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Trout Streams

Trout fishing in Iowa

Explore some of the most beautiful trout streams in the Upper Midwest, here in Iowa. A true angler’s paradise, hundreds of miles of cold water trout streams meander through Northeast Iowa. Some streams are easy to get to in parks, and others are in wild and remote natural places. Catch wild and stocked Rainbow, Brown and Brook trout.


Tips for Catching Trout

Trout Streams

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Stream County Location Length
Arner Branch Allamakee From Dorchester, head east 0.6 mi on Dorchester Drive to the Waterloo Creek WMA. 0.20
Baileys Ford Delaware 3 miles southeast of Manchester - follow signage from Jefferson Road. 0.60
Bankston Creek Dubuque Just south of Park Hollow Road, 3 miles north of Bankston in Bankston County Park 0.60
Bear Creek Fayette Located 6 miles southeast of Fayette off of Kornhill Road or CR C24. Access from 128th Street. 1.20
Bear Creek Clayton Bixby State Preserve, 2 miles north of Edgewood just east of Fortune Road. 0.50
Bear Creek Allamakee From Waukon, take Hwy 76 north for 13 miles before turning west onto County Road A26 (Bear Creek Drive). Travel 2.5 miles and turn north on Washington Rd. Take Washington Rd north for about a mile before veering left onto Tahigwa Dr. 0.75
Big Mill Creek Jackson Located on Big Mill Wildlife Management Area, 4.5 miles west of Bellevue just south of Mill Creek Road. 0.90
Bigalk Creek Howard Located 7 miles northeast of Cresco. 0.60
Bloody Run Creek Clayton Located 2 miles west of Marquette off of Highway 18. 6.50
Bohemian Creek Winneshiek Located about 1.5 miles east of Protivin. 0.30
Brush Creek Jackson Located 3.5 miles north of Andrew just south of 200th street. Only this "upper" section of Brush Creek is stocked. The "lower" section of Brush Creek is no longer stocked with trout and is closed to public fishing. 0.50
Brush Creek Fayette Located in Brush Creek Canyon State Preserve, 1.5 miles north of Arlington off of CR C2W or 90th Street. 1.60
Buck Creek Clayton Located 3 miles northeast of Garnavillo. 1.70
Canoe Creek Winneshiek 14.5 miles northeast of Decorah on Ferris Mills Road. 1.80
Casey Springs Winneshiek Take Pole Line Road 2.2 miles west from Hwy 52. Turn north on Bluffton Road for 2.3 miles to Sindelar Wildlife Access. 0.50
Chihak Creek Howard Lower: Take Hwy 9 south from Cresco. Turn south on 345th Ave and travel about 2.4 mi to Cleghorn Wildlife Area. Upper: Travel south from Cresco on Willow Ave. Turn east on King's Road and travel to the Turkey River WMA. 0.30
Clear Creek (Lansing) Allamakee Stream runs along Highway 9 through Lansing. Public angling access is at the County Park located off South Road Drive. 2.00
Clear Creek (New Albin) Allamakee Located on Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area, 4 miles east of Dorchester along Sleepy Hollow Drive. 3.40
Coldwater Creek Winneshiek Located 3 miles northwest of Bluffton off of Coldwater Creek Road. 4.00
Coon Creek Winneshiek Located in Coon Creek Wildlife Management Area, 7 miles northeast of Decorah. 2.60
Dunning Spring Winneshiek Located in Dunnings Spring Park on the north side of Decorah off Ice Cave Road. 0.20
Dutton Springs Creek Fayette Located 3 miles northeast of West Union in Dutton's Cave Park. 0.27
Elk Creek Delaware 2.70
Falcon Spring Winneshiek Take Pole Line Road about 6 miles west from Decorah to the Falcon Spring Wildlife Management Area. Visitors must hike approximately 1.25 miles to reach the spring run. 0.20
Fountain Springs Delaware 2.5 miles northeast of Greeley along Oak Road. Most of the fishery lies within Fountain Springs County Park 2.30
French Creek Allamakee Located on French Creek Wildlife Management Area and private land 6 miles northeast of Waukon. 5.60
French Creek - West Branch Allamakee Located on French Creek Wildlife Management Area 6 miles northeast of Waukon. 0.40
Glovers Creek Fayette Access in Echo Valley State Park, about 3 miles southeast of West Union. 0.80
Grannis Creek Fayette Located in Grannis Creek Wildlife Management Area, 3.5 miles southeast of Fayette off of Grannis Road. 1.50
Hewett and Ensign Creeks (Ensign Hollow) Clayton Located on Ensign Hollow Wildlife Management Area about 5 miles north of Strawberry Point. Access is provided on the north side of 322nd street. 1.30
Hickory Creek Allamakee Located 1 mile southwest of Volney off of Hickory Creek Road. 1.50
Hogan's Branch Dubuque 3.10
Joy Springs Clayton South on Alpha Ave, off Highway 3 about 3 miles west of Strawberry Point in Joy Springs County Park. 0.80
Lansing Wildlife Area Creek Allamakee Stream is located in the Lansing Wildlife Management Area. 1.68
Little Mill Creek Jackson Located on Little Mill Wildlife Management Area and private property 2 miles west of Bellevue, with parking south off 216th street. 0.70
Little Paint Allamakee Located in Yellow River State Forest, 3 miles west of Harpers Ferry just off of State Forest Road or CR B25. 3.00
Little Turkey River Delaware 3 miles east of Colesburg in Hoffman Wildlife Management Area off Hubbard Road 1.20
Maquoketa River (trout portion) Clayton The Upper Maquoketa River from Joy Springs downstream to Backbone Lake contains trout year-round. The area 3 miles southwest of Strawberry Point off 400th is stocked with catchable fish. 8.00
McLoud Run Linn Along the east side of I-380 in central Cedar Rapids 2.50
Middle Bear Creek Winneshiek Stream located 7 miles northeast of Highlandville. 1.30
Mill Creek Jackson Felderman Park, City of Bellevue 0.30
Mink Creek Fayette Located on private property 1.5 miles north of Wadena, access on Bighorn Road. 0.90
Monastery Creek Dubuque Monastery Creek can be accessed through the Dubuque County Swiss Valley Nature Preserve about 4 miles SW of Dubuque off of Swiss Valley Rd. 0.20
Mossy Glen Clayton Located five miles northwest of Edgewood at the termination of the Level B portion of Eagle Ave. A small parking lot is on the opposite side of the farmstead with a 0.4 mile walk, then follow the grade B road to the lower end of the trout stream. 0.50
North Bear Creek Winneshiek Located 2.5 miles northeast of Highlandville. 6.00
North Canoe Creek Winneshiek Stream located about 7.5 miles north of Decorah. Take Locust Road 5.6 miles north and turn west onto Canoe Valley Road for 1.3 miles. 0.60
North Cedar Creek Clayton Located 3 miles west of McGregor off of CR B60 or Ivory Road. 2.00
Otter Creek Fayette Located 3 miles southeast of West Union. 2.50
Paint Creek Allamakee Located in Yellow River State Forest, 3 miles west of Harpers Ferry off of State Forest Road or CR B25. 11.00
Patterson Creek Allamakee Stream located 4 miles northwest of Waukon. 1.40
Pine Creek Allamakee Located on Pine Creek Wildlife Management Area, 2 miles northeast of Sattre on Balsam Road or CR W60. 2.50
Pine Spring Creek Winneshiek 6.5 miles north of Decorah. Take Hwy 52 north and then North Winn Road (W34) north to Seed Savers' Exchange. 2.00
Ram Hollow Delaware 1.00
Richmond Springs Delaware 3 miles south of Strawberry Point. Located entirely within Backbone State Park. Closest to north park gate access. 1.40
Sny Magill Creek Clayton Located in the Sny Magill Wildlife Management Area, 3 miles southwest of McGregor along Keystone Road. 5.00
South Bear Creek Winneshiek Located at Highlandville. 5.20
South Cedar Creek Clayton Located 2 miles south of Garnavillo and may be accessed from Jigsaw Road. 0.50
South Fork Mill Creek Jackson Located in Big Mill Wildlife Management Area between Bellevue-Cascade Road and Mill Creek road about 4 miles west of Bellevue. 1.10
South Pine Creek Winneshiek Located 1.5 miles southeast of Sattre. Angler parking provided along Spring Creek Road. 1.30
Spring Branch Delaware 3 miles east-southeast of Manchester off 205th Avenue. Parking available near highway 20 overpass and Manchester Fish Hatchery 2.20
Spring Creek Mitchell Located on the west edge of Orchard. 0.80
Swiss Valley Creek Dubuque Located 3 miles south of Dubuque in Swiss Valley Park just off Swiss Valley Road. 3.25
Ten Mile Creek Winneshiek Located 2 miles northwest of Decorah. 0.20
Trib to French Creek - French Creek Road Allamakee Located about 9 miles northeast of Waukon, just off French Creek Road. Tributary to French Creek. 0.40
Trib to Volga River - Emblem Road Clayton
Trout River Winneshiek Located 5 miles southeast of Decorah off of 133rd Avenue. 5.00
Trout Run (Winneshiek) Winneshiek Located on the south side of Decorah off Trout Run Road. 2.20
Turkey River Clayton Located 6 miles northwest of Elkader at Big Spring Hatchery. 1.00
Turtle Creek Mitchell Located about 1/2 mile north of St. Ansgar off of Highway 218. 2.20
Twin Bridges Delaware Just south of Highway 3 about 5.5 miles west of Colesburg in Twin Bridges County Park. 0.90
Twin Springs Winneshiek Located on the west side of Decorah in Twin Springs City Park. 0.50
Upper Swiss Valley Creek Dubuque Located 3 miles south of Dubuque near Swiss Valley Nature Center, just off Swiss Valley Road 2.10
Wapsi River Trout Section Mitchell Located 0.5 mile west of McIntire. 2.50
Waterloo Creek Allamakee Streams runs through Dorchester along Waterloo Creek Drive and Highway 76. 10.50
West Canoe Creek Winneshiek About 5.5 miles north of Decorah off CR W34, 320th Street, and Fox Hollow Road. 3.00
Wexford Creek Allamakee Located 5 miles north of Harpers Ferry on the Great River Road or CR X52. 1.40
White Pine Hollow Dubuque This fishery is located primarily within White Pine Hollow State preserve, about 2 miles northwest of Luxemburg. Access to this fishery is difficult. A small parking area is available on the east side of the preserve. Best fishing is on the west side. 1.80
Yellow River Allamakee Coldwater section begins below Livingood Springs and east of Old Stage Road flowing through Allamakee County and the Effigy Mounds National Monument where it empties into the Mississippi River. 25.00