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.

Lake Geode 16 min (10 mi): Water temperature is around 80 degrees. Water clarity is staying at around 4 feet; there is a definite green color to the water. Expect extra boat traffic with the Mississippi River being high. Black Crappie — Good: Anglers are catching lots of small crappies over the habitat in 8-10 feet of water, especially that on top of the old Agency Road. Bluegill — Fair: Bluegills are out at their deep water spots. Try slow trolling (drifting) with a small jig tipped with bait until you find them and then vertically jigging. Anglers are also picking up some around the docks. Channel Catfish — Good: Catfishing is picking up; try fishing around the rip-rap shoreline. Use stink bait and cut bait; good numbers of pan-sized fish. Largemouth Bass — Fair: Most bass have headed out to deeper water; expect to find them hunting the tree falls for bluegills and green sunfish on cloudy mornings.

Big Hollow Lake 21 minutes (18 mi): Water temperature is holding at a little over 80 degrees. Water is clear. Duck weed is getting much thicker. Black Crappie — Fair: Try slow trolling along the outer edges of the trees. Fish crappie in about 6 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill — Fair: Work the edges of the flooded trees in 6 to 7 feet of water. The 6 feet depth is their perennial sweet spot during the summer. Channel Catfish — Good: The face of the dam is the place to catch catfish; after a heavy rain, try where those steep gullies hit the lake.

Iowa River at Columbus Junction 40 min (30 mi): The Iowa River by Wapello is just below minor flood stage and is forecast to stay above bank full until in the week.

Lake Darling 46 min (40 mi): Water temperature is 78-79 degrees. Water remains turbid green/brown. Water clarity is 7 inches. The lake is stratified with no oxygen below 10-11 feet. Bluegill — Fair: Anglers continue to catch some bluegills over top of the rock piles between the point and the campground boat ramp; also off the tips of the jetties. They are hanging around the habitat in 5-6 feet of water. Channel Catfish — Good: Earlier in the week there was noticeable water coming into the lake; catfish were near the in-lake silt dams feeding. The lake is stratified; don't fish below 10 feet with little to no oxygen below that. Largemouth Bass — Fair: Bass are still coming into the shallows to feed first thing in the morning and just before dark in the evening. Try fishing below a couple of feet where the water is clearer or use something noisy and flashy.

River stage is above major flood stage throughout Pools 16-19. River level has crested and forecast to start to fall over the weekend. Water clarity is poor. Main channel water temperature is around 73 degrees. Fishing is being reported as slow. Most boat ramps are inaccessible due to high water. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

Mississippi River Pool 18 33 min (30 mi): Tailwater stage has crested at 20.65 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet. Tailwater stage is forecast to start to fall over the weekend. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. River stage is 18.85 feet at Keithsburg; flood stage is 14 feet. The Toolsboro ramp is closed due to high water. The Hawkeye Dolbee ramp will also be underwater. Fishing is being reported as slow with the high water conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 19: Tailwater stage has crested at 16.1 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Flood stage is 10 feet at Lock and Dam 18. Tailwater stage is forecast to start to fall over the weekend. The gates are out of the water at the dam. River stage is 20.24 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 530.87 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 feet. Boat ramps like Tama Beach and Sullivan Slough will be inaccessible due to high water. Fishing is slow.