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Stream Details

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Stream Details

Pine Spring Creek

General Information

County: Winneshiek
Location: 6.5 miles north of Decorah. Take Hwy 52 north and then North Winn Road (W34) north to Seed Savers' Exchange.
Stream Segment Length: 2.00

Amenities

Amenities at Pine Spring Creek include:
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing

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.

Pine Spring Creek is located on the Seed Savers' Exchange Heritage Farm. The stream meanders 2 miles through the property and is home to a restored population of South Pine strain Brook Trout. Brook Trout were restored by stockings of native trout in 2003 and 2004. Brown Trout have not been stocked here, but migrate in from other streams. No recent stockings have occurred in the stream, and all Brook Trout and Brown Trout are from naturally reproducing populations. Special Regulations Apply: Brook Trout Catch and Release only. Artificial Lures only on this stream. Seeds Savers' Exchange does not allow tobacco use on their property to protect their heritage tobacco strains from tobacco mosaic virus. No alcohol allowed on property.(2022)

Stream Maps

Download Printable Stream Map

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

  • 04/29/2021 - 2,016 Brook Trout (2.3)

The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Brook 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
  • 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

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. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.

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