Fishing

Finding Fish When the Water Heats Up

Finding Fish When the Water Heats Up There is something special about summertime fishing in Iowa. Some of my favorite memories have been made on the water during the hottest days of the year. Average temperatures often sit between 80°F and 90°F, but it’s not uncommon for mid-day highs to climb near 100°F. On top […]

Topwater Bass Fishing

Topwater Bass Fishing Of all of the methods that anglers use in chasing after and landing bass, having one of these feisty fish explode on a topwater bait is one of my all-time favorites. In my early years of bass fishing and learning to catch them, topwater wasn’t part of my arsenal. As it turned […]

Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report – May 8th

Inaugural Episode – Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report

Inaugural Episode of the Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report In this inaugural episode of the Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report, host Aaron McKinney introduces a new weekly series presented by the Iowa Sportsman Magazine, focused on real-time field reports rather than secondhand information. He explains that each episode will highlight current conditions and productive locations […]

5 Ways to Cook Fresh Fish in Summer

5 Ways to Cook Your Summer Catch Summer is a great time to get out with friends and family to catch some fish.  If you live near one of the many rivers in Iowa, the current is always a safe bet during these hot summer months. Or If Lake fishing is more for you, then […]

A Guide to Summer Catfishing

A Guide to Summer Catfishing I can’t think of a better way to start the summer off than spooling up some mono on a baitcasting rod and rigging it up for some channel catfish. At one point in my fishing career, all I could think about was catching these smooth-skinned creatures. We used to have […]

River Tactics for Summer Bass Success

Dog Days Smallmouth Fishing: River Tactics for Summer Bass Success Fishing for smallmouth bass during the dog days of summer can test even the most experienced anglers. High temperatures, low oxygen levels, and sluggish fish behavior often leave fishermen wondering where the bass have gone. That’s where river tactics for late summer bass come in. […]

Chase the Bite: Early Season

Chase the Bite: Early Season Walleye, Pike & Crappie in Iowa As May approaches, every angler starts thinking about early-season fishing. Whether you pull your sleeping boat out of the garage or simply slide a couple of fishing poles in your car, you’re ready to find some active fish. The question remains: where do I […]

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 […]

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 […]