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Stream Details

French Creek - West Branch

General Information

County: Allamakee
Location: Located on French Creek Wildlife Management Area 6 miles northeast of Waukon.
Stream Segment Length: 0.40

Amenities

Amenities at French Creek - West Branch include:
  • Trails
  • Camping
Catchable rainbow trout stocking begins April 1. The calendar is now available on-line at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Trout-Fishing.
Brook Trout - Fair:
Brown Trout - Good:
Rainbow Trout - Good:

West branch of French Creek contains naturally reproducing populations of Brown Trout and South Pine strain Brook Trout. It was last sampled in 2011 and at that time, there were 216 Brook Trout per mile with fish up to 10 inches. There were 744 Brown Trout per mile with fish up to 13 inches collected. This is an estimated population and actual trout numbers will be higher. There is a catch and release regulation for Brown Trout only and an artificial lure only rule on French Creek. This is a direct tributary to French Creek and is a very secluded small stream with access provided by a 1 mile walk from the parking lot. Primitive camping is allowed on the French Creek Wildlife Management Area.(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
  • 04/30/2020 - 3,000 Brook Trout (2.1)
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Brook 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
  • 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
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.

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