Class II West Fork Cedar River, IA

The West Fork rises in northern Franklin County and flows in a southeasterly direction for 42 miles before joining the Cedar River in Block Hawk County. The West Fork joins the Shell Fock near Finchford and flows through a relatively flat floodplain surrounded by a lowland timber greenbelt. The West Fork is visited by large numbers of waterfowl during the spring and fall migrations due to its close proximity to the Big Marsh Wildlife Area. There are numerous log jams in the West Fork that can make it difficult to traverse. A temporary dam is located approximately 1-l /2 miles downstream of the Big Marsh Access. This dam is in place from the first of September through November. It is used to divert water into the Big Marsh Wildlife Area. The numerous log jams are havens for channel catfish. Local anglers catch Iarge numbers of catfish and northern pike in or near these log jams and associated backwater areas of the West Fork. Walleye are often token near, as well as below, the West Fork's confluence with the Shell Rock River. The last access area is located on the Cedar River immediately downstream of the West Fork's confluence with the Cedar River. (Iowa DNR)