Opportunities for anglers in southeast Iowa will ramp up next week, with trout stocking scheduled for several local lakes and ponds.

Three trout stockings will take place on Thursday, March 23, with the first scheduled for Discovery Park Pond in Muscatine County at approximately 9:30 a.m. This will be followed by the Jefferson County Park New Pond around 10 a.m. and Wilson Lake in Lee County around noon. One thousand rainbow trout will be released at each site. A valid fishing license and paid trout fee are required to fish for or possess trout. 

While the waters remain ice-free, minimal reports were available this week for Lake Darling in Washington County, Big Hollow Lake in Des Moines County, Lake Belva Deer in Keokuk County, and Lost Grove Lake in Scott County. 

For more information on the above lakes and ponds, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.