Trout Fishermen's Allert!

Iowa's trout supply is growing. We may be just a few weeks removed from massive snow drifts and freezing rain, but spring has officially arrived in Iowa. Many anglers don't feel the spring season has started until they see something more tangible, like the hatchery truck rolling up to their favorite trout stream. There are about 50 some streams throughout northeast Iowa which hold trout year-round, but those fish are ultra angler-wary throughout the winter and that is why they haven't been caught yet. Most trout anglers wait until April 1; as this is their target date for Iowa's three hatcheries to load up and meet that pent up demand. They will stock approximately 350,000 catchable sized fish this year. There is about a 90-10 split between rainbow trout and brook trout. We would like to get that ratio to 80-20. There has been significant change in the trout program. Brown trout have been a staple for years and now through natural reproduction and improved growth we have sufficient brown trout. We have seen the brown trout flourish over the last decade.This addition of 13-14 month old rainbow trout will make for good fishing. Get those rods and reels out and get going. They're waiting for you.