| The 2025 Catchable trout stocking calendar is now available. Catchable stocking season begins April 1. Start planning your getaway to beautiful northeast Iowa now. |
| Brook Trout - Slow: Use a midge, minnow, or leach pattern for fish looking to get more bang for their effort. |
| Brown Trout - Good: Fish around an undercut bank or similar structure. Cloudy days and off color water are a perfect mix for catching this trout. |
| Rainbow Trout - Good: Hatchery holdovers remain in the stream teasing anglers. Use small spinner baits or hair jigs floated past structure. |
Pine Spring Creek is located on the Seed Savers' Exchange Heritage Farm. The stream meanders 2 miles through the property and is home to a restored population of South Pine strain Brook Trout. Brook Trout were restored by stockings of native trout in 2003 and 2004. Brown Trout have not been stocked here, but migrate in from other streams. No recent stockings have occurred in the stream, and all Brook Trout and Brown Trout are from naturally reproducing populations. Special Regulations Apply: Brook Trout Catch and Release only. Artificial Lures only on this stream. Seeds Savers' Exchange does not allow tobacco use on their property to protect their heritage tobacco strains from tobacco mosaic virus. No alcohol allowed on property.(2022)
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 .