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Stream Details

Sny Magill Creek

General Information

County: Clayton
Location: Located in the Sny Magill Wildlife Management Area, 3 miles southwest of McGregor along Keystone Road.
Stream Segment Length: 5.00

Amenities

Amenities at Sny Magill Creek include:
  • Trails
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Accessible Shoreline

Brook Trout - Slow: Brook trout in pre-spawn condition and more interested in spawning than feeding making catching more difficult. Dabbling a fly through narrow vegetated runs or find a deeper pool above a beaver dam may grab a brooks attention.
Brown Trout - Fair: Avoid walking in cleared gravel areas in faster moving water. These are trout nests or redds. Brown trout spawning activity nearing an end. Try using flies imitating minnows or other small fish.
Rainbow Trout - Good: Even though catchable stocking is completed for the season, plenty of fish remain in the stream to confound anglers. A small chunk of worm or cheese under a bobber fished through a deeper hole may turn a rainbow head. Cut line on deeply hooked fish if returning to water.
As of November 1, trout stream stocking is finished for the year. Staff would like to thank all our trout anglers and supporters for making this season fun and rewarding. Fall community pond stocking in full swing. Visit our website to find out more. Many trout streams flow through public areas where hunting occurs.
Brook Trout - Slow: Brook trout more interested in spawning than feeding making catching more difficult. Dabbling a fly through narrow vegetated runs or find a deeper pool above a beaver dam may grab a brooks attention.
Brown Trout - Good: Avoid walking in cleared gravel areas in faster moving water. These are trout nests or redds. Try using flies or crankbaits imitating minnows or other small trout.
Rainbow Trout - Good: With the end of catchable trout stocking, plenty of fish remain in the stream to confound anglers. A small chunk of worm or cheese under a bobber fished through a deeper hole may turn a rainbow head. Cut line on deeply hooked fish if returning to water.
As of November 1, trout stream stocking is finished for the year. Staff would like to thank all our trout anglers and supporters for making this season fun and rewarding. Fall community pond stocking in full swing. Visit our website to find out more. Many trout streams flow through public areas where hunting occurs.

Sny Magill is stocked weekly April through October with catchable 10-12 inch Rainbow Trout and also provides opportunities for wild Brown Trout. Sampling for Sny Magill from 2010 showed 722 French Creek strain Brown Trout per mile with fish up to 16 inches. This is an estimated population and actual trout numbers will be higher. First ever natural reproduction was detected during this sampling. Recent habitat improvement projects have provided an accessible streambank and many other easy stream access points. Primitive camping is allowed in the wildlife management area. (2022)

Stream Maps


Parking Access
Catchable Trout Waters
Fingerling Stocked or Natural Reproduction
Restrictive Regulation Stream

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    No known aquatic invasive species have been found

  • Annual 2022 - 11,271 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2021 - 11,953 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 11,088 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • August 2019 - 20 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 15,554 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2018 - 12,132 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 2,401 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 11,140 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 1,395 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 12,288 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 1,850 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 11,837 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 2,283 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 8,480 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)

The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Brown Trout
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 5 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 10 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Anglers must have paid the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout
  • Rainbow Trout
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 5 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined trout (brook, brown, and rainbow) - 10 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Anglers must have paid the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout
  • White Sucker
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.

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Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information.

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