DNR Fishing Report for New London area

This is the last fishing report of the year. Parks are closing their fish cleaning stations and modern bathrooms and boat ramp docks.

Sites selected to report are within a one hour drive from New London. Information is taken from the DNR Iowa Fishing Report.

Lake Geode 16 min (10 mi): Water temperature is in the mid-50s. Water clarity is improving (less green). Black Crappie — Fair: Find crappies in the rock piles and other fish habitat in 5-7 feet of water. Bluegill — Fair: Bluegills are holding out in 4-6 feet of water. Try the rock piles along the haul road running from the spillway up to straight across the beach. Expect them to leave for deeper water soon. Largemouth Bass — Fair: Work the habitat and rock piles in 8 to 10 feet of water using deep diving crankbait. Bass are still fairly active, especially for this time of the year.

Big Hollow Lake 21 minutes (18 mi): Water temperature is in the upper 50s yet and touching 60 degrees in the afternoons when the sun is shining. Black Crappie — Fair: The weather seems to have put a halt to the crappies moving into shallow water, back to drifting over the brush in 6-8 foot of water. Bluegill — Good: Bluegills are staying in 4-6 feet of water. Anglers are catching some along the jetties on the north side.

Lake Darling 46 min (40 mi): Water temperature is in the mid-50s. End of last week the water was warm enough to trigger a small planktonic algae bloom. Black Crappie — Fair: Work with rocky shorelines that are close to deeper water like those down at the lower end of the lake at that high bank on the south side with the brush piles in deeper water. Bluegill — Fair: Fishing pressure has been low. The constantly changing weather continues to make it hard to pattern the fish. Largemouth Bass — Fair: Most have headed out to deeper water. Might be able to find a few in shallower along to point where they can stay close to deeper water.

Mississippi River: Tailwater stages have been fairly steady this past week but are forecast to start to fall over the weekend. Main channel temperature is around 51-52 degrees. Water clarity is fair. We have not received much for reports on tailwater fishing for walleye and saugers yet. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

Mississippi River Pool 18: Tailwater stage is 5.14 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Tailwater stage is forecast to fall over the weekend. Sauger — No Report: We have not received reports of catching saugers below the Lock and Dam. Fishing should improve as water temperatures fall. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye — No Report: Look for walleyes on wing-dams; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and night crawlers. With low water, look for walleyes toward ends of wing-dams where there is more current. Try vertical jigging with minnow or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. White Crappie — No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.

Mississippi River Pool 19: Tailwater stage is 2.64 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Tailwater stage is forecast to fall over the weekend. Sauger — No Report: We have not received any reports of catching saugers below the Lock and Dam. Fishing should improve as water temperatures fall. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye — No Report: Look for walleyes on wing-dams; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and night crawlers. With low water, look for walleyes toward ends of wing-dams with more current. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnow. White Crappie — No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.