Hatchery Visit – Near the End of October

After we went to the Manchester Whitewater Park we proceeded on to the state trout hatchery located east of Manchester. There is a small springfed stream there and it has been upgraded with the bank hides. The bank hide consists of poles driven down into the stream bottom. Then planks are run from these poles to the shore. Rocks are then piled on top and eventually dirt fills in the gaps in vegetation grows. This provides an excellent location for trout and protects them from predators and fisherman.

This stream has a 14 inch limit and is artificial lures only. This along with the bank hides and water quality leads it to be one of the most natural trout spots in Iowa. Flyfishing in Iowa is limited to a very few locations. The trout need to be in the wild for some time before they become quality flyfishing. Near dusk I have seen some huge trout motor out from under the bank hides. They are pretty smart and difficult to catch.

Most of the streams are stock and the fish are caught rather quickly.The Manchester hatchery provided quality fishing and was the closest to where I lived. I could drive up after work and fish until dusk. Then home again at a reasonable hour. The other good fisheries were 2 to 3 hours away one way.

Inside the hatchery are the rearing pens and also a pond where they keep the brood stock. The brood stock are healthy large trout. It is amazing to see a few hundred of them motoring around the pond. There are browns, rainbows and bookies. Occasionally the state stocks the brood size fish in a stream. with bank I There is fish food available so visitors can feed them.

The visit to the hatchery was more emotional than I expected. It was one of my favorite spots to fish because it was close and had top-notch fish. The spot I'm at in the photo was one of my favorite spots. I would wait up from downstream and fish that little bend. I caught a lot of trout in that spot. It was also that stretch of stream that was my last trout fishing trip. I remember tripping a lot. I remember falling on my rear end. I tried kneeling down and fishing and I would fall forward. Fortunately I did not fall into the water. That would’ve spooked the fish. I found this lack of mobility very confusing. I did not know it then but MS was exerting its influence. I came home and was sad about my inability to fish. I prayed later that evening and felt much better. I remembered that God is good and has blessed me abundantly.