimming and picnicking.

Primary fish species residing in Lake MacBride

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Lake MacBride Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Anglers Point Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the south side of the south arm of the lake, off Anglers Point Road NE, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Cottage Reserve Road Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the south arm of the lake, off Cottage Reserve Road Ext, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

North Shore Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the north are of the lake, off Lake McBride Road E, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Sailboat Shelter #1 Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the south side of the north arm of the lake, off Sail Boar Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

West Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Lake McBride Road NE, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.