The water through Yellow River State Forest is among Iowa's premier trout fishing — wild browns in a big block of protected hardwood-forest backcountry, with camping and trails. The most wilderness-feeling fishing in the state.
- 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
14.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
26°C
Wind
S 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1023 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
22.6 mm
Moderate 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 — conditions well-balanced, with water temperature particularly in your favour.
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
Ideal15°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 activity6812% weight
About this water
Yellow River, end to end
Field guide · contributor-editedYellow River · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Yellow River · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Yellow River · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- TroutOpen all year → Open all year
Yellow River · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Iowa DNR — state forest; verify regulations.
Yellow River
Google Places
The water through Yellow River State Forest is among Iowa's premier trout fishing — wild browns in a big block of protected hardwood-forest backcountry, with camping and trails.
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
Ideal15°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 activity6812% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
14.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
26°C
Wind
S 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1023 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
22.6 mm
Moderate 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 — conditions well-balanced, with water temperature particularly in your favour.
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.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Iowa DNR — state forest; verify regulations.
Directions
About this water
The water through Yellow River State Forest is among Iowa's premier trout fishing — wild browns in a big block of protected hardwood-forest backcountry, with camping and trails. The most wilderness-feeling fishing in the state.
- Limestone
Seasons & zones
- TroutOpen all year → Open all year
Other water nearby · 5