Iowa
Upper Iowa River at Decorah
Current River Rating
Poor · 37
Conditions are unfavorable based on the available readings.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Low confidence
Should I Go?
Wait
Limited opportunity
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is recommended while current river conditions remain Poor.
Why
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Cautions
- Recent observed air temperature suggests unfavorable river water temperature for trout. Verify with a stream thermometer; this is not a measured water temperature.
Timing Evidence
Dawn low light is favorable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 181 CFS
- Gage Height
- 1.8 ft
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 6:45 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 05387500 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
68°F
Feels like
72°F
Wind
4 mph NW
Wind gust
5 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 2:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.01 in
Last 48 hours
0.09 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 3 AM
Clear
Temp 68°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 7 AM
Fog
Temp 65°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Sat 11 AM
Overcast
Temp 76°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 3 PM
Clear
Temp 87°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 7 PM
Overcast
Temp 81°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 11 PM
Overcast
Temp 70°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Fog
High 88°F / Low 65°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 19 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Fog
High 79°F / Low 66°F
Chance 9%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 24 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 81°F / Low 62°F
Chance 10%
Precip 0.06 in
Max gust 35 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Drizzle
High 94°F / Low 64°F
Chance 53%
Precip 0.05 in
Max gust 41 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Upper Iowa River at Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa. Monitoring-Backed FLOW-PRIMARY from USGS (live 00060, 00065). Live 00010 is not present. Water temperature is not labeled. USGS 05387500 Upper Iowa River at Decorah is the bounded public Decorah reach, Iowa's trout-country destination around the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery. Not a generic statewide Upper Iowa pin, not the Minnesota headwaters, and not Yellow River 05389000 or Turkey River at Garber 05412500.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Upper Iowa River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
The Upper Iowa at Decorah is Iowa's flagship driftless trout river at the Decorah public reach. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed FLOW-PRIMARY conditions from USGS 05387500 using live discharge and stage. Live water temperature (00010) is not present and is not labeled. Iowa DNR treats the Upper Iowa around Decorah as trout, smallmouth, and mixed-game water with public access above and below town. This is not Yellow River near Ion and not lower Turkey at Garber.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR: northeast Iowa streams support wild brown trout alongside stocked rainbows. Decorah is the Upper Iowa public trout reach at USGS 05387500. Not Yellow River trout section TYR03 and not Garber 05412500 thermal.
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR stocks catchable rainbow trout in northeast Iowa April–October. Decorah hatchery operations support this reach. Stocking calendars are not Hatch. Live 00010 is absent at 05387500.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR Upper Iowa above/below Decorah lists smallmouth bass among river gamefish. Not a reservoir pin and not Mississippi River smallmouth.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Driftless-area carbonate river at Decorah with riffles, pools, and public canoe/wading corridor. USGS 05387500 sits on this Decorah reach. Distinct from the Yellow River trout section and from the lower Turkey River at Garber.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Iowa DNR documents public access on the Upper Iowa above Decorah (Kendallville) and below Decorah (Lower Dam). Catalog coordinates are USGS 05387500 at Decorah, not a verified put-in pin. Private frontage occurs; use posted public access.
Stocking information
Iowa DNR stocks northeast Iowa catchable rainbow trout April–October and documents wild brown trout reproduction on driftless streams. Confirm current official Iowa DNR trout stocking notices for the Decorah reach; do not treat the stocking calendar as Hatch.
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Official sources
Iowa trout fee required to fish for or possess trout. Combined trout bag 5 / possession 10 unless posted otherwise. Inland black-bass, catfish, and walleye rules apply where those species occur. Distinct from Yellow River trout-section access limits and from Turkey River at Garber. Confirm current Iowa DNR regulations.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Winneshiek, Iowa
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Winneshiek
Management Category
Northeast Iowa driftless trout river
Regulation Scope
Upper Iowa River at Decorah
Regulation Summary
Upper Iowa River at Decorah: Iowa DNR inland stream and trout-fee rules on the Decorah public reach. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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