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Hammock Camping in the Hawkeye State: Hanging Out in Iowa

Hammock Camping in the Hawkeye State: Hanging Out in Iowa It doesn’t seem to matter where we camp, our hammock setup always seems to be the talk of the campground. If we had a nickel for every person that stops by and asks to check out the hammocks that Laura and I camp in, we’d […]

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Bluegills for Young and Old

Bluegills for Young and Old Let’s face it, I am a bluegill fishing fanatic. And why not? They are plentiful, they put up a great fight and they are great table fare. Oh, and one more thing, they are great fish to get a youngster hooked on fishing. I will also say this: you still […]

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Catching Musky and Pike in Iowa

Catching Musky and Pike in Iowa Muskies (aka the musky or muskellunge, plus many other spellings and titles) are the largest of the pike family. Usually, they prefer clear water lakes and rivers and are most actively feeding in water temperatures 55° to 70° Fahrenheit. They will eat any fish they can catch and prefer […]

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Great Catfishing Destinations in Iowa

Great Catfishing Destinations in Iowa We are already well into the open water season and the catfishing is in full swing. As anglers we always want more and bigger fish. Catfish anglers are no exception. If you are willing to do some driving and some walking if you are a shore angler there are some […]

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Trout Fishing in Iowa

Troutin’ About in Iowa

Troutin’ About in Iowa Use the word “trout” and “Iowa” in the same sentence and you’ll definitely get some funny looks. Trout are rarely the first fish that comes to mind when most think of Iowa. Fish more typically thought of, as “Iowa fish” are bluegills, catfish, largemouth bass, white bass and crappies. I never […]

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Bait Rigs that Catch Fish

Bait Rigs that Catch Fish If you were to go out and ask a dozen anglers what their favorite live bait rig is for any number of species you’ll likely get a dozen different answers. Now it may not be a dozen different baits, but certainly a variety of ways to rig those said baits. […]

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Iowa Trout Grand Slam

Iowa Trout Grand Slam

Iowa Trout Grand Slam Brace yourselves. Those of you unaware that Iowa has fishable trout populations may be in for a shock. Not only DOES Iowa have fishable trout populations in the northeast corner of the state…some of which do NOT rely on regular stocking to maintain their population…but Iowa actually has THREE species of […]

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My 5 Best Largemouth Tips

My 5 Best Largemouth Tips The largemouth bass, the most familiar fish in the country lives all around us.  No matter if you fish a farm pond, a local river, county park, one of the 100’s of man-made lakes around Iowa, or the Mighty Mississippi River, the largemouth bass is waiting for you.  Typically we […]

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Walleyes: Post Spawn Behaviors

Transition Walleyes: Post Spawn Behaviors and Tactics

Transition Walleyes: Post Spawn Behaviors and Tactics Many walleye anglers define this time of year as the post spawn blues. Depending on how the spring has gone, whether warm temps have held or cold temps prevailed this can hold some truth. I like to think of this time of year as an opportunity to intercept […]

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What I've learned from Being a Sportsmen

What I’ve learned from Being a Sportsmen

What I’ve learned from Being a Sportsmen I’ve spent more than 35 years in the outdoors and learned many life lessons in the process. Following are some of my observations, and I hope the Iowa sportsmen reading this piece nod in agreement on some, laugh out loud at others, and maybe even gasp in disbelief […]

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