Spring Branch Creek is another one of Iowa's special regulation trout streams. All fishing on this stream must be with artificial lures and flies. In addition there is a fourteen inch minimum on all trout caught in Spring Branch Creek. If you are a fly fisherman, Spring Branch may be of great interest to you because there are hatches nearly year round in this creek. In the winter be prepared to fish very small midges if you intend to take these fish on a dry fly. I have had some success with streamers in this stream too. Here's a little brown Monte Bowden caught and released on a black wooly bugger in Spring Branch Creek.



I recommend fishing the downstream of the hatchery. There are a ton of fish in the stream near the parking lot of the hatchery, but they are constantly exposed to people (both fishermen and women, as well as visitors to the hatchery) and are pretty reluctant to strike unless you can catch them feeding heavily. Upstream also contains many good hides and is ideal for fly fishing because it is mainly pasture. If you venture downstream a ways you will find numerous fishy looking hides. The stream is not overly big, but it isn't one of Iowa's smallest either. You can usually find room for a backcast, and there are some places where you can do quite well with spinning gear too. If you are looking for a place to catch lots of nice fish, most of which have been in the stream a while, this is the place for you.