Gray's Lake

Lake fishing Iowa · 05:40 - 20:51

Gray's Lake is a lake in Iowa. The fish here are ranked by weather, water temperature and season, see the likely catch below.

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Conditions right now

Weather

Light rain

Water temp (est.)

69°F

Air temp

62°F

Wind

14 mph

Pressure

29.36 inHg ↓ falling

Clouds

100.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Updated 2026-06-17 14:54

Best times today

Dusk 19:36–21:36 Night 21:36–04:55

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Next hours

07:00

62°

08:00

64°

09:00

67°

10:00

75°

11:00

80°

12:00

83°

13:00

84°

14:00

84°

15:00

83°

16:00

83°

17:00

82°

18:00

79°

Likely catch now (17 species)

Common Carp

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

14%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.

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Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

14%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Flathead Catfish

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

13%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season.

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Blue Catfish

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

13%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.

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Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

10%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Brown Trout

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

4%

Slow during the night, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Brook Trout

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

3%

Slow during the night, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Black Crappie

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

2%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

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Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

2%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

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Bluegill

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

2%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season.

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White Bass

White Bass

Morone chrysops

1%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Lake Trout

Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

1%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

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About the fishing here

Gray's Lake is a lake in Iowa.

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish, Walleye and Largemouth Bass.

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Tips right now

Technique Start with a ledger bait for common carp, the most likely catch right now.

Timing This is a prime window for common carp at night. Fish hard now.

Colour Low light: try red, yellow and strong scent for common carp.

Lure Ledger bait for common carp: Boilies or corn.

Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

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About this water

Gray's Lake Park is a park containing Gray's Lake in Des Moines, Iowa and covers 166.6 acres. Located just southwest of downtown at 2101 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA. With over 1 million people visiting the park each year, it is the city's most known and most visited recreation area. The park has a trail encompassing the lake that is 1.9 miles long and a pedestrian bridge over part of the lake. The park is linked with the system of trails that travel throughout the city and nearby Water Works Park.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Raccoon River Iowa · 4.6 mi away Raccoon River Iowa · 5.1 mi away Lake Colechester Iowa · 5.5 mi away Raccoon River Iowa · 6.0 mi away Dale Maffitt Reservoir Iowa · 9.0 mi away Anderson Goose Lake Iowa · 51.4 mi away Missouri River Iowa · 121.3 mi away Missouri River Iowa · 121.7 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Gray's Lake?

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge and Smallmouth Bass.

Do you need a fishing license at Gray's Lake?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Gray's Lake?

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

What is biting at Gray's Lake right now?

Right now Common Carp is the most likely catch, at about 14%.