Dale Maffitt Reservoir is a deep, clear, underrated fishing lake just southwest of Des Moines – a 200-acre water-supply reservoir that plunges to more than 70 feet, hidden in the wooded hills of southern Polk County. A quiet bass-and-panfish lake with a 4.5-mile shoreline nature trail and no crowds, it’s a peaceful close-to-the-metro escape for anglers and hikers. This guide is part of our growing Iowa Lakes Database.
- Dale Maffitt Reservoir at a glance
- How deep is Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
- Fishing Dale Maffitt Reservoir
- Hiking, recreation and the setting
- Water level
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Know before you go
- Frequently asked questions
- How deep is Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
- What fish are in Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
- Can you swim at Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
- Where is Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
Dale Maffitt Reservoir at a glance
- Surface area: ~200 acres
- Depth: maximum ~72 ft – one of the deeper lakes in central Iowa
- Elevation: in the rolling hills southwest of Des Moines
- Location: primarily Polk County (corners in Warren, Dallas & Madison), southwest of Des Moines
- Built: early 1940s, as a backup water source for Des Moines Water Works
- Top fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, yellow perch
How deep is Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
Dale Maffitt is surprisingly deep for a central-Iowa lake – reaching about 72 feet at its deepest across 200 acres. Built in the early 1940s as a backup water source for the Des Moines Water Works, its cold, clear, deep water makes it a healthy, stable fishery and a peaceful contrast to the busier metro lakes.
Fishing Dale Maffitt Reservoir
The reservoir is most popular for largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie, with channel catfish and yellow perch also present. A Iowa fishing license is required. Several docks extend out from the shoreline for bank anglers, and the deep, clear water rewards those who fish structure and vary their depths. It’s a quiet, lightly pressured lake – a local favorite for a relaxed day of fishing.
Hiking, recreation and the setting
Maffitt Reservoir Park offers fishing, picnicking and hiking, with a roughly 4.5-mile nature trail looping around the wooded lake – a great walk close to Des Moines. Because it’s a public water-supply reservoir, swimming is not permitted and some uses are restricted, so it’s a fishing-and-hiking lake rather than a swim-and-ski destination. The quiet, scenic setting is the appeal.
Water level
As a water-supply reservoir, Dale Maffitt stays relatively stable, though levels can drop in drought. Check conditions before launching.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Dale Maffitt Reservoir is southwest of Des Moines in southern Polk County, off Maffitt Lake Road near Cumming, about 25 minutes from downtown. The Des Moines metro and the Raccoon River valley are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: an Iowa license is required.
- No swimming: it’s a public water supply – fishing and hiking only.
- Deep & quiet: 72-foot water and a 4.5-mile trail, minutes from Des Moines.
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
About 72 feet at its deepest – one of the deeper lakes in central Iowa – across roughly 200 acres.
What fish are in Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
Largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish and yellow perch.
Can you swim at Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
No – it’s a public water-supply reservoir, so swimming isn’t permitted; it’s a fishing and hiking lake.
Where is Dale Maffitt Reservoir?
Southwest of Des Moines in southern Polk County, near Cumming, about 25 minutes from downtown.
Related: explore the small lakes of Iowa, or head back to the Iowa Lakes Database.
Explore more Iowa lakes: the largest lakes in Iowa and the deepest lakes in Iowa.
