| Trout streams are in excellent condition. Next weeks forecast calls for temperatures to be in the forties which may trigger some hatches to occur. |
Bankston is stocked with catchable rainbow trout during April-October. Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River (aka Bankston) also supports a population of wild brown trout originating from natural reproduction in the watershed. Fairly easy access to most areas on the county property with primitive camping available.(2025)
In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.
To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .