Fishing

Iowa Ice Hotspots for Crappie

Iowa Ice Hotspots for Crappie By Ben Leal November of 2019 will be remembered by the sudden blast of cold that blew into the State early in the month…Anglers across Iowa, especially those in the central portions of the state were talking about being on the ice by Thanksgiving. As I sit and hammer out […]

READ MORE

The Good and Bad Yellow Bass

The Good and Bad Yellow Bass By Todd Reed What: Yellow Bass are an invasive species in some lakes around Iowa.  They are not meant for lakes but have found their way into some, and typically means the lake will not survive.  Yellow Bass are in the same family as the white bass and striped […]

READ MORE

First Ice Checklist

First Ice Checklist By Todd Reed The ice around the state of Iowa has locked up nicely this year and has provided anglers an escape to nature during these cold months.  I have loved ice fishing for about three decades and with each winter a new excitement comes over me. It isn’t really about the […]

READ MORE

Ice Trolling

Ice Trolling By Rod Woten By now, any hardwater angler that is serious about catching fish knows that mobility is the key. Rather than sitting and waiting for fish to come to them, smart hardwater anglers know that they have to hunt the fish, much like a deer hunter might spot and stalk a trophy […]

READ MORE

Giving Back: Iowa’s Bald Eagle Territory Monitoring Project

Giving Back: Iowa’s Bald Eagle Territory Monitoring Project By Steve Webner Have you ever enjoyed watching the majestic bald eagle in flight over the Iowa countryside? Or have you viewed the live Decorah eagle nest video online with awe and wonder? I have always been fascinated with the great bald eagle and have enjoyed watching […]

READ MORE

Walleye Length Changes Coming in 2022

Walleye Length Changes Coming in 2022 By Steve Weisman When you catch a walleye in Iowa, there’s a good chance that the fish got its start in one of Iowa’s walleye hatcheries. Since walleye often don’t reproduce naturally in the state’s inland rivers and lakes, their populations must be maintained through the Iowa DNR’s stocking […]

READ MORE

Getting Ready for the Spring Spawn

Getting Ready for the Spring Spawn By Ben Leal Spring in Iowa, and anywhere in the country, is a pretty busy time for our fishy friends who reside in area lakes. Warming water temps signal walleye, crappie, and bass that it’s time to start moving to shallow spring haunts. Walleye are the first to transition […]

READ MORE

Breaking It Down Under The Ice

Breaking It Down Under The Ice By Rod Woten Fishing a new lake through the ice for the very first time can be intimidating. While the layer of ice covering the lake gives us unrestricted access, it also makes it much more difficult to effectively eliminate unproductive water. Gone are the sunny summer days where […]

READ MORE

Tight Lipped Ice Tactics

Tight Lipped Ice Tactics By Ben Leal We’ve all experienced it… a day we load up and head out full of anticipation of a great day out on the ice. You’ve dreamt of that ice rod bending as you set the hook on yet another slab crappie or 10-inch plus bluegill…Vexilar screens lighting up with […]

READ MORE

Try Something New for Hardwater

Try Something New for Hardwater It’s hard to believe we’re on the cusp of another ice fishing season. I’m not complaining, mind you. I actually prefer short summers. In fact, if I had my way, we’d have 4 months of spring, 4 months of fall and 4 months of winter. The last I’d heard, we’re […]

READ MORE