DES MOINES - The excitement of spring trout fishing in beautiful northeast Iowa is on the minds of many anglers across the state. The much-anticipated trout stocking season is set to begin on April 1. For those anglers or families who have never experienced the beauty of a spring day on an Iowa trout stream, it is a memory not soon forgotten.

To enhance the fishing opportunities, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) trout hatcheries at Manchester, Decorah and Elkader annually release catchable-size trout into 44 northeast Iowa trout streams. This stocking program continues throughout the summer and into late fall to provide an abundance of trout fishing opportunities.

Gary Siegwarth, trout hatchery manager at Big Spring, said more than 300,000 catchable-size rainbow, brook and brown trout will be stocked in the nine-county "trout country" area in northeast Iowa in 2004. Hatchery staff will make nearly 1,300 individual stream stocking trips to distribute these trout throughout the many miles of streams available to anglers. This ensures there are always trout present for anglers to catch and enjoy.

Fingerling stockings and natural reproduction add to trout fishing opportunities

In addition to stocked catchable-size fish, stream populations of trout available to anglers may also come from annual stockings of fingerling-size (2-4 inches) trout or from natural reproduction within the stream itself. Siegwarth said 240,000 fingerlings have been stocked annually in recent years. These fingerlings have made a significant contribution to the trout populations in 16 of the catchable and special regulation streams.

"We've also seen a major increase in the number of streams with trout produced by natural reproduction. Ten streams have brown or brook trout populations that are now totally self-sustaining. And eight additional streams have at least some natural reproduction that is adding to these streams brown trout populations. This is a very positive trend that is contributing significantly to increased angling success," Siegwarth said.

"Another trend we've seen in the trout program is a major increase in the number of trout anglers who are catching and releasing trout," Siegwarth said.

Extensive telephone surveys conducted in 1996 and 2001 indicate that trout anglers who release 'most' or 'all' of the trout they catch increased from just 28 percent in 1996 to 47 percent in 2001.

"This major change in just a five-year period has resulted in a higher level of angler success. In fact, the 2001 survey showed that over 90 percent of all trout anglers were successful in catching trout," he said. "This is proof positive that trout are not difficult to catch."

In an effort to reduce program costs, however, anglers will see a reduction in the number of stocking trips on 15 of the catchable streams. Also, because of the significant increase in trout populations in many streams due to fingerling stockings and natural reproduction, the total number of catchable-size trout stocked will also be reduced, further reducing total program costs.

Additional trout streams to fish

In addition to the 44 areas stocked with catchable-size trout, Iowa has seven streams with special regulations. These regulations are designed to either protect or enhance wild or fingerling-stocked trout populations. Posted areas on each of these seven streams restrict anglers to artificial lures only. Depending on the stream or stream section, regulations require anglers to either release unharmed all trout of certain species or of certain lengths. Trout populations in these streams add diversity to the program and provide a greater challenge for anglers. Specific special regulations are in effect on the posted portions of Ensign Hollow and Bloody Run in Clayton County; Spring Branch in Delaware County; French Creek and Waterloo Creek in Allamakee County; South Pine Creek in Winneshiek County; and McLoud Run in Linn County.

Trout fee changes

Trout anglers are also reminded of a change in the trout fee requirement. In the past, anglers were required to have purchased the trout fee only if they possessed trout. Anglers are now required to purchase the trout fee to either "fish for" or possess trout. This means that even anglers making use of the trout program strictly through catch-and-release angling will need to purchase the trout fee which helps support the program. The annual trout fee is $11 for Iowa residents and $13.50 for non-residents. Both residents and non-residents under 16 years of age can still fish for or possess trout for free if they fish with a licensed adult who has paid the trout fee. However, the combined catch of the children and licensed adult cannot exceed the daily limit of five trout. Siegwarth said that many kids simply buy their own trout fee privilege so they can fish independently and possess their own daily limit. Persons with a lifetime fishing license must also purchase the trout fee to fish for trout. No trout fee is required for Iowa residents on Free Fishing Days, which will take place June 4, 5 and 6, 2004. Free Fishing Days is a great opportunity for anglers who have never tried trout fishing to discover the spectacular resources of northeast Iowa and to get "hooked" on the fun of trout fishing for life!

How to obtain additional information

Monthly stocking schedules for the announced catchable trout streams are available on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.com or by contacting any of the three trout hatcheries (Manchester - 563-927-3276, Big Spring - 563-245-2446, Decorah - 563-382-8324). Weekly stocking updates for all three hatcheries are also available 24-hours a day on a single recorded message at 563-927-5736. This also is a change from past years when you had to call the hatchery that stocked the particular streams in which you were interested. Now there is only one trout recording number to remember. Twenty catchable streams will be stocked on an unannounced basis in 2004. This reduces the fishing pressure on the day of stocking and spreads out the stocked trout among more anglers.

The free Iowa Trout Fishing Guide includes a detailed map of the stream locations plus much other trout fishing information and is available at any of the DNR trout hatcheries, many license vendors or through the mail. This handy guide is a valuable resource for both beginning and veteran anglers and will help you discover your favorite trout streams in northeast Iowa.

Be a considerate and ethical angler -

The DNR urges anglers to always be considerate of landowners because many trout streams are on private property. Anglers should always take all their litter with them, not block driveways and just use common-sense courtesy. Although arrangements have been made by the DNR with landowners to allow public fishing on stocked portions of the catchable streams and certain sections of the special regulation streams, always ask or check before entering if you are unsure of where public fishing is allowed.

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