3 Favorite Fishing Spots in Driving Distance of Manchester, IA

Manchester, IA is a stunningly gorgeous city. Many parks and halls are available, and there is no lack of great fishing spots nearby. If you’re looking to up your game, consider checking out these great watering holes within driving distance of Manchester.

1. Backbone State Park

One of the best places to fish in the Manchester area is Backbone State Park at 1347 129th Street. Typically, you can expect to catch catfish and bass. However, trout fishing is also great here. There is a lot to love about fishing at Backbone State Park, including its accessibility. The parking lot and sidewalk down the trout stream are ADA-compliant.

There is also a 21-mile trail system that you can hike down. In the winter, we highly recommend the cross-country ski and snowmobile trails in the park. There are also many picturesque mountain biking trails that are worth exploring. There are other activities you can enjoy here, too, including camping, picnicking, boating, and rock climbing.

2.  Bixby State Preserve

We also love casting a line at Bixby State Preserve at 37894 Fortune Avenue. There is a trout stream in this state preserve, and it is the perfect relaxing place to try to catch dinner. There are lots of other things you can do in this state preserve, too, including bird watching, picnicking, and hiking.

We strongly recommend checking out the awesome ice cave here. You may be able to see such relics from days gone by as cart rails, an ore cart, and mining tools as deep as 80 feet within the cave. You can also see wildlife and plants that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

3. Wapsipinicon State Park

Finally, we love visiting Wapsipinicon State Park at 21301 County Road E34, one of the first state parks in Iowa. This state park grants access to the Wapsi, otherwise known as the Wapsipinicon River. The fish you can expect to catch along the banks of this river include walleye where the Dutch Creek feeds into the Wapsi.

You can also expect to catch smallmouth bass, spring crappies, flathead and channel catfish, and bullheads. There are many other outdoor activities you can enjoy at this state park. For instance, it is a great place to camp in the shade. You can also play a nine-hole golf course at the Wapsinicon Country Club in the park. You can also enjoy hiking along several miles of multi-use trails.

With a reliable truck, like a 2024 Chevy Silverado, there is no shortage of great places to fish nearby. If it’s time to trade in your current truck, visit us today at Bob Stephen Motors to take one for a test drive.

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Tags: Fishing, Manchester, outdoor activities
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