DNR Fishing Report for New London area

Sites selected to report are within a one-hour drive from New London. Information is taken from the DNR Iowa Fishing Report. For more information on the following lakes and rivers, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

Lake Geode 16 min (10 mi): Water temperature is73 degrees. Water clarity is 5 1/2 feet. Water willows are making a comeback. Black Crappie- Good: Try vertically jigging in the habitat in 8 to 9 feet of water. Bluegill- Good: Many spawning beds were reoccupied earlier this week. Use worm and a small bobber to avoid spooking the fish. Largemouth Bass- Good: Bass are looking for young bluegills and crappies to feed on. Find bass in tree falls and rock piles along the old haul road; shallow diving crankbaits should draw their attention.

Big Hollow Lake 21 minutes (18 mi): Water temperature is 73 degrees. Duckweed is thick on top of the curly-leaf pondweed beds, but not bad elsewhere Black Crappie- Good: Try a small jig or a slip bobber and minnow in 7 to 8 feet of water along the outer edges of the curly-leaf pondweed beds on the north side of the lake. Bluegill- Fair: Most spawning beds are still vacant. Look for bluegills in a pocket in the curly-leaf pondweed beds or out in the trees down about 6 feet. Largemouth Bass- Fair: Find bass in the brush or outer edges of the weed beds; use soft plastics rigged weedless.

Lake Darling 46 min (40 mi): Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Water clarity is good (50-60 inches). The water still has a green cast. Black Crappie- Good: Anglers are catching crappies off of the brush and rock piles in deeper water by the dam. Bluegill- Fair: Some bluegills are returning to the spawning beds. Many more are staying out around the rock piles in 6-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass- Good: Bass fishing has picked up with the return of the females from deeper water. Best bite is early morning before it gets too hot.

Mississippi River Pool 18: Tailwater stage is 7.02 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill- No report: Look for bluegills up shallow in the backwaters. Use pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles in the Huron Island complex. Channel Catfish- No report: Try around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad or nightcrawlers upstream of the brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Walleye- No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits or jigs with plastic or nightcrawlers on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. Fishing may be difficult with dirtier water conditions due to recent rains. White Bass- No report: Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges. White Crappie- No Report: Use minnows under a bobber or vertical jig minnows or plastics around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels in the Huron Island complex.

Mississippi River Pool 19: Tailwater stage is 4.22 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is forecast to fall over the weekend. Flood stage is 10 feet. Bluegill- No report: Bluegills are up shallow in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles. Channel Catfish- Try around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad or nightcrawlers upstream of the brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Walleye- No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits or jigs with plastic or nightcrawlers on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. Fishing may be difficult with dirtier water conditions due to recent rains. White Bass- No Report: Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges. White Crappie- No Report: Use minnows under a bobber or vertically jig minnows or plastics around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels

Tailwater stages are falling. Main channel water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is 73 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.