Big Spring Trout Pond

General Information

County: Clayton
Location: At entrance to Big Spring Trout Hatchery, near Elkader
Acres: 2.50
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions:

Nearby Parks

Amenities

Amenities at Big Spring Trout Pond include:
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
No recent updates

You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes

  • Annual 2022 - 2,183 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2021 - 2,499 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 3,154 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • annual 2019 - 1,037 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 1,127 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2018 - 776 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2018 - 1,025 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 295 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 1,445 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 438 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 2,394 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 505 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 1,196 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 645 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 770 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
    No known aquatic invasive species have been found
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • 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
Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

Contacts

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.