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Stream Details

Otter Creek

General Information

County: Fayette
Location: Located 3 miles southeast of West Union.
Stream Segment Length: 2.50

Amenities

Amenities at Otter Creek include:
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Restrooms
  • 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.

Otter Creek is stocked weekly April, May, June, September and October with catchable 10-12 inch Rainbow Trout. Fingerling French Creek Brown Trout were stocked annually from 2006 to 2017. Fingerling Rainbow Trout were stocked from 2000 to 2014. The Otter Creek segment from Hornet Road to Echo Valley Park supports trout populations year-round. The downstream portion of Otter Creek, adjacent to Echo Valley Road, is not a coldwater stream and does not support trout populations during most summers. Part of Otter Creek is in Echo Valley State Park. Easy walking trails are abundant.(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 - 6,485 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2021 - 6,653 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 6,240 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • annual 2019 - 2,231 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 4,192 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2018 - 2,046 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2018 - 2,602 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 727 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 4,777 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • 5/25/2017 - 6,000 Brown Trout (2")
  • 5/24/2017 - 700 Brook Trout (3")
  • annual 2016 - 465 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 5,295 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • 6/6/16 - 6,300 Brown Trout (4")
  • annual 2015 - 920 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 5,622 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • 06/09/2015 - 6,000 Brown Trout (4")
  • annual 2014 - 1,025 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 4,340 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • 06/13/2014 - 3,200 Rainbow Trout (2")
  • 06/02/2014 - 2,680 Brown Trout (2")

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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