Early Spring Trout Fishing
Early Spring Trout Fishing

Early Spring Trout Fishing Spring in Northeast Iowa’s Driftless Region marks the beginning of one of the most rewarding trout fishing seasons in the Midwest. This is one of the prettiest areas in Northern Iowa marked with limestone bluffs, spring-fed creeks, and rolling pastures. The Driftless Region contains a several cold, clear streams that flow steadily year-round. This creates perfect trout habitat, and spring offers fishermen peaceful days on the water. With stable water temperatures, increasing insect activity, and hungry post-winter trout, there’s no better time to explore these legendary streams. Why The Driftless Region? This region is a trout […]

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Springtime Panfish

Springtime Panfish-Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill

Springtime Panfish-Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill Spring is in full swing here in Iowa, and what can be more pleasant a reminder than the sound of birds, the sight of flowers blooming, and the feel of a warm afternoon? I can think of at least one more thing…Panfish! I can remember it like yesterday, our family […]

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Fishing for Pre-Spawn Bass

Pre-Spawn Bass

Pre-Spawn Bass One of my all-time seasons for bass fishing is when the water temperatures begin to climb and bass start making their move from deeper winter homes to shallow water where spawning will take place. The transition really begins as water temperatures rise to around 48-58 degrees. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass will start […]

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Keeping Kids Engaged in Turkey Hunting

Keeping Kids Engaged in Turkey Hunting

Keeping Kids Engaged in Turkey Hunting The morning air was cool and damp that May morning. The kind where you can hear your boots brush the grass as the dew covers your boots. He carried no gun, and that was on purpose. This was his first turkey season. He had the excitement, but today, he […]

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What Makes a Great Food Plot

What Makes a Great Food Plot Spring is just around the corner, and getting food plots started always comes to mind. Food plots are crucial, whether you’re setting up a safe place for wildlife to forage through the winter or to help target game species during hunting season. Here are 5 things that will help […]

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Featured Story

Big Buck Profile: The 2025 Gandy Buck

Ok, this first big buck profile is a little self-serving in that it is of a buck that I personally took this past deer season. While it is likely not the “biggest” big buck that we will profile this year it is definitely one of my most special deer ever.

Turning a Dream into Reality

As has been noted in several articles since 2023, my family and I finally put together the means to purchase our very own piece of Iowa ground. “The 32,” as we call it, has become a passion project to see if we could take an unassuming piece of real estate and harvest a mature deer from there by giving him all he needs in the way of habitat. This year was the first year that the farm would be huntable in the state in which we intended due to construction projects over the past couple of seasons.

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The Iowa Sportsman website and magazine are Iowa’s only privately owned media sources catering to hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts here in Iowa. Simply put, we are unlike other Iowa outdoor media sources: All our staff is from Iowa, from our publisher to our writers. We actually follow through on what we advertise; we provide knowledgeable content from people who know the industry or sport discussed.