Bass

Sizzling Summer Smallies

Sizzling Summer Smallies By Todd Reed The hottest days of August can provide an Iowa angler the hottest smallmouth action of the year. Smallmouth bass are sometimes the forgotten bass of Iowa. While some anglers would choose to fish for only smallmouth bass for the rest of their lives, me included, most anglers catch the […]

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Through the Eyes of the DNR

Through the Eyes of the DNR Top Ten Most Common Violations Seen During Hunting Seasons So, you went to school and you made it happen. After, you saw what you wanted, you jumped through the many hoops, and luckily became one of the few hired in this much desired profession you went through a lot […]

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Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer

Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer By Steve Weisman The year was 1963, and I was 15 years old, a teenager who loved to play baseball and go to semi-pro baseball games and just kick back on a mid-summer’s evening. A big hit song of 1963 was Nat King Cole’s “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer, and […]

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Paddling Iowa’s Water Trails

Paddling Iowa’s Water Trails By Aaron Stonehocker Growing up, my little brother and I spent a lot of time exploring random creeks. We used to day dream about how cool it would be to load up a tent and some camping gear, and travel along these winding waterways to see what adventure might unfold. Today, […]

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Summertime, Shad and Square Bills

Summertime, Shad and Square Bills By Steve Bellrichard I decided to fish my way through 2020, the year of social isolation, and experienced the most epic day of largemouth bass fishing of my life. I have no idea how many bass I caught the morning of August 7th, but I fished one spot for an […]

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Working to protect shoreline north of Bedell State Park on East Lake Okoboji

Working to protect shoreline north of Bedell State Park on East Lake Okoboji By Steve Weisman Over the years, residents and visitors have stepped up many times to help protect the waters of the Iowa Great Lakes. From providing financial support to help purchase lands that impact the waters, to being volunteers, to reaching out […]

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Hunting Snapping Turtles Not for the Faint of Heart

Hunting Snapping Turtles Not for the Faint of Heart By Steve Weisman When many people hear the words snapping turtle, they cringe thinking about what that sharp, hook-shaped mouth could do to an unsuspecting finger! Yet there are individuals who relish the opportunity and the challenge of catching, cleaning and eating snapping turtles. At the […]

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Camping: Plan Around Your Families Wants and Needs

Camping: Plan Around Your Families Wants and Needs By Earl Taylor When Moses headed into the wilderness, he was told to take just his staff and the bare necessities with him; God told him that He would provide. Moses ate manna, quail and had water gushing from a rock. Pretty good first camping experience if […]

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Catch your Biggest Bass Right Now

Catch your Biggest Bass Right Now By Todd Reed Spring is probably the most anticipated season of the year here in Iowa. Flowers start popping up, the grass is bright green, wildlife is everywhere and the chill of winter has left for another year. As outdoors people, our anticipation turns to enjoying the trails, perhaps […]

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Iowa’s State Record Fish: Part II

Iowa’s State Record Fish: Part II By Ben Leal Last month we took a look at the current State records for perch, walleye, northern pike and muskellunge or musky as they are known. We also noted some areas where an angler might have a chance at landing that next record. With warming waters we’ll start […]

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