Iowa Trout Guide

Written by Michael Chilton

Fishing for trout in Iowa is one of the state’s most enjoyable activities and best kept secrets. It’s incredible the number of times I’m asked, “There are trout in Iowa?” Yes, and the fishing is pretty good. Brook trout, technically a member of the char family, are native to Iowa waters. There’s one stream in our state where brook trout have never been stocked, but are still abundant and reproducing naturally. Eggs are taken from the trout in this stream to be raised and stocked in other streams. Over 40 Iowa trout streams have natural reproduction occurring, primarily among brown trout. Most of these streams are supplemented with stocked trout. The Iowa DNR stocks fingerling brown and brook trout, and catchable sized rainbow and brook trout for the enjoyment of anglers.

Iowa trout fishing occurs in the northeast corner of the state, a place known as The Driftless Area, Iowa’s Little Switzerland, and The Coulee Region. This unique geological area was skipped over in the last glacial period, so it lacks glacial drift (sediment) from the last glaciation. As a result, the landscape is in stark contrast to the rest of the region. Large limestone bluffs, and beautiful valleys mark the area. This portion of Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin contains the largest concentration of limestone spring creeks anywhere in the world! Trout love these little creeks that receive a constant influx of cold water that is amazingly consistent in temperature throughout the year.

Trout streams in Iowa range from tiny to small. Some are as wide as a sidewalk, and can easily be hopped over. Others can be around 60 feet wide in portions. Waters are generally slower moving. The small size means they can easily blowout after a rain event, but the spring water sources help clear them up.

STATE RECORDS

Brook Trout– 7lbs, 19.75″, Fountain Springs

Brown Trout– 15lbs 6oz, 29″, North Prairie Lake

Rainbow Trout– 19lbs 8oz, 35″, French Creek

TROUT REGULATIONS

TROUT FEE: Iowa residents and nonresidents who are required to have a fishing license must pay the Trout Fee ($12.50 for residents or $15 for non-residents) to fish for or possess trout. Exception: Iowa residents and nonresidents under 16 years old may possess or fish for trout without having paid the Trout Fee if they fish with a properly licensed adult who has paid the Trout Fee and together they limit their catch to the one person daily limit of five trout. Children under 16 have the option to purchase their own trout privilege, which allows them to fish without a properly licensed adult and keep their own daily limit (5).

SEASON: All waters – Continuous

LENGTH LIMITS: None, except a 14-inch minimum length limit applies to all trout in Spring Branch Creek (Delaware Co.), from the spring source to County Hwy. D5X as posted, and on brown trout only in portions of Bloody Run Creek (Clayton Co.) where posted.

DAILY BAG & POSSESSION: All waters – Combined daily of 5 and possession of 10.

CATCH & RELEASE ONLY: All trout caught from the posted portion of Hewett and Ensign creeks (Clayton); McLoud Run (Linn), South Pine Creek (Winneshiek); and Waterloo Creek (Allamakee);

and brown trout caught from French Creek (Allamakee) must be released alive immediately.

SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS: Artificial Lure Only: Fishing in the posted areas of Bloody Run Creek, Ensign Creek, French Creek, Hewett Creek, McLoud Run, South Pine Creek, Spring Branch Creek and Waterloo Creek must be by artificial lure only. Artificial lure means lures that do not contain or have applied to them any natural or human-made substance designed to attract fish by the sense of taste or smell.

TROUT STREAMS

Trout Map1 (Google Maps)

Trout Map2 (DNR)

Here is a list of Iowa trout streams along with GPS coordinates. This list is published on the annual Iowa Trout Map brochure. Streams denoted with (P&G) are put and grow streams that are on private land and receive stockings of fingerling trout, or have naturally reproducing populations. You must receive landowner permission to fish them. Click the stream name to locate it on google maps, then find the landowner on this site: Beacon.

County	Stream	Latitude	Longitude
Allamakee	Clear Creek (north)	43.4584227479512	-91.4183694537955
Allamakee	Clear Creek (north)	43.4744026140256	-91.4119460192909
Allamakee	Clear Creek (Lansing)	43.3592373142821	-91.2315598179154
Allamakee	Clear Creek (Lansing)	43.3590603569199	-91.2397957062539
Allamakee	Clear Creek (Lansing)	43.3606906041732	-91.2584305247422
Allamakee	Hickory Creek	43.1159249568536	-91.4113312372019
Allamakee	Little Paint Creek	43.1633739323163	-91.2331999191846
Allamakee	Little Paint Creek	43.1907228731333	-91.2390006334903
Allamakee	French Creek	43.4023131582825	-91.4022042164809
Allamakee	French Creek	43.3751032477143	-91.3876367423982
Allamakee	West Fork French Creek	43.371256078265	-91.3943779718604
Allamakee	Paint Creek	43.1978935150109	-91.2885578059627
Allamakee	Paint Creek	43.2110183271916	-91.3022876187775
Allamakee	Paint Creek	43.219346421266	-91.3190367225067
Allamakee	Paint Creek	43.2209367155598	-91.3542483461086
Allamakee	Pine Creek	43.3973488198053	-91.605520409268
Allamakee	Patterson Creek	43.3480365778547	-91.5683809426602
Allamakee	Waterloo Creek	43.4593279356262	-91.5014767771725
Allamakee	Waterloo Creek	43.4730625561033	-91.5145507233039
Allamakee	Waterloo Creek	43.4909474966704	-91.5564021934715
Allamakee	Wexford Creek	43.2734984703095	-91.1275888701482
Allamakee	Teeple Creek (P&G)	43.2202732749879	-91.5089838109723
Allamakee	Williams Creek (P&G)	43.1425627864716	-91.4517687839746
Allamakee	Yellow River (P&G)	43.1386430589003	-91.3992483490675
Allamakee	Waterloo Creek	43.4416611671633	-91.5124241039319
Clayton	Bloody Run	43.0420713229355	-91.2076240291281
Clayton	Bloody Run	43.0352056844015	-91.2404332954741
Clayton	Bloody Run	43.0380240750783	-91.2178982482444
Clayton	Bloody Run	43.0372805194062	-91.2623488066453
Clayton	Bloody Run	43.029929062952	-91.2997870925245
Clayton	Bloody Run	43.0306726292631	-91.3044267602815
Clayton	Buck Creek	42.835363405407	-91.1506699545386
Clayton	Buck Creek	42.8462903645224	-91.1707229768714
Clayton	Buck Creek	42.8686880332169	-91.1967464060179
Clayton	Buck Creek	42.8855760587249	-91.2045528733325
Clayton	Sny Magill Creek	42.965731417662	-91.2142875371216
Clayton	South Cedar Creek	42.8283714250302	-91.245030644207
Clayton	Turkey River	42.9091541352794	-91.4742653898172
Clayton	Ensign Hollow Creek	42.7556130829327	-91.5641705795744
Clayton	Maquoketa River	42.6577207649335	-91.5881268294051
Clayton	Joy Springs	42.6773033420314	-91.6013032118376
Clayton	Mossey Glen Creek	42.7074303383816	-91.4251543511891
Clayton	Bear Creek (Clayton)	42.6745462297707	-91.3984177593825
Clayton	Miners Creek (Lower) (P&G)	42.7833848790062	-91.1177070052417
Clayton	Miners Creek (Upper) (P&G)	42.7998937844168	-91.1394516436366
Clayton	North Cedar Creek	42.9649663785576	-91.2279241217351
Clayton	North Cedar Creek	42.9439785611732	-91.2416613251715
Clayton	North Cedar Creek	42.9565143089314	-91.2294576175829
Delaware	Bailey’s Ford	42.4459029280655	-91.4110637200897
Delaware	Fountain Springs	42.6136065456145	-91.3057914372997
Delaware	Little Turkey River (P&G)	42.6297108718719	-91.1580339141435
Delaware	Richmond Springs	42.6338822394383	-91.5641317611527
Delaware	Spring Branch Creek	42.4613157914367	-91.4021815349139
Delaware	Twin Bridges Creek	42.6299260195277	-91.2892287265929
Delaware	Grimes Hollow (P&G)	42.6430697838695	-91.1636923908078
Delaware	Little Turkey River (P&G)	42.6179876520259	-91.1675446934458
Delaware	Spring Falls (P&G)	42.6310019498468	-91.2686545289637
Delaware	Upper Maquoketa	42.6214671515266	-91.5667907254009
Dubuque	Bankston Creek	42.5585843102756	-90.9511743685025
Dubuque	Monastery Creek	42.4109033923791	-90.7714497101463
Dubuque	Swiss Valley Creek (Upper)	42.4163692651013	-90.7627989044866
Dubuque	Swiss Valley Creek (Lower)	42.430145100511	-90.7403188061765
Dubuque	White Pine Hollow Creek	42.6284483454692	-91.1203010620754
Dubuque	North Fork Maquoketa River	42.4702649633327	-90.9725289243041
Fayette	Bear Creek (Fayette)	42.8049285352882	-91.6941659772313
Fayette	Brush Creek (Fayette)	42.7806740729388	-91.6871502933386
Fayette	Glovers Creek	42.9509473632258	-91.7724995227453
Fayette	Grannis Creek	42.8295605162999	-91.714074861944
Fayette	Grannis Creek	42.8255653401225	-91.7277017694893
Fayette	Mink Creek	42.8710711574326	-91.6508756461361
Fayette	Mink Creek	42.8791639253187	-91.674886735399
Fayette	Otter Creek	42.9361507148581	-91.6848154682236
Fayette	Otter Creek	42.9467973037439	-91.7658398157969
Howard	Bigalk Creek	43.4737388984232	-92.081786729038
Jackson	Big Mill Creek	42.2692021589605	-90.5176977455169
Jackson	South Fork Big Mill Creek	42.2655984301404	-90.5217313776015
Jackson	Little Mill Creek	42.247972533659	-90.4766542903846
Jackson	Brush Creek (Jackson)	42.2030968952276	-90.5719701878794
Jackson	Brush Creek (Jackson)	42.1765502079761	-90.5768164098175
Jackson	Ozark Springs (P&G)	42.2118517564148	-90.8722390129391
Jackson	Tete des Morts Creek (P&G)	42.3747466916061	-90.6174968515661
Jackson	Tete des Morts Tributary (P&G)	42.3420854178679	-90.6301521780627
Linn	McLoud Run	42.0126926597094	-91.6679803705162
Mitchell	Spring Creek	43.2269758226027	-92.7858929387164
Mitchell	Turtle Creek	43.395998805451	-92.9082556574641
Mitchell	Wapsipinicon River	43.4577032871281	-92.6252527089684
Mitchell	Burr Oak Creek (P&G)	43.3292131504578	-92.7408593988868
Winneshiek	Bohemian Creek	43.2145213001731	-92.061193495839
Winneshiek	Coldwater Creek	43.4347052943459	-91.9509408153109
Winneshiek	Coon Creek	43.3273422941412	-91.6369260390042
Winneshiek	Dunning’s Spring	43.3111224047595	-91.7911142650611
Winneshiek	South Bear Creek	43.443067272143	-91.6355962197135
Winneshiek	South Bear Creek	43.4426121993003	-91.6749147577135
Winneshiek	North Bear Creek	43.4729457776271	-91.63454863377
Winneshiek	South Pine Creek	43.3770596043149	-91.6672625694953
Winneshiek	Trout River	43.2757977463544	-91.666118083756
Winneshiek	Trout River	43.2625106497442	-91.6677890547188
Winneshiek	Trout Run	43.2816327193912	-91.7696540638772
Winneshiek	Twin Springs	43.2977569371266	-91.8119580648167
Winneshiek	West Canoe Creek	43.403119468906	-91.8095508777291
Winneshiek	Pine Creek	43.4297733782955	-91.9134753064931
Winneshiek	East Pine Creek (P&G)	43.4648362539678	-91.8971918533525
Winneshiek	Pine Creek (P&G)	43.4567245319893	-91.9273115700419
Winneshiek	Casey Springs (P&G)	43.3606059394407	-91.8696433474472
Winneshiek	Middle Bear Creek (P&G)	43.4807380984658	-91.665049061475
Winneshiek	North Canoe Creek	43.4049531858234	-91.770533011817
Winneshiek	Tenmile Creek (P&G)	43.3332257624573	-91.8739555667169

RESOURCES

Iowa DNR

Complete Guide to Iowa Trout Streams by Jene Hughes-Don’t go trout fishing in Iowa without it.

Flyfisher’s Guide to Wisconsin and Iowa-Not as much stream information as the Hughes book, but contains more details about nearby towns and logistical planning.

BioNet-Don’t click on this unless you have several free hours because you’ll be consumed by all the data compiled by University of Iowa researchers.

Trout Mapping Project-Iowa trout streams in google maps.

Driftless Trout Anglers-One of my favorite trout fishing forums.

Iowa Sportsman-The trout fishing forum isn’t as active as DTA, but some useful and entertaining posts pop up here.

Stream Fishing in Iowa– Not a super active forum, but very good content. You need to become a member to see the trout fishing section.

GUIDES

If you’re new to trout fishing or fly fishing, give one of these guides a call. They can teach you a lot in a day on the water.

WHERE TO STAY

Sportsmen Motel– Dorchester

My favorite place to stay when I’m trout fishing. $40 a night for a clean room is ridiculous. No, it’s not fancy, but you’re here to fish. It might take a little while for the hot water to get to your room, and don’t expect too much conversation from Jack, the owner.

Hotel Winneshiek– Decorah

The Winneshiek is great, and it’s set in the beautiful town of Decorah. It’s the most expensive option, and the one I choose when bringing my wife along. The hotel restaurant is worth checking out, and there are many other excellent places to eat in town.

Bear Creek Cabins– Highlandville

The proprietors operate several cabins right along South Bear Creek. Check out their reduced winter rates.

Elkader Inn– Elkader

Another unassuming, very tidy and clean little motel for a good rate.

Stoney Creek Inn– Waukon