Podcasts
Stay up to date with the latest Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report, featuring a rotating video packed with timely outdoor insights. From current bass fishing patterns and whitetail movement to trapping tips and seasonal wildlife activity, this page delivers a well-rounded look at what’s happening across Iowa’s outdoors—helping you make the most of every trip afield or on the water.
June 12th Iowa Hunting & Fishing Report
The June 12 episode of the Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report features host Aaron with guest Shawn from Manson Lumber Bait and Tackle, focusing on current fishing conditions across Iowa and an instructional archery segment.
Aaron opens with a rundown of regional fishing reports, emphasizing that many rivers remain high and muddy following recent heavy rains, particularly on the eastern side of the state. A report from Oakland Bait and Tackle notes very strong catfish action on stink bait and dip baits, with expectations that the bite will transition toward live and cut bait as water levels fall and clarity improves. From Clark’s in Central City, Aaron relays that the river bite is slower due to high, dirty water, but ponds and lakes are producing well. Anglers targeting these waters are finding panfish, bass, and walleye, provided they are willing to move and search.
The episode then shifts into an archery how-to segment. Aaron explains that after deer and turkey seasons, bows often drift out of tune, making it important to recheck paper tune before serious practice or hunting preparation. He demonstrates shooting through paper to confirm straight arrow flight, showing the difference between a clean tear that indicates a well-tuned setup and a slightly tail-right tear that suggests minor tuning issues. From there, he walks through sighting in using the “chase your arrow” principle: moving the sight in the same direction as the miss—left, right, up, or down—to bring groups back to center. He stresses that significant timing or tuning problems should be handled by a professional bow technician, while sight adjustments are straightforward for most shooters.
Returning to the fishing discussion, Shawn details what anglers can expect from his local waters. He reports excellent walleye action on Brushy Creek, steady crappie and muskie fishing on Twin Lakes following extensive carp removal, and a revitalized walleye bite on Storm Lake. Kennedy (Badger) Lake is highlighted as a strong crappie option and an especially good choice for taking kids fishing.
The episode closes with Aaron thanking Shawn for his local insight and announcing three giveaway winners, whose prizes will be shipped after social media follow-up.
Below is the link for the episode on Podbean, Give us a Follow!
Hunting & Fishing Report June 12th | The Iowa Sportsman Podcast
June 5th Iowa Hunting & Fishing Report
The June 5 edition of the Iowa Hunting and Fish Report opens with an announcement that it is free fishing weekend in Iowa, running June 5–7. The host encourages listeners to take advantage of the opportunity to fish without a license, emphasizing time with family and friends, outdoor recreation, and the social aspect of fishing, even when the bite is slow.
The report begins in southern Iowa with an update from Brownies Bait Breakfast and Beer near Rathbun. Walleye are reported to be biting well, and the crappie spawn is nearing its end, with roughly a third of the spawn still to go. Rathbun is highlighted as a destination for large crappie and strong fishing overall. Wipers are also active, described as exceptionally hard-fighting fish and a top choice for anglers seeking a powerful battle. They are currently taking minnows and green night crawlers, and the bait shop is positioned as a resource for gear, bait, and local guidance.
Shifting east, the report features Max in Dubuque, where catfish are biting along the rocks on the big river and are recommended as both a fun and forgiving target for novice anglers. Walleye are reported to be biting near the dam, with a boat preferred but not strictly necessary for success, as shore fishing remains an option.
Further north, Stan’s Bait Shop in Milford provides an Iowa Great Lakes update, with crappie and bluegill biting and a solid evening walleye bite. Anglers are reminded to observe walleye slot limits. The Little Sioux Bait Shop in Lynn Grove reports good action on northern pike, walleye, and catfish, with specific bait recommendations including minnows, leeches, chubs, and worms.
The host stresses the importance of supporting local bait shops for their expertise and community value. The episode also announces apron and ThunderCap giveaway winners and outlines the next apron giveaway, inviting listeners to comment with their favorite fishing knot. The report closes with plans for upcoming video content, guest appearances, and on-the-water segments, along with an invitation for viewers to suggest locations and continue engaging with the report online.
Below is the link for the episode on Podbean, Give us a Follow!
Hunting & Fishing Report May 29th | The Iowa Sportsman Podcast
May 29th – Iowa Hunting & Fishing Report
The report provides an overview of late May fishing conditions across several key Iowa lakes and interior rivers, emphasizing strong multi-species action and early summer transitions. Warmer weather is beginning to push some species deeper, particularly walleye, but overall fishing remains productive statewide.
The host highlights information gathered from four bait shops representing different regions. At Dad’s Bait Shop in Afton, near Twelve Mile and Three Mile lakes in the Afton–Creston area, anglers are finding perch, walleye, bluegill, and crappie on minnows, leeches, and jigs at Twelve Mile. Three Mile Lake is producing walleye, crappie, wiper, bass, and notably blue catfish on medium minnows. The presence of blue cats is attributed to targeted DNR stocking in select interior lakes, with some fish approaching 30 inches and offering aggressive strikes and strong fights, making them a standout opportunity away from the big border rivers.
Woods Sporting Goods in Council Bluffs reports solid bass activity on minnows and lures at Lake Manawa. Catfish are biting both in the nearby big river and within Manawa itself, where nightcrawlers are effective. Bing’s Bait in Boone notes that catfish, panfish, perch, crappie, and sunfish are all biting well, while walleye activity has slowed somewhat with the warming trend, potentially shifting to deeper structure or more pronounced night bites. Snapper City Bait in Adel (referred to as Adolissa) reports good crappie action on area lakes and strong catfish activity in the rivers.
Interior rivers such as the Des Moines, Cedar, Boone, and Iowa are stabilizing and clearing with a break from heavy rains, improving the catfish bite. Recommended tactics include live bait such as green sunfish and bullheads for flatheads, with pectoral fins trimmed, and a wide range of baits for channel cats. Blue catfish respond well to cut bait and live bait in lakes where they are stocked.
Throughout the report, local bait shops are credited as knowledgeable resources that track real-time conditions and patterns across Iowa’s lakes and rivers.
Iowa Hunting & Fishing Report May 29th
Listen to the Previous Hunting and Fishing Reports below!
Below is the link for the episode on Podbean, Give us a Follow!
Hunting & Fishing Report May 29th | The Iowa Sportsman Podcast