Spring Branch
General Information
County: Delaware
Location: 3 miles east-southeast of Manchester off 205th Avenue. Parking available near highway 20 overpass and Manchester Fish Hatchery
Acres: 2.20
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions:
Nearby Parks
Amenities
Amenities at Spring Branch include:
- Picnic Area
- Accessible Facilities
- Restrooms
- Good/Excellent Shorefishing
- Annual 2021 - 699 Rainbow Trout (12)
- Annual 2020 - 701 Rainbow Trout (12)
- annual 2019 - 225 Brook Trout (10.8)
- annual 2019 - 374 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
- annual 2018 - 154 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
- annual 2018 - 2,799 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
- 10/01/2018 - 32,571 Brook Trout (8)
- 10/01/2018 - 18,684 Rainbow Trout (6.5)
- annual 2017 - 199 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
- annual 2017 - 449 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
- 2/26/16 - 200 Rainbow Trout (7-10")
- 11/2/16 - 200 Brook Trout (8")
- 12/28/2015 - 200 Brook Trout (9")
- 04/16/2015 - 200 Rainbow Trout (1.6/lb)
- 03/04/2013 - 200 Rainbow Trout (2.0")
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.
- 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: 14-inch minimum from the spring source to County Highway D5X as posted
- Other: Artificial lures only in posted areas. 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.
- 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: 14-inch minimum from the spring source to County Highway D5X as posted
- Other: Artificial lures only in posted areas. 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.
- 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: 14-inch minimum from the spring source to County Highway D5X as posted
- Other: Artificial lures only in posted areas. 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.
- 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.
A special regulation fishery with 14 inch minimum length limit and artificial lures only. Primarily on private land with some state land and some permanent public fishing easement. A fish population assessment completed during 2020 showed a high-density population of resident brown trout is present with fish up to 22 inches, while low-density populations of brook and rainbow trout are present with few fish over 14 inches.(2020)
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. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.