Decorah Canoe Access / Upper Iowaon Upper Iowa River
What's working on Upper Iowa River
- 01Crisp fall conditions with clear skies and 42°F temperatures on the Upper Iowa River.
- 02USGS flow data is currently unavailable, but fall flows can vary.
- 03Late-season October Caddis and Blue-Winged Olives may provide intermittent dry fly opportunities.
- 04Subsurface midges, scuds, and nymphs remain active food sources.
- 05Focus on deeper holes with rocky or sandy bottoms and near coldwater tributary mouths.
- 06Structure like dead trees, boulders, and root balls are prime fish habitat.
What to tie on at Decorah Canoe Access / Upper Iowa
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun
Blue-Winged Olives are actively hatching in the fall, especially on overcast days. This low-profile dry fly is excellent for selective trout, bluegill, and even opportunistic walleye and sauger feeding on emergers and adults.
Buy at AmazonCrappie Jig Fly
Walleye and Sauger are fair, and this jig effectively mimics minnows and invertebrates, which are a primary food source for these predatory species in the current conditions.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger (Olive)
A highly versatile streamer, the olive Woolly Bugger effectively imitates leeches and baitfish, which are key forage for smallmouth bass, walleye, and sauger in the warming spring waters.
Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph
As mayfly nymphs become increasingly active in spring, this classic nymph pattern is an excellent general searching fly for trout in tributaries and opportunistic feeders in the main river.
Scud (Pink/Orange)
Freshwater amphipods are a consistent food source year-round, and a pink or orange Scud can be particularly effective in early spring for bluegill, panfish, and even opportunistic walleye and sauger.
Buy at AmazonPine Squirrel Leech (Olive)
This small leech pattern effectively mimics sluggish baitfish and annelids, triggering strikes from larger, lethargic smallmouth, walleye, sauger, and trout in the cooler early spring waters.
Mop Fly
A general grub/larvae imitation that consistently puts fish in the net, effective across various species in the Upper Iowa.
San Juan Worm
White suckers are actively spawning over cobble and sandy river bottoms, making this worm imitation incredibly effective. It also targets various other species.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger (Olive)
A versatile streamer imitating leeches and baitfish, effective year-round for various predatory species including Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Pike, Trout, Catfish, Sauger, and Bluegill in colder fall waters.
Iowa season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Fly shops nearby
Local flies, current advice and guided trips.