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Stream Details

Chihak Creek

General Information

County: Howard
Location: Lower: Take Hwy 9 south from Cresco. Turn south on 345th Ave and travel about 2.4 mi to Cleghorn Wildlife Area. Upper: Travel south from Cresco on Willow Ave. Turn east on King's Road and travel to the Turkey River WMA.
Stream Segment Length: 0.30

Amenities

Amenities at Chihak Creek include:

    Brook Trout - Slow: Brook trout in pre-spawn condition and 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 - Fair: Avoid walking in cleared gravel areas in faster moving water. These are trout nests or redds. Brown trout spawning activity nearing an end. Try using flies imitating minnows or other small fish.
    Rainbow Trout - Good: Even though catchable stocking is completed for the season, 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.
    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.

    Public fishing access to lower Chihak Creek is available on the Howard County Conservation Board's Cleghorn Wildlife Area and on the Iowa DNR's Turkey River Wildlife Management Area. The rest of the stream is on private ground and requires landowner permission to fish and access. The stream has naturally reproducing wild Brown Trout and not stocked. 2019 data show 252 Brown Trout per mile with fish ranging in size from 2 to 13 inches.(2021)

    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

      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

      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.

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