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Stream Details

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Stream Details

Bigalk Creek

General Information

County: Howard
Location: Located 7 miles northeast of Cresco.
Stream Segment Length: 0.60

Amenities

Amenities at Bigalk Creek include:
  • Accessible Pier
  • 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.

Bigalk Creek is stocked weekly April through October with catchable 10-12 inch Rainbow Trout. Fingerling Rainbow Trout were stocked annually from 2003 to 2011. Limited natural reproduction of Rainbow Trout has been documented. 2012 sample data saw 168 fish per mile with fish ranging in size from 6-12 inches. Stream access is easy and an accessible access is located downstream. Please be aware that segments of the stream are on private property where only angling is permitted.(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 - 4,350 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2021 - 4,750 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 4,500 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • August 2019 - 300 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 4,552 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • August 2018 - 77 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2018 - 4,656 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 1,118 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 3,408 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 400 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 4,550 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 460 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 4,200 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 639 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 3,753 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.

  • 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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