Bear and Waterloo Creeks, Iowa, 6/19 to 6/21/2009

[albatross]

Thanks to some tips from board members here (EZPickens, RLeeP, and Chaz) I had success fishing in Iowa.

I had about an hour before dark on Thurs 6/19 and I fished at the confluence of North and South Bear Creeks. The fish were taking something invisible in the surface film. I did manage two small rainbows on a size 18 rusty spinner.

Friday morning 6/20, I headed to Waterloo creek early. I hit RLeeP's favorite strech downstream of Dorchester and landed some small wild browns in the 6-10 inch range, mostly on a size 16 parachute royal wulf with prominent white hairwings. There was no hatch evident and the attractor dry seemed to be the key to catching fish. When the sun got on the water the fishing died and I left about 10 AM.

Friday evening about 6 PM, I returned to Waterloo on the C&R section just downstream of where I'd fished in the morning. The parachute royal wulf did the trick again in the eveing. I caught perhaps a dozen wild browns, mostly fishing the moving water with a little turbulence. The fish in the still pools were too spooky in the clear water for me to catch. I managed one larger fish of about 13 inches this evening. What a great time I had.

Saturday morning 6/21, I tried without success in the bright sunshine on South Bear Creek to coax another bite.

We drove to Indiana the rest of the day Saturday and on home on Sunday. Here are some pics...

 

[DaveKile]

Greg,

Thanks for the report and pictures. Sounds like you fun catching those wild browns. Sounds like a nice trip.

 

[albatross]

Yes Dave, I had a nice time. Waterloo is reminicent of Spring Creek, except a little smaller and with much less pressure. The Northeast corner of Iowa is part of the Driftless region that overlaps SW Wisconconson and SE Minnesota. The spring creeks here are wonderful trout habitat.

I dropped my daughter at a summer music camp at Luther College in Decorah Iowa for 4 weeks, I'll be back in 3 1/2 weeks to pick her up and to give the trout in Waterloo a taste of my terrestrials.

 

[tomgamber]

I drove thru Iowa a few times. I guess I wasn't in the same area because I don't think there was enough change in elevation cause water to flow...glad you found trout...

 

[Acristickid]

Did you buy the annual license? hehe-

 

[ezpickins]

Thanks for the report. Glad to hear that you had success. I can't wait to give those streams a try myself.

 

[albatross]

AcristicKid wrote

Did you buy the annual license?

Paul, you should stop and try Iowa, Wisconson, or Minnesota on your way out West...

I considered the annual license, but two 3 day licenses were cheaper. http://www.iowadnr.gov/wildlife/files/priv_avail.html

NR Trout Stamp $13.50
NR Annual Fishing $39.50
NR 3-Day Fishing $16.00

My cost 13.50 + (2 x 16.00) = $43.50.

The Iowa DNR does a nice job of mapping the available trout fishing, showing parking, marking public lands, and showing private land open to public fishing.
http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/fishing/trout/troutstr.html

 

[albatross]

EZPickins,

Let me know if I can help you with spots or tactics if and when you do go out. I had a nice time last July on the Root River in SE Minnesota. I'll be out again to fish Waterloo in mid July of this year and perhaps I'll give French a try too while I'm out there.

I liked your blog...

 

[RLeeP]

Greg: If you get into the habit of going out there and need more water to try, take a look at Coldwater Creek about 15 (or so) miles NW of Decorah. It is much like the Bears in that it has a pretty good head of wild fish, but they stock the bejesus out of it with RT. Good size stream (bigger than N. Bear but smaller than Waterloo).

I'm glad Waterloo treated you at least fairly well....

 

[Acristickid]

Great- now you have me thinking Iowa. Those streams look like they would be awesome for Tricos.

 

[tomgamber]

You'd be surprised at number of people who that confuse Iowa and Idaho...

 

[JackM]

I confuse them all the time and have to remind myself-- Idaho produced Potatoes and Iowa, corn.