The Search for Iowan Trout: Maquoketa River

I jumped in my truck this morning, popped in a live Train CD and made my way to Backbone State Park, near Dundee, IA. Labor Day was my first chance to hit an Iowa river, and from the state trout map and a few websites, Backbone seemed like a decent choice.

I drove into the park, first into the south entrance and then made my way—with the help of a kind lady behind the café counter—up to the east entrance. The park is fantastic, and within two miles I was driving over the Maquoketa River. The river itself is very beautiful. The surrounding foliage and the white sand trail running down its center only added to its appeal.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the trout fishing. I walked several miles of the river and only found a few trout holding in the deeper pools. In fact, I only came across three pools holding sizable trout (12-15 inches), and the meager space forced the fish stacked up shoulder to shoulder.

Needless to say, the lack of protection made the adult trout wary. Though I caught several small (dare I say) bait fish, the only trout of size I “snagged” was foul hooked in a small pool. I was ashamed to even take a picture of the brownie because of the way I hooked him.

I guess the bait fish should have been a give away. If there is an overabundance of the little guys, there probably isn’t enough of the big guys to chow on them.

In many ways, the river reminded me of the Middle Patuxent in Maryland, with the major difference being that the Maquoketa maintains a colder water temperature. They are similar in their sandy structure, in their plethora of bait fish/bottom feeders, and in their low water flow (the Maquoketa was a bit less in this category).

The most disappointing thing about the river was the poor job the DNR seems to be doing with it. Certainly my snobbish, purist attitude comes out when I say this, but this river is situated in a poor environment for fishermen with the put and take mentality. It is obvious the state pours oversized trout into this river a couple of times a year, but the small nature, few underwater rock structures, and difficult access points make this a poor choice. On the other hand, the Maquoketa would make a great sanctuary for brook trout, maintained under a catch-and-release program.
As I was driving away, I the Lord granted me a great view of the cornfields sandwiched by cattle and a rainbow.

Well, I have quite a few more rivers in this corn state to conquer…