| Trout streams are in excellent condition. Next weeks forecast calls for temperatures to be in the forties which may trigger some hatches to occur. |
Mill Creek at Big Mill WMA is stocked with catchable rainbow trout during April - October and also maintains a high density of wild brown trout. A floodplain restoration project was completed on the upper 1000 feet of Mill Creek on Big Mill WMA during spring 2014 and an additional 1200 feet in 2019. This project mitigated negative impacts of the incised channel and provided improved shoreline access along the stream in the project area. Access continues to be challenging downstream of the restoration sites and below the mouth of South Fork Mill Creek.(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 .