Early Spring Trout Fishing
Early Spring Trout Fishing

Early Spring Trout Fishing Spring in Northeast Iowa’s Driftless Region marks the beginning of one of the most rewarding trout fishing seasons in the Midwest. This is one of the prettiest areas in Northern Iowa marked with limestone bluffs, spring-fed creeks, and rolling pastures. The Driftless Region contains a several cold, clear streams that flow steadily year-round. This creates perfect trout habitat, and spring offers fishermen peaceful days on the water. With stable water temperatures, increasing insect activity, and hungry post-winter trout, there’s no better time to explore these legendary streams. Why The Driftless Region? This region is a trout […]

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Proper Fishing Drag Settings

Proper Fishing Drag Settings for Big Fish

earneProper Fishing Drag Settings for Big Fish During the process of outfitting a customer new to the sport of angling, there was nothing more gratifying than seeing the looks on their faces when I would show them the properties of their new drag system. I would stand behind the counter holding their rig and instruct […]

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July Fishing Guide For Iowa Areas to Locate and Catch Early Spring Bass

Areas to Locate and Catch Early Spring Bass

Areas to Locate and Catch Early Spring Bass Finally, the water has warmed up a bit, and not a slab of ice in sight.  April is the kickoff to bass fishing in the state Iowa, tournaments are popping up, fish in the river systems are becoming active once again and the lake water is getting […]

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10 Myths about Food Plots

10 Myths about Food Plots It is no secret that food plots play a primary role in attracting and holding a diverse wildlife population on your property. A recent study confirmed that starvation is the third biggest attributor to deer mortality. Planting a food plot will aid the survival of deer in your area, and […]

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Planning a Week-Long Pheasant Hunting Trip  Rooster Recap

Rooster Recap

Rooster Recap How rare is it in your life when you wake up knowing that the day ahead of you is about to be so special that you will remember it for the rest of your life? And how rare is it that there will be someone else there that will share those same memories […]

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Featured Story

Big Buck Profile: The 2025 Gandy Buck

Ok, this first big buck profile is a little self-serving in that it is of a buck that I personally took this past deer season. While it is likely not the “biggest” big buck that we will profile this year it is definitely one of my most special deer ever.

Turning a Dream into Reality

As has been noted in several articles since 2023, my family and I finally put together the means to purchase our very own piece of Iowa ground. “The 32,” as we call it, has become a passion project to see if we could take an unassuming piece of real estate and harvest a mature deer from there by giving him all he needs in the way of habitat. This year was the first year that the farm would be huntable in the state in which we intended due to construction projects over the past couple of seasons.

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The Iowa Sportsman website and magazine are Iowa’s only privately owned media sources catering to hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts here in Iowa. Simply put, we are unlike other Iowa outdoor media sources: All our staff is from Iowa, from our publisher to our writers. We actually follow through on what we advertise; we provide knowledgeable content from people who know the industry or sport discussed.