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Stream Details

Big Mill Creek

General Information

County: Jackson
Location: Located on Big Mill Wildlife Management Area, 4.5 miles west of Bellevue just south of Mill Creek Road.
Stream Segment Length: 0.90

Amenities

Amenities at Big Mill Creek include:
  • Camping

Trout streams are in excellent condition. Temperatures are predicted in the mid to upper forties for Christmas week providing for some good insect hatches.

Mill Creek at Big Mill WMA is stocked with catchable rainbow trout during April - October and also maintains a high density of wild brown trout. A floodplain restoration project was completed on the upper 1000 feet of Mill Creek on Big Mill WMA during spring 2014 and an additional 1200 feet in 2019. This project mitigated negative impacts of the incised channel and provided improved shoreline access along the stream in the project area. Access continues to be challenging downstream of the restoration sites and below the mouth of South Fork Mill Creek.(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 - 7,084 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2021 - 7,375 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 7,431 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • annual 2019 - 2,501 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 5,798 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2018 - 1,524 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2018 - 5,138 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 1,891 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 5,216 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 1,325 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 6,522 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 1,545 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 5,505 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 1,250 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 4,812 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
  • Green Sunfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • 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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