Iowa Fishing Report: Fishing for Summer Walleye and Catfish – July 17th, 2026

Most Iowa anglers are focusing on catfish and walleye this summer, but what if you could unlock the secrets to catching the biggest flatheads and wipers in the heat of July? Aaron McKinney reveals the proven tactics that are turning ordinary fishing trips into trophy-winning outings during the hottest months. In this episode, you’ll discover […]

Iowa Fishing Report: Heat Slows the Bite – July 10th, 2026

The summer heat has settled across Iowa, and while it’s slowed the fishing in many areas, there are still plenty of opportunities to put fish in the boat if you know where to go. In this week’s Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report, Aaron McKinney shares the latest fishing conditions from bait shops across the state […]

Fall Walleye Tips & Tricks

  Fall Walleye Tips & Tricks In this article, I will explore several proven live bait rig and bottom bouncer trolling tips and tricks that will help you catch more walleyes this year.  While these tips are by no means comprehensive, I am hopeful that you will be able to gain some insight from these […]

August Bass Fishing

August 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 […]

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 out, my first encounter […]

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 […]