Summit Lake

Summit Lake is a reservoir in Union County, Iowa. Summit Lake covers about 230 acres, reaches a recorded 12 feet and holds about 1,410 acre-feet.

What to Expect at Summit Lake

Summit Lake has an old channel, incoming water and quiet coves, and small water-level changes can move fish from the bank to the first drop.

Fish and Useful Baits at Summit Lake

Fish reported from Summit Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, largemouth bass, walleye, white crappie, and yellow perch. Stocking records for Summit Lake also list channel catfish and walleye, though that does not mean those fish will be easy to catch on every trip.

Bass

For bass at Summit, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.

Crappie, Perch and Sunfish

For panfish at Summit, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill, redear or other sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.

Walleye and Open-Water Fish

For roaming fish at Summit, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.

Catfish, Bullheads and Carp

For bottom fishing at Summit, put cut bait, a nightcrawler or prepared bait on bottom for channel catfish, and fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads.

A Simple Fishing Plan for Summit Lake

On a first trip to Summit, check incoming water, one bend in the old channel and a point near deep water with a moving lure, then slow down with a jig or worm where you get a bite.

When to Fish Summit Lake

Spring around Summit is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is best early or late around weeds, shade and the few deeper holes. Fall around Summit can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.