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
All stream stockings continue through the end of October. Beginning October 1, all trout stream stockings are not announced. Take time to enjoy the fall weather and fish a new stream. Anglers be aware many hunting seasons are open especially when fishing on public areas.
Brook Trout - Fair: The best Brook Trout streams are heavily vegetated making fishing difficult. Dabbling a fly through the narrow unvegetated runs is best or find deeper pools above beaver dams.
Brown Trout - Good: Anglers need to be more stealthy when approaching streams due to clear water. A variety of terrestrial insect patterns work especially crickets, ants, and grasshoppers.
Rainbow Trout - Good: A small chunk of worm or cheese under a bobber fished through a deeper hole will turn a rainbow head. Cut line on deeply hooked fish if returning to water.

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)


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

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    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.
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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.

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