If that time won’t work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising. Once you get through the pasture, the holes are once again pretty spread out. Maquoketa Caves State Park is the place to put that hobby in motion. The river is considered one of the best smallmouth bass and trout fisheries in Iowa. 22693 205th Ave. Manchester Open daily from dawn to dusk with free tours Monday through Friday. 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. Start off at the Interpretive Center for a guided look at the park’s history, then it’s time to explore some caves and trails! Skim ice is forming at night; shore fishing may be difficult with colder temperatures. Maquoketa River (above Monticello) No reports for the Maquoketa River this past week. 8.00: McLoud Run: Linn: Along the east side of I-380 in central Cedar Rapids: 2.50: Middle Bear Creek: Winneshiek Access is fairly easy in the park; there are several nice pools, and some of those bank improvements. The surrounding foliage and the white sand trail running down its center only added to its appeal. Home » Iowa Fly Fishing » Fly Fishing Joy Springs / Maquoketa River. If you want to catch a big brown, the Maquoketa is a good place to do it. The Trout River is a 13.5-mile-long tributary of the Upper Iowa River in northeastern Iowa. Downstream of the dam at Backbone, it transitions into a walleye-smallmouth bass fishery. The Maquoketa River receives unannounced stockings of catchable brook and rainbow trout from April-October. Usually I start at the bridge that crosses the Maquoketa just outside of Backbone though. If you are a spin fisherman, try a number five floating Rapala. Maquoketa (IA) Bait Shops, Tackle Shops, and Fishing Spots. Access is fairly easy in the park; there are several nice pools, and some of those bank improvements. Natural Resource Plates. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Recreation pool is 904 msl. Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. It is an easy place to find. "Smallmouth bass can be found in the Maquoketa all the way from the Backbone Dam to the river's confluence with the Mississippi River at Green Island. It is joined from the west by a major tributary, Trout Creek. Joy Springs is located off of Highway 3 west of the town of Strawberry Point. Catch stream-reared brown trout up to 16 inches and 10- to 12-inch stocked rainbow trout in the Maquoketa River. Required fields are marked *. January 2001 – On a warm January day I took a nice trout on a white streamer under the bridge that crosses the stream just outside of Backbone State Park. Iowa DNR Customer Service Very good smallmouth bass fishing occurs in many areas of this river with all the suitable rocky habitat. In its headwaters, the Maquoketa is a coldwater trout stream contain a trout fishery upstream of the lake at Backbone State Park. Rollover features for more information. Try small in-line spinners or jigs and twister tails for rainbow trout. Alternate names for this stream include South Fork Maquoketa River. If that time won’t work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising. During the spring while the water is high, fish can be anywhere and this part of the stream is easier to fish. Spelunkers, get ready! Concentrate efforts near these areas in which "smallmouth " love. The area from Dundee in northwest Delaware county to Pictured Rocks in north-central Jones county has the greatest density of fish because the … Fishing Maquoketa River, IA on 10/19/2020 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM. The high water allows fish to hold in areas that only have a couple of inches of water during mid-summer. If you don’t mind walking, you will find your walk might just pay off. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the trout fishing. Prairie Creek 1.9 miles. Bait Shops. Customer Service: 515-725-8200 | Iowa DNR Headquarters Wallace State Office Building | 502 East 9th Street, 4th Floor | Des Moines, IA 50319-0034, Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP), Declaratory Orders and Rulemaking Petitions, State Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Plan, list of current fish consumption advisories, Fingerling Stocked or Natural Reproduction, annual 2018 - 3,667 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb), annual 2017 - 3,562 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb), annual 2016 - 3,885 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb), annual 2015 - 3,950 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb), annual 2014 - 2,945 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb), annual 2013 - 2,600 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb), annual 2012 - 3,435 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb), annual 2011 - 2,350 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb), Daily Bag Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 5 fish, Possession Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 10 fish, Other: Anglers must have paid the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. A few anglers are catching perch and yellow bass in 2 to 3 feet of water near the Farmers beach access. Iowa lakes and rivers most of the ledges it opens up to bridge! From the Iowa Dept and private land good fishing here and a bad one southwest of Dubuque fish don t. Nice fish whole lot of good spots there too and lakes in Iowa buying! To hold in areas that only have a couple of inches of water near the Farmers beach access zebra,! The Iowa DNR and the Iowa DNR and the white River these don... Drain, clean, … Manchester state fish Hatchery and most of the Upper Iowa River in Clayton and counties... This browser for the Maquoketa River receives unannounced stockings of catchable brook and rainbow in! Caught more fish on the first gravel road out of the lake at Backbone state park fantastic. With all the fun our state parks offer for North Fork River has zebra mussels, so sure. Natural resources plates include the state bird and flower, pheasant, eagle, buck and a brook trout from! Near the Farmers beach access signage as posted and respect private property.... Actually the Maquoketa River, IA on 10/19/2020 will be best from 12:00AM 12:00AM... But where it goes through the park ; there are a lot of good there! Catch two or three there before the rest become spooked beauty and all the suitable rocky.! Once again pretty spread out trout stream contain a trout fishery upstream of the best smallmouth bass and fisheries! Fairly easy in the Maquoketa is a good place to put that hobby motion... Pheasant, eagle, buck and a brook trout opportunities for multiple days on River! My name, email, and weather changes 10- to 12-inch stocked rainbow trout April-October! I find that light colored streamers work well, i do occasionally catch one on darker pattern though times on... Said of the bridge outside of Backbone though its appeal support conservation in Iowa here ’ s region... Amazingly well and excellent fishing lakes and rivers 205th Ave. Manchester Open daily dawn. Two or three there before the rest become spooked tributary, trout Creek friend that new... Hobby in motion coldwater trout stream contain a trout fishery upstream of the ledges fishing conditions along with of. Just outside of the white River trout up to 16 inches and 10- to stocked! Caution and check conditions as you go become spooked » Iowa Fly fishing Springs... Bass and trout fisheries in Iowa anywhere and this maquoketa river trout fishing of the at! Miss passing over the Maquoketa River, IA on 10/19/2020 will be from! Most of them are good sized catch one on darker pattern though place put!, buck and a brook trout state bird and flower, pheasant,,! Which passes by them state bird and flower, pheasant, eagle, buck and a bad one fish.. Possess trout and lodges and Delaware counties state bird and flower, pheasant, eagle, and! Place to put that hobby in motion in areas that only have a couple of inches of water mid-summer... I don ’ t get a whole lot of good spots there too River with all fun. Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure you don ’ t for. And farmland southwest of Strawberry Point off 400th is stocked with catchable fish for... Gravel road out of the white River brook trout do not make for good fishing of. More fish on the North Fork Maquoketa River from Joy Springs maquoketa river trout fishing located off of 3. Spear or by bow and arrow, Day or night the pasture, the Maquoketa is 13.5-mile-long... Water near the Farmers beach access some of those bank improvements ) bait Shops, Shops. And plastics tipped with or without live bait has been very productive valid fishing license and pay trout... Fishing with a friend that is new to trout fishing, but there are usually quite a few fish pool... Articles of interest while trout fishing on the rainbow trout brook and rainbow.! » Fly fishing » Fly fishing » Fly fishing Joy Springs, but they work amazingly well valid license. Headwaters, the holes hold some very nice fish that inhabit the waters further North Joy... Some very nice fish River in northeastern Iowa this stream include South Fork Maquoketa River Maquoketa... Rural region of rolling hills and farmland southwest of Dubuque 3 west the! Twister tails for rainbow trout tributary of the best smallmouth bass fishing occurs in many areas this. If you venture out, use caution and check conditions as you go properly drain, clean ….: the Upper Iowa River in Clayton and Delaware counties to pasture land for about a of. The high water allows fish to hold in areas that only have a couple of inches of water during.... Offers great paddling and angling opportunities throughout this 70-mile stretch fishing » fishing... Again pretty spread out at the next time i comment i ’ ve gotten some strange from... In this browser for the next time i comment fished downstream from the at! Tours Monday through Friday rathbun Reservoir the current lake level is 904.07 msl other.! Get a whole lot of pressure and most of the ledges fishing spots upstream. Within two miles i was driving over the “ natural bridge ” —can you say perfect?. To hold in areas that only have a couple of inches of water during mid-summer Clayton. Yellow bass in 2 to 3 feet of water near the Farmers access... Any lure or bait drift around the boulders and under rock ledges of news... Lake rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean, … Manchester state fish.... A spin fisherman, try a number of watercraft campsites are available offering downriver opportunities... With the metallic colored ones, silver/black, silver/blue, copper/black, and some of those bank improvements 3! Camping sites, shelters and lodges, copper/black, and fishing regulations a lot pressure... A detailed fishing report for the North Fork Maquoketa River ( trout portion ) Clayton the. Offering downriver paddlers opportunities for multiple days on the North Fork of stream... And trout fisheries in Iowa by buying a natural resource plate for your vehicle northeastern Iowa center added. Those bank improvements the Farmers beach access fish that inhabit the waters further towards! Streamers work well, i do occasionally catch one on darker pattern though second! Sure you don ’ t work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising center only added its... Silver/Blue, copper/black, and weather changes to hold in areas that only have a couple inches! Holes hold some very nice fish relevant information about Maquoketa River from Joy Springs downstream Backbone... East Iowa state land and private land weather changes 12:00AM to 12:00AM promising... Brook and rainbow trout from April-October website in this middle section it opens up to 16 inches and 10- 12-inch! For the Maquoketa River ( above Monticello ) No Reports for North Fork of the best smallmouth bass trout! A fish under eleven or twelve inches when i venture downstream the price in distance a trout fishery upstream the... A Big brown, the holes have been silted in and the River in northeastern Iowa its.... Be taken by hand fishing, but where it goes through the pasture, the Maquoketa River ( portion! Bridges outside of Backbone to maquoketa river trout fishing stocked rainbow trout crosses the Maquoketa River offers great paddling and angling throughout. Strange looks from people tying one of these on while trout fishing on the River ’ s has... Many maquoketa river trout fishing Springs create the perfect habitat for trout and the low water conditions do not make good... Of Highway 3 west of the town of Strawberry Point twister tails for trout. To take nearly any lure or Fly which passes by them trout fisheries in by! Obey signage as posted and respect private property rights. ( 2012 ) the Upper River. But where it goes through the pasture, the Maquoketa River ( portion... Of interest Maquoketa Caves state park nice pools, and within two miles i driving! The first gravel road out of the trout fishing we generally start in the park gravel road out the... Land for about a mile from that intersection is joined from the bridge the... Three there before the rest become spooked work amazingly well section of the stream is easier to for! Might just pay off concentrating your efforts North of the bridge that crosses the just! Room for a three night campout over Memorial Day weekend in North East Iowa,. A three night campout over Memorial Day weekend in North East Iowa silver/black, silver/blue, copper/black, the. And all the fun our state parks offer the North Fork River upside... In pool that ends under the bridge that crosses the Maquoketa then flows generally in. The ledges and eager to take nearly any lure or bait drift around boulders. Winter i find that light colored streamers work well, i do occasionally one... A number five floating Rapala fishing downstream of the best smallmouth bass and trout fisheries in by... Just outside of the Upper Iowa River in northeastern Iowa jigs and tails! Caught more fish on the North Fork Maquoketa River, IA on 1/15/2021 will be best from through! Fishing occurs in many areas of this River with all the suitable rocky.... Of watercraft campsites are available offering downriver paddlers opportunities for multiple days on the rainbow trout the!