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Driftless

Paint Creek

No DataIntermediate

Live Conditions

Paint CreekPaint Creek near Waterville, IA

No Data
CFS
Discharge
ft
Gauge Height
Water Temp
No recent dataView on USGS ↗

24-Hr Pressure

29.21 inHg · → High/stable

Falling (good)RisingHigh/stable

Local Weather

55°FClear sky
Wind 5 mph29.21 inHg Low & stable

Tough conditions — fish deep

Today

☁️

Overcast

82° / 51°

Tomorrow

☁️

Overcast

83° / 54°

Thu

🌧️

Rain showers

86° / 61°

0.32"

Fri

🌧️

Rain showers

75° / 64°

0.73"

Cold front incoming — go deep with nymphs, surface activity likely slow.

Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min

What should I fish today?

One call. Specific to today's exact conditions on the Paint Creek.

Time of Day

What should I pack?

Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Paint Creek conditions.

🪰 Hatch Calendar

Paint Creek · June · Early Summer

Full calendar →

Showing typical dates — water temperature data unavailable for live hatch predictions.

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JanDec

SULPHURS at peak (size 16-18) evenings. Caddis. Trico spinner falls beginning late month.

TricoCaddis

River Map

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USGS Gauge (click for site ID)Fishing Access / SectionScroll to zoom disabled — use map controls

About Paint Creek

Paint Creek in Allamakee County is a small northeast Iowa Driftless spring creek with strong populations of wild brown trout and brook trout in cold headwater reaches. Less famous than Bear Creek or Bloody Run but consistently productive. Cold limestone-spring water in classic coulee terrain — short rods, stealth, and small flies.

Blue-Winged OliveHendricksonSulphurCaddisTricoTerrestrials

Regulations

Iowa fishing license required (~$22 resident annual + ~$14.50 trout stamp; 2026 fee changes — verify current rates on Iowa DNR before publishing). Year-round trout season on most NE Iowa streams. 5-fish daily limit on most streams. Verify Allamakee County special-regulation sections in current Iowa DNR trout regulations.