About Us
The Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club is a non-profit organization and the largest fishing club in the State with an annual membership around 275 individuals & families. With a focus on introducing youth to fishing, the club has also built its reputation on the encouragement of catch and release fishing.
Mission Statement
To recruit youth to the sport, encouraging connection to the outdoors and fishing as a lifelong passion.
Vision Statement
To contribute to the environment and our communities by improving the quality of local fisheries and promoting involvement through educational and recreational activities.
Club Founder
Jim McDonnell
(1937 – 2012)
“Enjoy every sunrise, keep a tight line and may your aim be straight.”
The club, originally founded as the Iowa Great Lakes Muskie Club by Jim McDonnell in 1967, transitioned in the early 1970s to become the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club as it is known to this day. A fishing guide on the Iowa Great Lakes for over 40 years and a high school teacher and girls’ athletic coach in Royal, IA, Jim’s passion was educating and introducing kids to the outdoors. Known as the Fishing Professor, Jim was the club president from the beginning until his passing in 2012.
Jim headed up conservation efforts such as panfish limits on the lakes, slot limits for walleye, and protecting the Bulrush habitat on Big Spirit Lake. Today, the club continues to head up conservation efforts for our local fisheries and focus on introducing and encouraging kids to the sport of fishing and the outdoors. Along with the McDonnell family, the club helps sponsor the Jim McDonnell Memorial Scholarship. Multiple $500 scholarships are awarded annually to local students entering environmental or teaching fields.
Awards & Accolades
1972 – Named Overall Release Champion by Muskie, Inc.
1976 – Named Fish Conservationist of the Year by Iowa Wildlife Federation.
1977 – Authored “Explosive Fishing Techniques.”
2012 – Inducted into the Iowa Girls Athletic Union Hall of Fame.
2020 – Inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.
Watch the Minnesota Bound feature.
Bio credits: Sioux City Journal, NW Iowa Outdoors
Current Leadership
Officers
Click on a photo to learn more about our club Officers.
Terry Thomsen
President
Scott Severied
Vice President
Barry Kruse
Secretary
Dean Jacobsen
Treasurer
Board Members
Click on a name to learn more about our Board Members.
Tim Hilburt
Dave Hennings
Accomplishments & Ongoing Community Support
* Indicates annual support.
Funded Environmental Projects
Emerson Bay: Fishing cleaning station.
Big Spirit Lake: Walleye tracking tags and collars (pictured).
Lower Gar: Electronic fish barrier to keep invasive species out. Additional barrier to keep fish in.
Organizational Support
Iowa Lakeside Lab: Water testing kits.
*Camp Autumn: Distributed cedar trees to enrich fish habitat (pictured). Donation and maintenance of rods and reels. Help organize and put on Annual Ice Fishing Tournament & Fundraiser.
*ISU Extension: Volunteer labor & management of kids’ fishing events.
Legislation Support
License fee increase.
Event Participation
*Adopt-A-Highway: Hwy 71 (Fostoria)
*Okoboji Blue Water Festival: Raising awareness of the importance of water quality in our area (pictured).
*Fish Fry: Various local bait shop open houses.
*Wings & Wetlands: Clay County Conservation Board
Photo credit: Okoboji Blue Water Festival
Monetary Contributions (since 2016)
Triggs Boat Landing: Monthly electric bill.
Little Sioux Valley Conservation Association
*Jim McDonnell Scholarship Fund (pictured)
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Camp High Hope
Oneota Conservation Association
Dickinson County Conservation Board: Ainsworth Orleans Boat Ramp improvement project.
Steve Reighard Memorial Scholarship
Iowa Great Lakes
Click on each picture for lake information and amenities from Iowa DNR.
Spirit Lake
Acres: 5684.00
Maximum Depth: 22.5 ft.
Fun Facts: Largest natural lake in Iowa. The Dakotah Indian name for the lake was Minnewaukon. Early French traders named it Lac D' Esprit after the Indian legends of an evil spirit who dwelled in the lake.
State Records: Fresh Water Drum Caught 10/1/62 – 38.5”/46lbs. Muskellunge Caught 8/21/00 – 52” / 50.38lbs.
Credits: Iowa DNR - 1, 2, 3 | Wikipedia | Northland Tackle
East Okoboji
Acres: 1835.00
Maximum Depth: 21 ft.
Fun Fact: Longest natural lake in Iowa.
State Records: White Bass Caught 6/3/19 – 21.7” / 5.11lbs.
Credits: Iowa DNR - 1, 2 | Iowa Great Lakes Association
West Okoboji
Acres: 3847.00
Maximum Depth: 138.9 ft.
Fun Fact: Deepest lake in Iowa.
State Records: Northern Pike Caught 2/1/77 – 45” / 25.31lbs. Smallmouth Bass Caught 9/1/90 – 22.75” / 7.75lbs. Tiger Muskie Caught 8/1/89 – 47” / 27.13lbs.
Credits: Iowa DNR - 1, 2, 3, 4 | Wikipedia | Northland Tackle
Upper Gar
Acres: 36.00
Maximum Depth: 8.1 ft.
Fun Fact: Smallest of the Iowa Great Lakes Chain.
Credits: Iowa DNR | Iowa Great Lakes Association
