Love Iowa Trout Fishing

[hookncook]

Even though I spent the last 3 weeks on the salmon, for some reason, yesterday I work up with the trout itch. I jumped across the creek and headed into Iowa to do some trout fishing.

Living on the corner of three states, I carry licenses for all them all: Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa; and actively fish them equally.

Today I went to the beautiful Yellow River State Park and fished Little Paint Creek. I like this creek because it will produce nice rainbows, browns, and brookies.

This is the time of year I focus on head waters and obstructions that may prevent "big fish" from moving upstream.

On this trip, the water is low and clear. I got there around 1230, I like fishing mid day, especially for brookies. My first few casts were with the 1/4 oz PK spoon. Despite the river being low, there was still a lot of current, and Little Paint is notorious for having deep holes and drop offs. Despite the current, and my lure being too light to get to the bottom, I did manage to yank a couple nice rainbows.

I switched to a 3/8 oz Pk spoon then things started to heat up. I caught 3 keepers and took them back to my car for a quick shore lunch. After a few minutes and sharing some fish with a couple passer byers on horseback; I went back to fishing.

The second half of my trip I was using Dynamic Lure's HD Trout in various colors.I found the fish responding best to the Orange/Gold and pulled a handful of brookies, rainbows, and a couple browns. Over all, caught 47 trout , 1 northern, and kept 6 trout.

[troutcrazymn]

Wow, that is some great fishing, I bet it was nice to enjoy the bounty before going out for some more fishing. I have never looked into Iowa, is their season year round? If so it would be worth the drive from the cities.

[Scudly]

Tony any photos of your outing?

[hookncook]

Fall fishing in Iowa was a privilege. I loved the fall colors in relationship to where I was fishing

I tried to snap a picture of a deer here, but my camera wasn't quite fast enough

[hookncook]

Wow, that is some great fishing, I bet it was nice to enjoy the bounty before going out for some more fishing. I have never looked into Iowa, is their season year round? If so it would be worth the drive from the cities.

Yes, season is open all year around. Yes, it's worth the drive from the twin cities. The place I was at is only like 20 minutes into Iowa, so it would be a 2 hour 20 minute drive for you.

[ted4887]

Good looking stuff man! This post may be the push I need to pick up an Iowa license and head on down to give the new 3 wt a test run.

[hookncook]

Good looking stuff man! This post may be the push I need to pick up an Iowa license and head on down to give the new 3 wt a test run.

Consider this a respectable shove

[mark p]

Over all, caught 47 trout , 1 northern, and kept 6 trout.

I haven't fished in Iowa for 5 or 6 years, but isn't the limit on trout 5?

[hookncook]

I haven't fished in Iowa for 5 or 6 years, but isn't the limit on trout 5?

[Driftless]

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[Scudly]

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[ted4887]

Is Iowa trout limits a daily limit or possession limit?

Either way, it's a reminder for us all to make sure we double check the regulations.

[Driftless]

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[Driftless]

Trout Regulations

TROUT FEE: Iowa residents and nonresidents who are required to have a fishing license must pay the Trout Fee ($15) to fish for or possess trout. Exception: Iowa residents and nonresidents under 16 years old may possess or fish for trout without having paid the Trout Fee if they fish with a properly licensed adult who has paid the Trout Fee and together they limit their catch to the one person daily limit of five trout. Children under 16 have the option to purchase their own trout privilege, which allows them to fish without a properly licensed adult and keep their own daily limit (5).

SEASON: All waters - Continuous

LENGTH LIMITS: None, except a 14-inch minimum length limit applies to all trout in Spring Branch Creek (Delaware Co.), from the spring source to County Hwy. D5X as posted, and on brown trout only in portions of Bloody Run Creek (Clayton Co.) where posted.

DAILY BAG & POSSESSION: All waters - Combined daily of 5 and possession of 10.

CATCH & RELEASE ONLY: All trout caught from the posted portion of Hewett and Ensign creeks (Clayton); McLoud Run (Linn), South Pine Creek (Winneshiek); and Waterloo Creek (Allamakee);

and brown trout caught from French Creek (Allamakee) must be released alive immediately.

SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS: Artificial Lure Only: Fishing in the posted areas of Bloody Run Creek, Ensign Creek, French Creek, Hewett Creek, McLoud Run, South Pine Creek, Spring Branch Creek and Waterloo Creek must be by artificial lure only. 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.

[hookncook]

Consider this a respectable shove

[leech~~]

Thanks for the report hookncook. It's hard to hook 47 Trout in one day up here anywhere in MN so I think people were ready to jump on you thinking you eat and kept more then you should have. Heck, i didn't even think there was Trout down in Iowa?

[ted4887]

hookncook, I appreciate the reports and hope that you keep posting them.

[hookncook]

I'll be fishing in Iowa at least 1 time a week until the ice comes. Private stream 20 minutes from my school and permission obtained, I dont have to go far.

[Nate McVey]

Thanks for sharing!

I think the OP has made his case for not going over the limit so we can ALL get back to discussing the great trout fishery of Iowa! Look out Montana, Iowa is the next destination for trout hounds

[hookncook]

Look out Montana, Iowa is the next destination for trout hounds

I agree! I think that 365 fishing coupled with a great stocking program, let alone tons of public fishing and stream restoration projects has made Iowa a world class trout fishery, and sadly overlooked. Wisconsin being a close second (sorry- home waters, vested interest).

I also think with this economic climate, "staycationing" where one travels to tour destinations within a reasonable drive is on the rise,is inspiring Minnesota and Wisconsin residents to venture into Iowa for trout fishing destinations.

[Slabasaurus]

When my buddy asked me to join him and his family on a weekend trout getaway to Iowa, I was thinking... huh. Iowa eh? they have trout there? (I was completely omitting the entire eastern and north eastern part of the state from my memory... I completely forgot about all of the beauty of the area, and how spectacular it can be in even early fall colors)

What a great time we had. His family (mostly casual 1-3x a year fisherfolk) stuck with worms, jigs, and spinnin rods, while I stuck with the trusty fly rod. Ended up doin pretty well for myself, outfished the rest of em on sunday even (hooked 10, landed 5, All bows). I've only been fly fishin for 3 months, trout fishin for a little over 2, what I ended up learning was invaluable. I was perched over a stretch of the stream that had 2 pools within 50 feet of each other, and I could see into them while hiding behind some reeds. I spent 3-4 hours casting various presentations to them and watched their reactions, watched them follow and reject fly after fly until I got the color and action just right. What a day.

The coolest (and most frustrating) "learning experience" was when I was casting a BWO upstream and letting it drift down, had a couple of strikes but I missed all of them. Anyway... A bird of prey flew just east of the stream and its shadow went right over the trout - of course they all scatter under the banks.... time to move on.

I'll be heading back down there. Definitely worth the relatively short jaunt. The continuous season is something I'm going to take advantage of this year...