Fishing

Logo

Plan A, B and C when the Fish Disappear

Plan A, B and C when the Fish Disappear By Todd Reed The ice fishing season is well underway and anglers are having success all around the state of Iowa.  The fish have had ample time to get in their winter patterns and can become pretty predictable this time of year.  Typically that is a […]

READ MORE

Logo

A Trip Down Memory Lane

A Trip Down Memory Lane By Steve Weisman In late September, my wife and I traveled to her hometown of Redfield, SD for her 50th year class reunion. The kids of ’69 were now in their late 60s, and as a friend of mine and I watched the Redfield homecoming parade, we cheered as the […]

READ MORE

Logo

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

Logo

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

Logo

Preparing for Spring Fishing

Preparing for Spring Fishing It is amazing how fast the seasons come and go! I know that part of the reason has to do with my age, but the fall weather held on so long that it pushed the ice fishing season well into December. Here in northern Iowa, anglers had to head north as […]

READ MORE

Logo

Ice-Out Channel Catfish

Ice-Out Channel Catfish It might come as a surprise to many anglers to learn that channel catfish go on a feeding rampage almost as soon as the ice starts to melt in many of the reservoirs or lakes containing shad and other baitfish. These water bodies experience routine winter die-offs like this every year that […]

READ MORE

Logo

Ready for The Mid-Winter Ice Fishing Blues?

Ready for The Mid-Winter Ice Fishing Blues? As the crisp and frigid air chills your body, snow covers the landscape as far as you can see, the sight is somewhat magical on this early February day. However, as you drive to your ice fishing destination that beautiful sight reminds you that you are smack-dab in […]

READ MORE

Logo

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

Logo

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

Logo

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