Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Big Hollow Lake


About Big Hollow Lake

Surface Area (acres): 178.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 56.8 ft. (2013)
Motoring Restrictions: None
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Des Moines
Description:
Coordinates: 40.94480059, -91.23046596

Nearby Parks

- No results found

Amenities

Amenities at Big Hollow Lake include:
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Accessible Facilities
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp

Fishing Report

For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at (319) 694-2430.
NOT RECOMMENDED. The thinner areas got a little thicker with the return of the cold weather but remain on the thinner side of being safe. Temps in the 40's next week will do some real damage to the ice.

Fishing Forecast

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)

Consumption Guidelines

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.

To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .

Stocking

  • 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")

Management

  • 2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: Treatment of curly leaf, duckweed, and filamentous algae at beach. 2 treatments during growing season.
  • 2023 - Vegetation-Treatment: curly leaf treatment at swim area and boat ramp bay
  • 2022 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (8") channel catfish (2,492).
  • 2022 - Stocking-Muskellenge: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (10") muskellunge (90).
  • 2022 - Vegetation-Treatment: Duckweed control at beach
  • 2022 - Vegetation-Treatment: Curly leaf and duckweed management at beach and boat ramp.
  • 2022 - Ramp-Construction: Improvements were made to the Big Hollow Lake Boat Ramp. Slope was decreased.
  • 2022 - Ramp-Construction: Big Hollow Lake Boat ramp was improved by decreasing the slope.
  • 2020 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (8") channel catfish (2,492).
  • 2020 - Stocking-Muskellenge: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (10") muskellunge (90).
  • 2018 - Special-Other: Received a report from the Des Moines CCB that a yellow bass was caught at Big Hollow Lake. Their presence (or lack thereof) in future surveys will be monitored closely.
  • 2018 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (8") channel catfish (2,492).
  • 2018 - Stocking-Muskellenge: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (10") muskellunge (90).
  • 2016 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (8") channel catfish (2,492).
  • 2015 - Stocking-Muskellenge: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (10") muskellunge (90).
  • 2015 - Special-Other: Deposition of gypsum on lake bottom was recognized. Bottom sampling was conducted (cooperative effort with ESD) to identify potential impacts. No immediate impacts were identified.
  • 2014 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (8") channel catfish (2,492).
  • 2014 - Stocking-Muskellenge: Initial stocking of advanced fingerling (10") muskellunge (178).
  • 2014 - Fish Kills-Dissolved Oxygen: Discharge (10.5 hrs.) from Big Hollow Lake released low oxygen sediment/water to Flint Creek. Stream exhibited a white color & dead fish were present in plunge pool below dam. Suggested that gate exercising activities remain brief.
  • 2012 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (8") channel catfish (3,560).
  • 2010 - Stocking-Largemouth Bass: Stocking of a portion of second year-class of fingerling (2") largemouth bass (12,500).
  • 2010 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Maintenance stocking of advanced fingerling (8") channel catfish (3,500).
  • 2010 - Stocking-Largemouth Bass: Stocking of a portion of second year-class of fingerling (2") largemouth bass (5,000).
  • 2010 - Stocking-Black Crappie: Portion of initial stocking of adult (8") black crappies (18).
  • 2010 - Stocking-Black Crappie: Portion of intial stocking of adult (8") black crappies (26).
  • 2010 - Stocking-Black Crappie: Portion of initial stocking of adult (8") black crappies (7).
  • 2010 - Stocking-Black Crappie: Portion of initial stocking of adult (8") black crappies (1).
  • 2010 - Stocking-Black Crappie: Portion of initial stocking of adult (8") black crappies (639).
  • 2010 - Stocking-Redear Sunfish: Initial stocking of adult redear sunfish (21).
  • 2009 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Initial stocking of 2" channel catfish in spring 2009.
  • 2009 - Stocking-Bluegill: Initial stocking of 75,000 BLG into the lake.
  • 2009 - Special-Other: Created a fish habitat map for the new lake.
  • 2009 - Stocking-Channel Catfish: Initial stocking of 18,000 CCF.
  • 2009 - Stocking-Largemouth Bass: Initial stocking of 10,000 LMB.
  • 2009 - Stocking-Bluegill: Stocked 50,000 additional BLG into the lake.
  • 2009 - Fish Cleaning Station-Fish Cleaning Station: main boat ramp

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: None

Contacts for this Location

Fishing Regulations

  • 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:

Aquatic Invasive Species

  • Curlyleaf Pondweed

To learn more about AIS, visit the Iowa DNR's Aquatic Invasive Species page for more information and resources.

Fish Surveys

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