Check Out Our Current Issue!
In the April 2026 Issue of the Iowa Sportsman
- Best Places for Early Season Open Water
- Building a Foundation for the Field
- Range Safety Tips
- Building a Farm Pond to Hold More Wildlife
- Shed Antlers: Do they really tell us anything?
- What Makes a Great Food Plot
- Keeping Kids Engaged in Turkey Hunting
- Pre-Spawn Bass
- Springtime Panfish-Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill
Click Here To View This Issue Now!
Using Dip Baits for Catfishing
Dip Baits for Catfishing Growing up, some of my best memories include using dip baits while catfishing with my dad and my older cousin, Chet. As soon as summer break started, I knew it was time to hit the rivers in search for catfish. I remember one particular June evening, the fog started to settle […]
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Food Plots in Iowa: Whitetails 365
Food Plots in Iowa One of the best things about living in Iowa is the wildlife we get to see every day. I think just about every Iowan can appreciate the opportunity to watch wildlife in their backyard, from their treestand, or their blind. We have several different species of animals. Northern Iowa has more […]
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Summer Angling in Iowa
Summer Angling in Iowa Iowa may be one of the best states in the Midwest to fish this time of year. The water is warming, most all spawning activity is complete, and the rivers are flowing. No matter what part of the state you live in. You have a river nearby that is waiting for […]
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Developing a Top Notch Gun Dog
If someone asked, “Are you a patient person?” How would you answer them? Is patience something you value and work on? Is patience an attitude you choose? Webster defines patient as: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint, manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain, not hasty or impetuous, steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or […]
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Featured Story
Springtime Panfish-Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill
Spring is in full swing here in Iowa, and what can be more pleasant a reminder than the sound of birds, the sight of flowers blooming, and the feel of a warm afternoon? I can think of at least one more thing…Panfish!
I can remember it like yesterday, our family would all meet up at the lake house. There was work to do. The yard was to be picked up, the cabin cleaned, and the dock had to be put in. But then, after the work was finished, it was time for all of us cousins to fish! We would all go out to the garage to pick out a few old rods and tie on a hook and sinker as best we could.
The next order of business was to hunt for worms. Flipping anything that we could find stuck in the ground in hopes of just finding a few crawlers. Once the bait was secured, we were ready to fish. We would go out on the dock and cast, vertical jig, and even troll along the side of the dock. We usually did pretty well use those tactics, but my all-time favorite was walking along the rocks on shore and dropping the bait down every little crevice, not knowing what was going to come up next.
Created By Iowans, For Iowans
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.
