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Stream Details

Coldwater Creek

General Information

County: Winneshiek
Location: Located 3 miles northwest of Bluffton off of Coldwater Creek Road.
Stream Segment Length: 4.00

Amenities

Amenities at Coldwater Creek include:
  • Trails
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing

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. Many trout streams flow through public areas where hunting occurs.
Brook Trout - Slow: Brook trout in pre-spawn condition. Trout clear gravel on stream bottoms to make trout nests or redds. Dabbling a fly through the narrow unvegetated runs is best or find a deeper pool above a beaver dam.
Brown Trout - Slow: Cleared gravel areas are present in areas with faster moving water. These are trout nests or redds. Avoid walking in these areas. Brownies are more interested in spawning than feeding making catching more difficult. Try using flies imitating minnows or other small fish.
Rainbow Trout - Good: 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.

Coldwater Creek is stocked weekly April through October with catchable 10-12 inch Rainbow Trout and also provides opportunities for wild Brown Trout. Sampling data for Coldwater from 2011 showed 1593 Brown Trout per mile with fish up to 19 inches present. This is an estimated population and actual trout numbers will be higher. Coldwater also has a population of Rainbow Trout with inconsistent natural reproduction. The spring source of Coldwater Creek is on public property and one of the most beautiful in Iowa. There are areas of easy streambank access. Primitive camping opportunities are available in the Coldwater Creek Wildlife Management Area.(2022)

Stream Maps


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

You can zoom the map in and out using the slider on the left hand side, and you can pan the map by clicking and dragging. Rollover features for more information. Click streams to go to their page.

    No known aquatic invasive species have been found

  • Annual 2022 - 8,793 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2021 - 9,410 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 9,144 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • summer 2019 - 628 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 9,404 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2018 - 7,691 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 2,280 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 8,385 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 1,000 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 8,010 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 1,315 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 6,452 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 1,394 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 5,914 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.

Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

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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