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.
Catfish, Fletching Arrows and More – June 26th Hunting & Fishing Report
Welcome to this week’s episode of the Iowa Hunting & Fishing Report. The fishing report centers on strong catfish action, especially flatheads and blues, in the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and their tributaries. Feedback from several Iowa bait and tackle shops indicates excellent success on cut bait such as shad and carp, as well as live goldfish. Flatheads are performing particularly well on live green sunfish and bullheads, with anglers landing heavy fish in the 20–40 pound range, making this an ideal window for targeting big females. In the Council Bluffs area, bass fishing is also productive, with topwater paddle tails in blue and purple highlighted as reliable producers.
Around Johnston and the Des Moines area, flatheads are coming on chubs, green sunfish, and small carp, with bass responding to soft plastics and worms fished a bit deeper as water temperatures rise. Drum are providing hard-fighting action on worms and crawdads in river systems, while small walleye are available at Big Creek during low-light periods in the early morning and late evening. At Rathbun, anglers are finding good striper and walleye bites on minnows and worms, although crappie have pushed into deeper water and require trolling or vertical jigging. In the Swisher area, Lake McBride is producing bass and crappie, with topwater frog fishing for bass called out as especially fun. Viewers are reminded not to sit on unproductive spots and to stay mobile.
The archery segment demonstrates how to fletch arrows at home to save significant cost. Using a metal Bitsenburger-style jig, wraps, blazer-style vanes, primer, and glue, the host walks through checking arrow straightness and damage, applying wraps to protect the shaft, and carefully aligning and gluing three fletchings. The process is shown as simple, repeatable, and capable of saving substantial money per dozen arrows while allowing for customization.
The episode closes by announcing a hat giveaway winner, encouraging audience engagement through likes and shares, and promoting fishing as a low-cost, family-friendly way to enjoy the outdoors, with a tease for next week’s report and awards segment.
Below is the link for the episode on Podbean, Give us a Follow!
Hunting & Fishing Report June 29th | The Iowa Sportsman Podcast
June 19th Hunting and Fishing Report
The June 19th edition of the Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report delivers a concise, on-the-ground look at current fishing conditions across several of Iowa’s most popular destinations, with a clear emphasis on helping anglers plan successful summer outings while supporting local bait shops and guides.
The report opens with a brief introduction from host Aaron McKinney, who frames this as a practical, experience-based update drawn from recent conversations with guides and bait shop owners around the state. Overall, fishing is described as “hit and miss” in terms of species, but there are consistent opportunities for anglers willing to match tactics and locations to current conditions.
At Clear Lake, water temperatures sit in the mid-70s and clarity is around 20–24 inches. Despite some algae growth and increasing aquatic vegetation as the water warms, the walleye bite remains strong. Anglers are finding success with a variety of presentations, including leeches, trolling crankbaits, jigs, and nightcrawlers. The host recommends stopping at Clear Lake Bait and Tackle for up-to-date local advice.
In the Iowa Great Lakes region, Spirit Lake stands out as the top performer. With water temps also in the mid-70s, the walleye bite is good, particularly on leeches, though crawlers on deeper weed lines around 18 feet are also producing. Additional tactics like jigs and jig-and-minnow combinations can be effective. Largemouth bass and panfish are doing very well, while perch fishing is rated as fair. On nearby West Okoboji and East Okoboji, the bite isn’t quite as hot, though black crappie is good and bluegill fair. The area is pitched as an excellent family destination, with attractions like Arnolds Park, Oak Hill Marine, and Parks Marina, plus beaches and water sports.
In Northeast Iowa, trout fishing—especially for brown trout, with rainbows close behind—remains strong despite recent rains, thanks to quick-clearing small streams in the Driftless Area. The host encourages camping, sightseeing, and nearby Mississippi River opportunities.
From A to Z Bait and Tackle in Floris, the report highlights an impressive big flathead catfish bite, with fish reportedly reaching up to 70 pounds in southeast Iowa on the Des Moines River and nearby big river systems.
The episode closes with a giveaway of an Iowa Sportsman hat (camo or hunter orange) for listeners who like, follow, comment, and share, and a reminder to take family and friends fishing, support local shops, and help sustain Iowa’s hunting and fishing heritage.
Below is the link for the episode on Podbean, Give us a Follow!
Hunting & Fishing Report June 19th | The Iowa Sportsman Podcast
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