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Iowa Boating and Fishing
* Bellevue -- Little Mill Stream is stocked periodically and is the state's southernmost trout stream.
* Spruce Creek Park has a boat harbor with docking facilities and accommodations for 60 boats.
* South of Lock and Dam No. 12 has facilities for boats, two ramps for loading and unloading, fueling, repairs, bait, three boat liveries.
* Pleasant Creek Federal Landing, three miles south of Bellevue, has facilities for loading and unloading boats, camping sites, toilets, sandy beach and swimming.
* Cresco -- Cold-water trout stream, 12 miles northeast of Cresco, provides two miles of trout water, camping and picnic areas. A spring emerges from the bluff.
* Bigalk Creek, six miles north of Cresco on the blacktop road and two-and-one-quarter miles east, is stocked with trout.
* Turkey River Access, often known as Steamboat Rock, is two-and-one-half miles south and one mile east of Cresco. The area also has picnic table and fireplace.
* Dubuque -- Boat ramps, Hawthorne Street Boat Ramp, south of Lock and Dam No. 11, Chaplain Schmitt Memorial Island Boat Ramp on Adm. Sheehy Drive; Upper Sunfish Lake, north of O'Leary's Lake and adjacent to Lock and Dam No. 11, Mud Lake Park, six miles north of Dubuque; Finley's Landing Park, 10 miles north of Dubuque; Massey Marina, six miles southeast of Dubuque, off U.S. 52 South.
* Massey Marina, nine miles south of Lock and Dam No. 11, has a concrete boat ramp, gas, oil, ice and live bait during summer.
Yearly boatslip rentals available in two deep-dredged harbors. Concession stand is open for breakfast at 7 a.m. and remains open throughout the day. Fishing licenses can be purchased at the concession stand. Daily boatslip rental available for travelers.
Large camping area nearby has accommodations for trailers and campers with electric outlets, tent sites, cookouts, picnic tables drinking water, shower and rest room facilities, and camper dump station. Playground has swings, slides, merry-go-round, softball and volleyball area.
* Dubuque Yacht Basin and RV Park, 1630 E. 16th St. (across from Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino) offers a 56-site RV park with pool, showers, coin-operated laundry, playground, a 300-slip marina, transient docks, boat sales and service, inside and outside storage for boats and campers, travel-lift capacity to 60 feet and 55,000 pounds, restaurant and lounge on grounds. Gas dock and pumpout.
* Riverview Park, between two marinas on Chaplain Schmitt Memorial Island, has campsites with electrical hookups, picnic facilities, boat launch, good fishing and sandy beach.
* Swiss Valley, trout fishing in upper and lower areas of Swiss Valley near Dubuque during spring and fall.
* Dubuque Marina, Eagle Point Extension. Facilities for docking 250 boats, travel-lift capacity to 65 feet and 50,000 pounds, sales and service, showers and laundry facility, transient slips, gas dock with three pumpout stations, restaurant and lounge, outdoor storage for all boat makes.
* Arrowhead Marina, 11192 Golf Lake Road, six miles north of Lock and Dam No. 11, has accommodations for more than 130 boats, electricity to all covered slips, pumpout for marine heads and private boat ramp. A large service facility offers sales and service for boats, outboards and trailers and carries large parts inventory for products sold. The marina is 500 feet off channel, with well-protected and secure harbor.
* Edgewood -- Fountain Springs and other streams east of Edgewood include good trout and smallmouth bass fishing.
* Elkader -- Big Springs Trout Farm, five miles upstream from Elkader on the north side of the Turkey River, includes a trout hatchery, rearing pools and a two-acre lake. Fishing and picnicking are allowed along the river. Frieden's Park is across the river.
* Canoeing on the Turkey River, put in at Riverside Park and float down to Motor Mill for hiking and fishing.
* Garnavillo -- Stocked trout streams, South Cedar, two miles west of Garnavillo and Buck Creek, one-and-a-half miles east of Garnavillo. Mississippi River six miles from Garnavillo.
* Guttenberg -- North and south marinas. Capacity for 300 boats, loading and unloading, fueling and bait. River access lodging available.
* Hopkinton -- Fishing in the Maquoketa River at south edge of Hopkinton, picnic area available.
* Independence -- Two public boat docks provide facilities for boating, fishing and waterskiing on the Wapsipinicon River.
* Wapsipinicon River Access, one mile northwest of Independence, provides fishing, hunting and boating, with boat ramp and parking facilities.
* Lansing -- Capacity for 250 boats, fueling, pumpout, two boat liveries. Houseboats for rent.
* Manchester -- The Lake Delhi area, about seven miles southeast of Manchester, has camping and trailer facilities for about 70 families and housekeeping cabins for about 80 families. There are four resorts on the man-made lake that offer boating and fishing. Most offer swimming. A boat marina is available for launching, and bait and groceries are sold at the marina.
* Maquoketa -- Eden Valley Park, south of Baldwin, provides camping, fishing and hiking trails.
* Joinerville Park, four miles west of the city on Iowa 64. Concrete boat ramp and dock for access into Maquoketa River. This is the major recovery point for canoers who float the South Fork of the Maquoketa River.
* Marquette -- Yellow River Forest State Park, north of Marquette, is a spacious, rustic park, with cold-water streams stocked twice a week with rainbow and brown trout. Boat landing on the riverfront.
* Maynard -- Twin Bridges Park, north of Maynard, has fishing, camping, wading stream, facilities and shelter houses.
* McGregor -- Speedboats, houseboats or chartered craft available for large groups. Marine and docking facilities are convenient and have supplies available. Free concrete launching ramp has large parking lot nearby. Fishing guide service available.
* Bloody Run trout stream, lake fishing, seven miles west of McGregor on U.S. 18.
* McGregor Boatels, full service harbor.
* McGregor Marina, featuring gas, food.
* Monticello -- Fishing and canoeing on the Maquoketa River. Trout streams in the area.
* Center Junction, Jones County Central Park Lake, 12 miles southeast of Monticello offers 25 acres of man-made lake and 50 acres of timber. The lake is stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish. A large picnic shelter, barbecues and rest rooms are available.
* Nashua -- Cedar Lake, 700 acre lake within the city limits of Nashua, fishing, boating, swimming, public beach and three docks. Close to downtown, convenience store and parks.
* Sabula -- Island City Harbor accommodates 150 boats; 30-ton travel lift. Homeport, boat fuel service, pumpouts, refreshments, full service, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Open seven days per week.
* South Sabula, protected lake with sand beach for waterskiing and sailing.
* Sherrill -- Waupeton area, north of Sherrill, includes the Mississippi River and its backwaters and is known for "Waupeton whoppers." Bass fishing is excellent during spring and fall, and many large northern pike and good-sized pan fish are taken from the area annually.
* Finley's Landing, three-quarters of a mile north of Sherrill on Finley's Landing Road. Concrete boat ramp, yearly and daily boatslip rental, campground with electric outlets, tent sites, drinking water, playground, picnic pavilion, grills and fire pits, public phone, showers and rest room facilities.
* Strawberry Point -- Joy Springs, near Strawberry Point, one mile south of Iowa 3, offers camping and fishing. There is no charge for use of equipment.
* Trout fishing at Backbone State Park, a boat ramp is located near the boat house where rentals are available.
* Waukon -- Channel catfish and smallmouth bass are caught in the Upper Iowa River a short distance from Waukon. Good catches of trout and smallmouth bass also are found in Yellow River.
This area has some of the best trout streams available, including Clear Creek, Teeple Creek, French Creek, Waterloo Creek and several others.