Musky/Pike
Improve your Pond with Native Habitat
Improve your Pond with Native Habitat The northern corners crown our state with their excellent natural fisheries that are unparalleled throughout the vast majority of the rest of the state. In the Northeastern counties we have pristine, cold water trout streams and in the Northwestern counties we have our few and only naturally formed lakes. […]
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When Spring Has Sprung
When Spring Has Sprung By Ben Leal Spring in Iowa, and for that matter anywhere in the country, is a pretty active time for our fishy friends that reside in area lakes. Warming water temps are a signal for walleye, crappie, and bass that it’s time to start moving to shallow spring haunts. Walleye are […]
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Be Careful of Poisonous Plants… and Pesky ones Too!
Be Careful of Poisonous Plants… and Pesky ones Too! By Steve Weisman I don’t think anything beats being out in nature on a nice summer day. Whether it is going for a walk on a neighborhood pathway, along a favorite stream or in the woods…a gentle breeze and sunny skies make for the perfect combination. […]
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Building your own Cabin
Building your own Cabin I remember my first long-distance family vacation. We packed up our van, when I was five years old, and headed west to South Dakota. This would be the first of many family camping vacations, which instilled a fascination with nature and camping. I always liked looking at the modern and historic […]
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Fishing Iowa’s Rivers
Fishing Iowa’s Rivers By Ben Leal River fishing… it’s one of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors here in Iowa. You can find solitude, peace and quiet and amazing fishing all at the same time. As a young angler growing up in New Mexico I spent hours wading cool mountain streams chasing after […]
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Exploring Iowa’s Water Trails
Exploring Iowa’s Water Trails Iowans are blessed with many rivers, creeks, lakes and reservoirs that are perfect paddling whether they choose a canoe, kayak or even an inner tube. These waterways will take you through a variety of areas that are significant to our state whether from a historical, cultural, geological, or ecological standpoint. Indeed, […]
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A Best Kept Secret Revealed: Targeting Northern Pike
A Best Kept Secret Revealed: Targeting Northern Pike By Steve Weisman Mention ice fishing the Iowa Great Lakes, specifically West Okoboji and Big Spirit Lake, to anglers and their eyes light up as they envision chasing their favorite game fish. Yet, there is one prolific game fish that is often overlooked: the northern pike. Bays […]
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Tips for Getting the Fishing Rig Ready for Open Water
Tips for Getting the Fishing Rig Ready for Open Water By Steve Weisman As spring approaches, anglers are transitioning from ice fishing to open water fishing. When this time comes, it’s time to get the boat ready for another year of fishing. There are really two ways to approach this. The first is for those […]
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Trolling on Ice
Trolling on Ice By Bob Jensen Open water trolling is a technique, or at least a phrase, that most anglers are familiar with. Trolling on the ice is a technique that more and more ice-anglers are becoming familiar with. Trolling on the ice might not make sense at first, but once you understand the concept, […]
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Battling Invasive Species in Iowa Lakes
Battling Invasive Species in our Iowa Lakes Early in the fall of 2022, a shocking discovery was made on the Okoboji chain of lakes. Eurasian watermilfoil, an aggressive invasive plant that can negatively impact a body of water by outcompeting the native plants and becoming the dominant species was found. The scary part is that […]
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