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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 Office at (319) 694-2430.
Skim Ice to a little thicker and with the trees sticking out of the water..... Very UNSAFE.

Lake Maps

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.