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- Trout fishing in Iowa
Types of Trout in Iowa
Trout fishing spots in Iowa
Best baits and lures for Trout in Iowa
According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Trout.
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Biggest Trout catches
Latest Trout fishing reports in Iowa
Rainbow trout
Lake of the Hills (I-280 Lake)
length · weight
Continue browsing catches and catch locations in the Fishbrain app
Regulations for Trout in Iowa
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Iowa can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Rainbow trout as of May 17th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Seasons
Bag limit
Special gear
Aggregate
No closed season. No size limit. Possession limit = 10 trout total (all species combined).
Exceptions to statewide regulations:
- Size Limit: 14-inch minimum length limit for all trout in Spring Branch (Delaware), from the spring source to County Hwy. D5X as posted, and on Brown Trout only in portions of Bloody Run Creek (Clayton) where posted.
- Catch & Release Only: You must release alive immediately all trout caught from the posted portion of Hewett and Ensign Creeks; McLoud Run; and Waterloo Creek; and Brown Trout caught from French Creek and West Fork of French Creek; and Brook Trout caught from Casey Springs, Falcon Springs Pine Spring Creek and South Pine Creek.
- Artificial Lure Only: You can only use artificial lures in the posted areas of Bloody Run Creek, Ensign Creek and Hewett Creek (Ensign Hollow), French Creek, McLoud Run, South Pine Creek, Spring Branch, Waterloo Creek, Casey Springs, Falcon Springs and Pine Spring Creek. Artificial lures don't
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Regulations for
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FAQ
These species can be found in many rivers and streams, lakes throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Trout have recently been caught.