Panfish

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Calling all Iowa Sportsman!

Calling all Iowa Sportsman! Tired of the same old hunting and fishing stories? Want to get the inside scoop on the latest gear, techniques, and local hotspots? Then, you need to tune in to The Iowa Sportsman Podcast. You can expect up-to-date hunting and fishing reports. Get the lowdown on what’s biting and where to […]

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In Search of the Perch Bonanza!

In Search of the Perch Bonanza! By Steve Weisman Anglers will travel great distances on ice when it comes to chasing perch. In the Hawkeye state, one of the go-to places is the Iowa Great Lakes. Big Spirit and the Okoboji chain all have excellent perch populations. However, targeting these schools of meandering perch also […]

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When the going gets Tough on the Ice

When the going gets Tough on the Ice By Todd Reed The weekend is upon us and we have the green light for a trip to the ice.  The feeling can be magical on a Friday afternoon. As you drift off in your mind you can see the bluegills piled up beside your bucket, and […]

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Fishing Late Season Ice

Fishing Late Season Ice February is the time of year when, in Iowa, most outdoor sports and recreation shows are taking place, giving reason for the thoughts of open water. Reality soon sets in as you peer out the window and see a blanket of snow covering much of the ground and fishing boats remain […]

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Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Guide John Campbell Chosen to the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame

Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Guide John Campbell Chosen to the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame By Steve Weisman Among the list of inductees into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is longtime fishing educator, tournament angler and local fishing guide John Campbell. Campbell says with a smile, “It’s exciting and a great honor. […]

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Putting Slabs on the Ice

Putting Slabs on the Ice By Steve Weisman When ice fishing season rolls around, bluegills and crappies are two of the most sought after fish. Many anglers, myself including, find that if we target bluegills we will also run into crappies. So, on early ice we will start in the shallows, in bays where there […]

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Give’em what they want and how they want it

Give’em what they want and how they want it By Bob Jensen Whether you’re after fish in open water or through the ice, your lure presentation is one of the most important considerations for success. Since ice-fishing season is fast approaching in many areas, now is a good time to think about lure presentation as […]

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80 Years Collecting and Using Fishing Gear… Now What?

80 Years Collecting and Using Fishing Gear… Now What? By Tom A. Woodruff It all started in 1937 with a corn cob bobber used to fish off a sand bar in Long Crick in “Naturally” Louisa County, Iowa. Yes we always called a creek a crick there. Long crick and that darn corn cob bobber […]

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Early Season Ice Tactics that will Fill your Bucket

Early Season Ice Tactics that will Fill your Bucket By Ben Leal Anglers throughout Iowa keep a keen eye on the calendar each year, especially those anglers affectionately known as “ice heads”. Iowa’s average temperatures begin to dip in October and continue the downward trend throughout the month. Halloween paves the way for November to […]

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Primetime for Panfish

Primetime for Panfish March is a wonderful time of the year that can bring warm weather and with it, thoughts of open water. This leads most anglers to begin preparing for open water leaving many opportunities to fish areas with limited pressure. Some of the biggest bluegills and crappies that swim in systems are caught […]

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