Official State of Iowa Website Here is how you know

Stream Details

Joy Springs

General Information

County: Clayton
Location: South on Alpha Ave, off Highway 3 about 3 miles west of Strawberry Point in Joy Springs County Park.
Stream Segment Length: 0.80

Amenities

Amenities at Joy Springs include:
  • Picnic Area
  • Camping
Trout continue to provide nice catches for anglers. Catchable Rainbow Trout stocking begins April 1. Plenty of brown and rainbow trout remain in streams to tease anglers. Stocking calendar is posted on our website.
Brook Trout - Fair: Midge and caddis fly hatches have been plentiful on warm sunny afternoons. Use care not to scare this skittish fish or it will slow your efforts.
Brown Trout - Good: With extreme clear water, try angling in the evening for a wily brownie. Another time to find brown trout is when the water clouds up after a rainfall event.
Rainbow Trout - Good: Many holdover rainbows remain in the stream. Anglers using a small chunk of worm under a bobber floated in deeper water should get a bite.

Joy Springs is stocked with catchable rainbow trout from April - October. The Upper Maquoketa River (Joy Springs) also has stream-reared brown trout. A recent fish habitat project was completed in the late fall of 2021. Primitive camping is allowed on this county park area along with a picnic shelter.(2022)

Download Printable Stream Map

Parking Access
Catchable Trout Waters
Fingerling Stocked or Natural Reproduction
Restrictive Regulation Stream

You can zoom the map in and out using the slider on the left hand side, and you can pan the map by clicking and dragging. Rollover features for more information. Click streams to go to their page.

    No known aquatic invasive species have been found
  • Annual 2022 - 8,018 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • 11/28/22 - 2,504 Rainbow Trout (9)
  • Annual 2021 - 7,953 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 7,478 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • annual 2019 - 2,922 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 4,780 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2018 - 1,945 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2018 - 4,933 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 2,097 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 5,643 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 1,345 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 7,158 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 1,744 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 6,165 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 1,400 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 5,530 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Brown Trout
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 5 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 10 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Anglers must have paid the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout
  • Green Sunfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Rainbow Trout
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 5 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 10 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Anglers must have paid the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout
  • White Sucker
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

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

The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.

Return