Lake Darling Management District
- Contact Person: Vance Polton – 319-694-2430
For more information on these lakes and ponds call the Lake Darling Fisheries at (319) 694-2430. Last updated on 11/05/2025
- Water Temperature (°F): 56.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: You can still catch the crappies but they seemed to be headed to the outer edges of the flooded timber slow troll down the outer edge of the trees on the south side.
- Water Temperature (°F): 56.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Mid 50’s during the afternoons yet. A few degrees cooler in the mornings fluctuating several degrees during the day.
Rainbow Trout – Status Unsure: The fall community trout stocking has been rescheduled for Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.
- Water Temperature (°F): 55.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature has warmed up a little bit with the warm weather. Water clarity at nearly six feet.
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies seem determined to stay out in deeper areas 10 to 15 feet around the trees and brush piles. A few were trying to come into the base of the rock along the dam (about 6-7 feet deep) but have turned around and headed back out into the deeper water.
Bluegill – Fair: The bluegills seemed to have headed back out to their deeper water haunts. It is November after all despite the continued warm weather.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: A few of the smaller bass are still trying to fatten up on the late spawn of bluegills and redears hiding in the rocks along shore. The bigger bass have headed back out deep for winter.
- Water Temperature (°F): 51.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
With it’s shallower water Darling is staying cooler as the nighttime lows can cool them off faster than the deeper lakes.
Black Crappie – Fair: The crappies have headed back into deeper water. The shorter days are telling them winter is coming despite the continued warm weather. Hit the outer edges of the rock piles down by the dam and the old cedar trees out in the middle of the lake to find them.
Bluegill – Fair: The bluegills have moved out to deeper habitat in 8-10 foot of water for the most part. Try the rock piles off lagoon point and the brush piles across from the main boat ramp. Start down sizing your baits to smaller jigs (1/64 oz) and wax worms or red worms.
- Water Temperature (°F): 56.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The water temperature actually came up a little bit (+2). Sounds like colder weather over the weekend should change that.
Black Crappie – Fair: Everybody is fishing right overtop of the fish habitat in 10 to 12 feet of water and even deeper along the old creek channel out from the main boat ramp.
Bluegill – Fair: The bluegills have headed out to deeper water as the water willows have wilted finally taking away much of their cover. Look for them along with the crappies in 10-12 feet of water.
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Holding in the low 50’s for the most part reaching the mid 50’s during the sunny afternoons.
Rainbow Trout – Status Unsure: The fall trout stocking has been rescheduled for November 14th at noon.
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: The crappies seemed to have headed deeper look for them to be suspended out around the taller flooded trees in 25-30 feet of water.
Bluegill – Fair: The bluegills seem to be headed for deeper water now as the days get shorter. look for them along the outer edges of the flooded trees along the old creek channel and down in 18-25 feet of water around the flooded tall trees.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature still holding in the mid 50’s.
Rainbow Trout – Status Unsure: The fall community trout stocking has been rescheduled for Nov. 14 at noon.