Fly fishing inIowa
Driftless Area spring creeks with wild brown trout — an underrated gem.
Iowa waters
6 rivers, lakes and creeks with fly picks and reports.
Maquoketa River
Highly regarded Midwest smallmouth river with riffles, pools and cut banks that produce aggressive bass eats for streamers and poppers.
Flows, flies & reports→riverMississippi River (Upper Mississippi — NE Iowa stretch)
Large, diverse river fishery where fly anglers target smallmouth bass, muskellunge, and panfish with streamers and topwater flies.
Flows, flies & reports→lakeRathbun Lake
Large reservoir known to fly anglers for bass (including largemouth and smallmouth) and quality flats for sight-fishing with topwaters and weedless streamers.
Flows, flies & reports→riverTurkey River
Freestone river in NE Iowa with solid smallmouth bass fishing and accessible public ramps for floats and wading.
Flows, flies & reports→riverUpper Iowa River
Scenic freestone river with rock gardens and pocket water that fishes well for smallmouth and spotted bass on the fly.
Flows, flies & reports→riverYellow River (Yellow River State Forest)
A clear, spring-fed freestone with cold pockets and scenic canyon country that holds trout in cooler headwaters and good smallmouth downstream.
Flows, flies & reports→