South Bear's sister creek at Highlandville — cold, spring-fed, wild browns and headwater brookies, with the same good access that makes this corner of Iowa such easy fishing to love.
- Limestone
About as good as it gets
Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
90% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
13.1°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
28°C
Wind
S 20 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1022 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
39.2 mm
Heavy rain · next 48h
Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Local fly shopsDriftless Fly Fishing Co.
Detail · next 12h
Water temperature & rain
The two readings most likely to move the verdict
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal13°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
6 factors, signed
- Temperature10028% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity9518% weight
- Feeding Time7013% weight
- Pressure807% weight
- Insect activity6412% weight
About this water
North Bear Creek, end to end
Field guide · contributor-editedNorth Bear Creek · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
North Bear Creek · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
North Bear Creek · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- TroutOpen all year → Open all year
North Bear Creek · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Iowa DNR — verify regulations.
North Bear Creek
Terrain map
South Bear's sister creek at Highlandville — cold, spring-fed, wild browns and headwater brookies, with the same good access that makes this corner of Iowa such easy fishing to love.
Species
About as good as it gets
Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
90% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal13°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
- Temperature10028% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity9518% weight
- Feeding Time7013% weight
- Pressure807% weight
- Insect activity6412% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
13.1°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
28°C
Wind
S 20 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1022 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
39.2 mm
Heavy rain · next 48h
Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Local fly shopsDriftless Fly Fishing Co.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Iowa DNR — verify regulations.
Directions
About this water
South Bear's sister creek at Highlandville — cold, spring-fed, wild browns and headwater brookies, with the same good access that makes this corner of Iowa such easy fishing to love.
- Limestone
Seasons & zones
- TroutOpen all year → Open all year
Other water nearby · 5