Midwest Fishing Lake Guide, Desoto Lake and Desoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge Information.

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Desoto Bend is located approximately 6 miles west of Missouri Valley, in Harrison and Pottawattamie Counties, Iowa. The lake is 760 acres and has strict access and boating rules due to its status as a Federal Wildlife Refuge. The lake is only open to boats from April to September, and has a 5 mile per hour no-wake rule. Fishing access is limited, and is subject to change periodically. The Nebraska State Game and Parks Commission lists the lake as having good fishable populations of Bluegill, Buffalo, Carp, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye. We have also caught and released several good sized Northern Pike in this lake. Most bass we have caught were on a traditional weedless rubber worm rig, and most of the Pike we caught were on weedless spoons. In the middle to late summer the weed growth on this lake is severely thick, almost completely eliminating the ability to fish from shore. Facilities at Desoto are limited due to its status as a National Wildlife Refuge. Facilities include boat ramps, restrooms, and parking. There are however additional facilities available at nearby Wilson Island. Also, visitors may want to take some additional time out and visit the Bertrand museum. The Bertrand was a large river boat that sank in the middle part of last century, and it was recently excavated by archeologists at Desoto Bend.