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Arnolds Park Journals

Vacationing in the Iowa Great Lakes Region

An April 2005 trip to Arnolds Park by MCJ graduate

MCJs partner at Spirit Lake Photo - More Photos
Quote: Our rental was West Oaks in Arnolds Park, Iowa. We had a fabulous time there. We fished at West Okoboji. There are public tennis courts nearby and family-fun activities, including an amusement park. If you want great fun and something for everyone, this is it!

Vacationing in the Iowa Great Lakes Region

Overview

MCJ's partner at Spirit Lake Photo -
Quote:
All our memorable moments encompassed our fishing trip at West Lake Okoboji. We caught numerous fish (large-mouth bass, bluegill, bullheads, and a muskie got away). We also enjoyed driving around to find other lakes. We found Spirit Lake breathtaking. We were drawn in by its size and the relatively clean, clear water. It looked like an ocean. Lastly, we were overjoyed about catching a large-mouth bass that we could take to a taxidermist. Now, every time I walk by this mounted fish, I recall the marvelous time I had in the Iowa Great Lakes Region.Quick Tips: When fishing for bluegills, use a small hook, bobber, and a 2- to 4-pound fish line. Also, use mill worms for bait. Concerning catching t...Read More

West Oaks

Hotel

Living Room Photo - West Oaks,
Quote:
West Oaks provides a luxurious getaway on West Lake Okoboji. In fact, you can fish off the piers right outside your rental. If your rental is an off-lake one, you will enjoy a bedroom Jacuzzi, while the rentals on the lake have a patio overlooking the water. This resort has two outdoor pools, one indoor pool, a community room, etc. Your condo rental has a kitchen, microwave, and TV. All condos are two bedrooms, which sleep six people (one queen-size bed, two twin beds, and one sleeper sofa). Lastly, you are steps away from shopping, the amusement park, restaurants, etc.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 28, 2005

West Oaks
25 Lakeshore Drive
Arnolds Park, Iowa
(712) 332-7711

Godfather's Pizza

Restaurant

Quote:
We fished until 9:30pm, so we ordered from Godfather's Pizza. We picked it up. It was not far to drive. The pizza was good, and for a large combo thin crust, we paid $18. A lot restaurants were not open late because April is considered off-season. For a late, quick bite to eat, this is the place to go.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on April 28, 2005

Godfather's Pizza
248 Us Highway 71
Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
(712) 332-7109

West Lake Okoboji

Attraction | "Fishing at West Lake Okoboji"

MCJ and her Bass at Turtle Bay Photo - West Lake Okoboji,
Quote:
It was great to be able to do an activity that not only is relatively inexpensive, but fun. And to be able to get away from the work world and experience the outdoors was wondrous. We were fortunate to be in a wildlife refuge. Therefore, we saw or heard many kinds of wildlife while fishing. While reeling the fish in, we saw Canadian geese swim by and heard wild turkeys. We even saw deer prancing around in the timber. Concerning the Fishing, it was so much fun. We would fish for hours at a time. We did fresh water fishing. In Iowa, you are allowed two poles per person so I took the advantage of that and used two. Most of the day, we caught Blugills on meal worms and usually around 4PM and after, we cau...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 28, 2005

West Lake Okoboji
West Lake Okoboji
Arnolds Park, Iowa

Our Experiences in the Iowa Great Lakes Region

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Turtle Bay Photo -
Quote:
Although there are many family activities in Arnold’s Park, Iowa, we chose tennis and fishing. There is a public tennis court about 1.5 miles from our rental in West Oaks. And we went fishing at Gull Point. Gull Point is a 10-minute drive from West Oaks. There, we fished at what locals refer to as Turtle Bay. Turtle Bay is the backwater of the West Okoboji Lake. We caught many large-mouth bass and bluegill (for the bass, we used night crawlers, and for the bluegills, we used mill worms). We even caught a bass large enough to take to a taxidermist. Our recommendations are the following: when it is available, get your West Oaks rental through skyauction.com (it is much cheaper this way—it cost us ...Read More

About the Writer

MCJ graduate

MCJ graduate
German Valley, Illinois

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