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Big Hollow Lake

General Information

County: Des Moines
Location: 3 miles west of Sperry
Acres: 178.00
Maximum Depth: 56.8 ft. (2013)
Motoring Restrictions:

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Big Hollow Lake include:
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Accessible Facilities
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Station at (319) 694-2430
A few days in the 70's have warmed the water up into the low 50's. Cooler weather in the forecast will probably see that water temperature drop for at least the next few days.
Channel Catfish - Fair: If you can be there when the wind is blowing into the dam you can normally find a few catfish concentrated there looking to feed. Use cutbait to catch them.
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Work the small islands along the north side towards the lower end of the lake. The shallow water flats around them seem to always attract the bass early in the season looking for an early crayfish to eat.
Download Printable Lake Map
Download Printable Fishing Structures Map

You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes

  • 9/13/22 - 2,490 Channel Catfish (9.4)
  • 5/17/22 - 90 Muskellunge (12.8)
  • 09/25/2020 - 22,674 Redear Sunfish (2)
  • 09/16/2020 - 2,482 Channel Catfish (7.9)
  • 05/11/2020 - 90 Muskellunge (12.4)
  • 01/27/2020 - 77 Muskellunge (11)
  • 09/19/2018 - 2,475 Channel Catfish (8.6)
  • 05/11/2018 - 90 Muskellunge (11.8)
  • 9/13/16 - 2,485 Channel Catfish (8.9")
  • 5/9/16 - 90 Muskellunge (14.5")
  • 09/24/2014 - 2,496 Channel Catfish (8")
  • 05/19/2014 - 178 Muskellunge (10.5")
  • Curlyleaf Pondweed
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Black Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • Bluegill
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • Channel Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Largemouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
    • Other:
A stocking request was submitted to the IDNR hatcheries for largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. The order will be filled in 2009. Additionally, adult black crappie and redear sunfish will be collected from lakes in the area and stocked in Big Hollow Lake following the establishment of the aforementioned species.(2008)
Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

Contacts

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.