Largemouth Bass

For largemouth bass around Ladora, Iowa, your best bet is exploring the many small lakes, ponds, and reservoirs dotted across the landscape. These often-overlooked waters can hold some surprisingly good bass fishing. Spring and early summer, during the spawn and post-spawn, are particularly productive. Look for shallow, weedy areas where bass are actively feeding or guarding nests. Later in the summer, focus on deeper structure and shaded areas. A great local tip is to try fishing around submerged timber or near the edges of weed beds using weedless lures. Many of these smaller waters are accessible from public road right-of-ways, but always be respectful of private property and obtain permission where necessary. The bass in these Iowa waters tend to be relatively healthy and aggressive, making for exciting fishing, especially with topwater lures during the early morning or evening.