Iowa Driftless to host trout tournament

Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development, in collaboration with the Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited, will host a fundraising trout fishing tournament based out of Decorah.

  Buy Photo

The tournament, named the Iowa Driftless Classic, is set for Sept. 14.

The tournament will award prizes, but its ultimate goal is to raise money and awareness for the Iowa Driftless Chapter’s conservation efforts, the organization said in a news release.

Registration is open to both fly and spin anglers. Anglers will start at Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery, located along Trout Run Creek. They’ll have the option to fish many of the best cold-water trout streams in Northeast Iowa.

The entry fee is $200 per team ($100 per person) and includes tournament registration, dinner and drink tickets.

For the Classic, two-person team tournaments will participate in a semi-virtual competition called "Catch, Photo, Release“ and will use the online platform Fish Donkey App.

This format will allow anglers to explore different waterways, spread pressure over a larger geographic area and ensure safe handling of the fish, said Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation.

County trout fishing guides with detailed stream maps and descriptions are available upon request.

The target fish for this event will be rainbow, brown and brook trout with bonuses for teams able to capture all three species.

Prizes include more than $3,500 worth of non-cash prizes such as fishing rods, reels and fly boxes loaded with flies.

Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited will use the proceeds for in-stream habitat improvements, outreach and education events and to expand public fishing access on trout streams throughout northeast Iowa.

Visit iowadriftlessclassic. com for more information.