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 of around 400 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 a 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.
Hard Water Tournament Perch Caught on West Okoboji
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
Founder Jim McDonnell
Current Leadership
Officers
Terry Thomsen
President
Scott Severied
Vice President
Barry Kruse
Secretary
Nathan Albrecht
Treasurer
Board Members
Kelly Cook
Paul Daniels
Dave Hennings
Tim Hilbert
Dean Jacobsen
Darwin Johnson
Kris Johnson
Rick Krebsbach
Lance Lundbeck
Kendall Mead
Rick Petersen
Denny Phillips
Larry Slota
Russell Sweet
Inserting PIT tag in Walleye.
Accomplishments & Ongoing Community Support
*Indicates Annual Support
Funded Environmental Projects
Lost Island: New ramp and dock
Center Lake Ramp: New lights
Low Gar Outlet: New computer to control the fish barrier
Paddlefish: Collected and supplemented costs for DNR to purchase special tags for the reintroduction of paddlefish to our lakes
West Lake Okoboji: Installed new rubber guards at the boat launches
Emerson Bay Boat Ramp: Donated a permanent bench
Stolley's Pond: Partnered with area high schoolers to survey and build a structure for the pond
Emerson Bay: Fishing cleaning station
Big Spirit Lake: Walleye tracking tags and collars (pictured)
Working on the fish habitat at Camp Autumn.
Event Participation
Kids Fish Day: Isthmus Park
Kids Fish Day: Stolley's
School of the Wild
Joy Camp
Unified PE
Hope Haven
Adult Fishing Clinic
County Conservation Kids Events
Lakeside Lab Fishing Events
Area Middle School Fishing Events
*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 shops open houses
Photo credit: Okoboji Blue Water Festival
Organizational Support
Iowa Bass Federation: Sponsored a high school bass tournament on West Lake Okoboji
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 the Annual Ice Fishing Tournament & Fundraiser.
*ISU Extension: Volunteer labor & management of kids’ fishing events
Legislation Support
License Fee Increase
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
