Official State of Iowa Website

Stream Details

  Fishing   >   Where to Fish   >   Trout Streams   >   Stream Details

Stream Details

North Bear Creek

General Information

County: Winneshiek
Location: Located 2.5 miles northeast of Highlandville.
Stream Segment Length: 6.00

Amenities

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

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.

North Bear Creek is stocked weekly April through October with catchable 10-12 inch Rainbow Trout. This stream contains a naturally reproducing population of Brown Trout. In 2009, there were 526 Brown Trout per mile with fish up to 20 inches collected. This is an estimated population and actual trout numbers will be higher. Primitive camping is allowed on the state owned North Bear Wildlife Management Area. Please be aware that parts of the stream are on private property open to public fishing.(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 - 14,400 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2021 - 14,493 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 14,400 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • August 2019 - 1,440 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 13,433 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2018 - 1,410 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2018 - 13,060 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 3,273 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 11,608 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 1,491 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 12,260 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 1,932 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 12,246 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 2,400 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 11,064 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.

Return