Iowa
Yellow River near Ion
Current River Rating
Unavailable
Not enough local guidance to rate conditions.
Low confidence
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is available with the current data.
Why
- This river does not yet have enough local fishing guidance to assign a rating.
Cautions
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Latest current reading
- Not available
Monitoring temporarily unavailable. · USGS station 05389000 · 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
66°F
Feels like
70°F
Wind
3 mph W
Wind gust
3 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
1.37 in
Last 48 hours
1.43 in
Heavy recent rainfall may cause rapid flow changes. Use additional caution.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 3 AM
Clear
Temp 66°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 7 AM
Fog
Temp 65°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 11 AM
Overcast
Temp 76°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 3 PM
Clear
Temp 83°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 7 PM
Overcast
Temp 77°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 11 PM
Clear
Temp 68°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Fog
High 83°F / Low 65°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 16 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Overcast
High 79°F / Low 66°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 25 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 79°F / Low 61°F
Chance 8%
Precip 0.03 in
Max gust 32 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Drizzle
High 89°F / Low 65°F
Chance 52%
Precip 0.07 in
Max gust 35 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
Yellow River near Ion, Allamakee County, Iowa. Monitoring-Backed FLOW-PRIMARY from USGS (live 00060, 00065). Live 00010 is not present. Water temperature is not labeled. USGS 05389000 Yellow River near Ion represents the bounded Yellow River mainstem trout/smallmouth reach downstream of Livingood Springs. Iowa DNR names a Yellow River trout section with public access at Stonebrook, Forest Mills, and Volney. Not Paint Creek in Yellow River State Forest, not Upper Iowa at Decorah 05387500, and not Turkey River at Garber 05412500.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Yellow 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 Yellow River near Ion is northeast Iowa's Allamakee mainstem trout and smallmouth destination. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed FLOW-PRIMARY conditions from USGS 05389000 using live discharge and stage. Live 00010 is not present and is not labeled. Iowa DNR documents a coldwater trout section below Livingood Springs with limited public access and canoe/kayak fishing. This is not Paint Creek, not Decorah, and not lower Turkey at Garber.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR Yellow River trout section: brown trout reproduce in the wild and are not stocked. USGS 05389000 live 00060/00065. Not Paint Creek and not Decorah 05387500.
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR Yellow River trout section: fingerling rainbow trout are stocked annually. Stocking calendars are not Hatch. Live 00010 is absent at 05389000.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR Yellow River trout-section popular species include smallmouth bass with a 12-inch minimum on that listing. Not Mississippi River smallmouth and not Decorah Upper Iowa.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Allamakee County driftless mainstem of the Yellow River near Ion, coldwater below Livingood Springs toward Effigy Mounds. USGS 05389000 sits on this mainstem. Paint Creek and Little Paint inside Yellow River State Forest are separate streams.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Iowa DNR Yellow River trout-section page lists public fishing at Stonebrook Park, Forest Mills Road, and Volney Canoe Access. Most of the river requires landowner permission except by canoe or kayak. Catalog coordinates are USGS 05389000, not a verified put-in pin.
Stocking information
Iowa DNR stocks fingerling rainbow trout on the Yellow River trout section; brown trout reproduce in the wild and are not stocked on that page. Confirm current official Iowa DNR trout stocking notices. Stocking calendars are not 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. Black bass 3/day with 12-inch minimum on this trout-section listing. Private property is extensive. Distinct from Paint Creek State Forest streams and from Upper Iowa at Decorah. 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
Allamakee, 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
Allamakee
Management Category
Northeast Iowa driftless trout river
Regulation Scope
Yellow River near Ion
Regulation Summary
Yellow River near Ion: Iowa DNR trout-section and inland stream rules on the Allamakee mainstem. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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