Get the boat gassed up, get your lines on the fishing poles, and get ready to enjoy a day on the water because the Iowa DNR is ready for the spring community trout stockings.

The weather hasn't exactly felt very warm since the beginning of spring but if you throw on some warm layers, there's never a bad time to go fishing. I'm not much a fisherman but you wouldn't have to twist my arm to spend a day on the water. If you're looking for your next fishing spot, you have to check out these locations.

According to the Iowa DNR, "the Natural Resources fisheries staff will release somewhere between 1,000-2,000 rainbow trout in March and April, as part of the cool weather trout program."

2024 Spring  Community Trout Stocking Schedule

March 20 (These were originally scheduled for March 22 but have changed due to winter weather)

• East Lake Park Pond, Mount Pleasant, 10:30 am
• Lake of the Hills, Davenport, 10 am
• Wilson Lake, Fort Madison, 12 pm

March 21

• Prairie Park Fisher, Cedar Rapids, 10 am
• Liberty Centre Pond, North LIbery, 10:30 am

March 23

• Ottumwa Park Pond, Ottumwa, 11 am

April 19

• Sand Lake, Marshalltown, 12 pm

April 20

• North Prairie Lake, Cedar Falls 10 am
• Heritage Pond, Dubuque, 10 am

Most of these locations are also planning on hosting a family-friendly event that can help all anglers have success and most importantly, fun, while fishing.

According to the Iowa DNR, "The popular program is supported by the sales of the trout fee. Anglers need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10." 

As far as children go, children 15 and younger can fish for trout with a licensed adult but they must limit their catch to 1 fish per day. If you or your child buys their trout license, they can catch the normal limit. Once you buy your trout license, you're allowed to fish year-round at any of the trout streams or lakes in Northeast Iowa.

The only real 2 questions left are: who's driving and what bait should we use?! Good luck to all of the anglers in 2024!

Maybe after you're done fishing you could spend time camping in one of these Iowa campgrounds.