Official State of Iowa Website Here is how you know

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 Office at (31) 694-2430.
The water cooled down a little the first part of this week but looks to be warming right back up by the end of this week.
Bluegill - Fair: The bluegills also remained out in the deeper water; down 5 or 6 feet from the surface. Worm and bobber. Maybe the overcast the next few days will let them come in shallower.
Largemouth Bass - Slow: The early weather forecast for this week fooled me but not the bass they stayed out in deeper water. A few of the smaller bass did come in shallow to feed but even they didn't stray too far from the deeper water.
Black Crappie - Slow: A few anglers picked up some crappies nearer shore but even those were next to the drop-offs. The rest of the crappies remained scattered out in the trees down at 6 foot deep.
Download Printable Lake Map
Download Printable Fishing Structures Map

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

  • 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.