Carter Lake is a 315-acre oxbow lake on the Iowa-Nebraska border, right beside Omaha – a unique urban fishery that’s become one of the best largemouth bass lakes in the metro since a 2010 renovation. Formed in 1877 when the Missouri River jumped its banks, it’s the reason the Iowa town of Carter Lake sits west of the river. With trophy bass, catfish and easy city access, it’s a standout close-to-home lake. This guide is part of our growing Iowa Lakes Database.
Carter Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~315 acres
- Depth: average ~6 ft, maximum ~25 ft
- Location: Iowa-Nebraska border at Omaha (about 75% in Nebraska, 25% in Iowa)
- Formed: 1877, when the Missouri River changed course, leaving this oxbow
- Top fish: largemouth bass (trophy), channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, northern pike
A one-of-a-kind oxbow lake
Carter Lake was created in 1877, when a flood pushed the Missouri River into a new channel and cut off this horseshoe-shaped bend. The quirk of geography left the Iowa city of Carter Lake on the west side of the river – the only Iowa community west of the Missouri – and put the lake itself on the Iowa-Nebraska line right next to downtown Omaha. It’s a rare urban oxbow lake with a big-city backdrop.
Fishing Carter Lake
Since a 2010 renovation, Carter Lake has developed into an excellent largemouth bass and channel catfish fishery – and it grows big bass: in recent sampling, well over half the bass topped 15 inches and some exceeded 20. It also holds black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, carp and stocked northern pike. An Iowa or Nebraska fishing license applies depending on which side you fish (check the boundary). A public boat ramp provides access, and the shallow, fertile water fishes well from boats and the bank.
Boating, recreation and water level
Boating is allowed, with a public ramp and shoreline parks on both the Iowa and Nebraska sides. The lake is a popular city escape for fishing, paddling and walking the surrounding trails and parks. As a shallow oxbow, water clarity and level can vary with the season and management; check current conditions.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Carter Lake straddles the Iowa-Nebraska border at Omaha, beside Eppley Airfield and the city of Carter Lake, Iowa. Downtown Omaha, Council Bluffs and Lake Manawa are all close by.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: an Iowa or Nebraska license applies depending on which side of the line you fish.
- Trophy bass: one of the metro’s best largemouth lakes – practice selective harvest.
- Urban lake: public ramp and parks minutes from Omaha.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Carter Lake?
Largemouth bass (including trophy fish), channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, carp and stocked northern pike.
How was Carter Lake formed?
It’s an oxbow lake created in 1877 when a flood shifted the Missouri River into a new channel, cutting off this bend.
Is Carter Lake in Iowa or Nebraska?
Both – the lake sits on the Iowa-Nebraska border (about 75% in Nebraska), next to Omaha, and the Iowa city of Carter Lake lies west of the Missouri River.
Where is Carter Lake?
On the Iowa-Nebraska border at Omaha, beside the city of Carter Lake, Iowa.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Iowa, or head back to the Iowa Lakes Database.
Explore more Iowa lakes: the largest lakes in Iowa and the deepest lakes in Iowa.
