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Stream Details

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Stream Details

Turtle Creek

General Information

County: Mitchell
Location: Located about 1/2 mile north of St. Ansgar off of Highway 218.
Stream Segment Length: 2.20

Amenities

Amenities at Turtle Creek include:
  • Trails
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Accessible Shoreline

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.

Turtle Creek is stocked weekly April through October with catchable 10-12 inch Rainbow Trout and also provides opportunities for wild Brown Trout. Sampling data from 2011 showed 452 French Creek strain Brown Trout with fish up to 16 inches collected. Natural reproduction was first detected in 2009 and the 2011 sample confirmed consistent natural reproduction. This is an estimated population and actual trout numbers will be higher. Turtle Creek runs through the Boerjan Wildlife Area owned by the Mitchell County Conservation Board, as well as, several private landowners. There are many easy access points on this stream. 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

  • Winter 2022 - 8,727 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2021 - 8,100 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • Annual 2020 - 9,012 Rainbow Trout (12)
  • annual 2019 - 2,874 Brook Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2019 - 6,405 Rainbow Trout (10.8)
  • annual 2018 - 2,700 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2018 - 6,383 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 2,085 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2017 - 6,915 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 1,005 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2016 - 7,796 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 1,334 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2015 - 7,698 Rainbow Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 1,683 Brook Trout (2-3/lb)
  • annual 2014 - 6,807 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.

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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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