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Stream Details

Joy Springs

General Information

County: Clayton
Location: South on Alpha Ave, off Highway 3 about 3 miles west of Strawberry Point in Joy Springs County Park.
Stream Segment Length: 0.80

Amenities

Amenities at Joy Springs include:
  • Picnic Area
  • Camping

Water flows elevated at most locations. Stream clarity highly variable depending on where rain fell but most are clear or clearing. Use care when wading streams with elevated flows. All streams were stocked this week. Gnats and no-see-ums out in force. Wild parsnip is beginning to bloom. Do not touch this plant. It can cause painful blisters.
Brook Trout - Slow: Brook trout take more persuasion to bite in off-color water. Sneak up on brook trout for a better chance at catching one of these beauties. Good hatches of gnats, mayflies, caddis flies, and midges.
Brown Trout - Good: Fish near or around logs or undercut banks. Spinner baits work well. Also try using streamers on larger waterbodies for some exciting action. Brown trout like cloudy water.
Rainbow Trout - Good: Use spinner baits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread, or cheese floated through deeper holes.

Joy Springs is stocked with catchable rainbow trout from April - October. The Upper Maquoketa River (Joy Springs) also has stream-reared brown trout. A recent fish habitat project was completed in the late fall of 2021. Primitive camping is allowed on this county park area along with a picnic shelter.(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 - 8,018 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • 11/28/22 - 2,504 Rainbow Trout (9)
  • Annual 2021 - 7,953 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 7,478 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • annual 2019 - 2,922 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 4,780 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2018 - 1,945 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2018 - 4,933 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 2,097 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 5,643 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 1,345 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 7,158 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 1,744 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 6,165 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 1,400 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 5,530 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. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.

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