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!
Night Hunting Coyotes
Night Hunting Coyotes When it comes to night hunting coyotes, thermal and night vision scopes are among the most game-changing tools you can acquire. Both types of optics use cutting-edge technology to illuminate the night and detect heat signatures, giving the hunter unparalleled advantages in low-light or no-light conditions. A few years ago, Iowa legislation […]
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Upgrading Your Fishing Equipment
Upgrading Your Fishing Equipment There really are three things that you need to consider when it comes to upgrading your fishing equipment. Whether you are ice fishing or on open water. Includes the rod, the reel, and the type of fishing line you will use. As many of you can attest, we all start somewhere, […]
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Iowa’s Winter Wonderland Adventures
Iowa’s Winter Wonderland Adventures Iowa, often associated with summer cornfields and fertile soil, transforms into a pristine and breathtaking winter wonderland. Iowa offers a variety of outdoor activities especially at public areas and state parks. From serene winter hikes to those last ice fishing adventures, there are ample opportunities to enjoy the winter here in […]
READ MORETarget Shooting Checklist
Target Shooting Checklist Target shooting is something anyone can do and so is this target shooting checklist. It gets you outdoors. Do it by yourself or with group of friends. You can shoot pistols, rifles, shotguns, or, “all of the above”. You don’t even have to be a hunter or have plans to become one […]
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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.
