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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Chasing Muskies in Iowa Waters

Chasing Muskies in Iowa’s Waters Beneath the surface of some of Iowa’s larger northern lakes and rivers lurks a prehistoric predator – the mighty Muskellunge, or muskie for short. Muskies offer a unique challenge and an unforgettable thrill for those lucky enough to hook one. These freshwater giants can easily surpass 50 pounds, transforming a […]

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Four Ways to Catch More Catfish

Four Ways to Catch More Catfish “If you follow these steps for a few seasons, especially on home waters you will become a force on that body of water.” We all want to catch more fish. In this case it is catfish. Nothing written here is earth shattering news but it is a few simple […]

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Secrets to Catching Summer Bass

Secrets to Catching Summer Bass

Secrets to Catching Summer Bass The warming temperatures have anglers restless and looking for every opportunity to hit the water, and the hopes of a whopper bass fuels the excitement even more. Here in Iowa, the water is warming up, fish are becoming active and offer a prime opportunity to catch that trophy fish. Summer […]

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The Lifelong Thrill of Trap and Skeet

The Lifelong Thrill of Trap & Skeet

The Lifelong Thrill of Trap & Skeet I first started shooting trap with family and friends when I was about 10 to 12 years old. My family was pretty patient, allowed me to “cheat” and shoulder my 12 gauge before yelling “pull”. When I powdered a clay, we celebrated together. When I was in high […]

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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.