iowa fishing

River Tactics for Summer Bass Success

Dog Days Smallmouth Fishing: River Tactics for Summer Bass Success Fishing for smallmouth bass during the dog days of summer can test even the most experienced anglers. High temperatures, low oxygen levels, and sluggish fish behavior often leave fishermen wondering where the bass have gone. That’s where river tactics for late summer bass come in. […]

Finicky Fishing

Finicky Fishing August in Iowa can be quickly summed up in one word…hot! July has come and gone and average temps have been hovering around the mid 80’s, August continues the trend and even throws in a few 90 degree days. By now surface water temperatures on area lakes have reached 75 – 80 degrees […]

Time to Chase Some Slabs

Time to Chase Some Slabs As winter draws to a close and ice fishing ends, anglers begin looking toward open water. This is especially true for those searching for big slab crappies. Water temperature and timing are huge keys, and both can happen at different times throughout the Hawkeye state. Obviously, ice-out happens much sooner […]

Spring Bass Fishing in Iowa

Cold Water Bassin By the time April rolls around many of us have been to several outdoor sports shows where pictures of open water trophies are being displayed and boats line halls, giving way to dreams of being out on the water. Bass anglers are itching to get out on the lake and set a […]

Iowa’s Bass Fishing

Iowa’s Bass Fishing That thump on the end of the line can be ferocious at times and the jumps in the air so acrobatically. Only one fish in Iowa has those characteristics, the bass. Bass fishing in Iowa can be had in all corners of the state. Ponds, lakes, rivers and large reservoirs all provide […]

Windy Walleyes

Windy Walleyes By Ben Leal When it comes to fishing in the wind there are two camps; there are the “I don’t fish in the wind” campers, and then there are the “I love fishing in the wind” campers. Ironically enough, both camps and fishing styles do yield results. But, when it comes to the […]

Improving Walleye and Musky Fishing in Iowa

Improving Walleye and Musky Fishing in Iowa: What Anglers Need to Know How is Iowa improving walleye and musky fishing? Iowa is improving walleye and musky fishing through: Strategic stocking programs in lakes and rivers Fish barriers to reduce escapement Tagging and tracking studies (PIT tags and telemetry) Habitat and population monitoring Public participation in […]

When the bite is On

When the bite is on September…ahhhhhh…cooling temps, well at least we hope they start cooling off. We’ve just wandered through the heat of July and August and it was in a word, hot! Fishing, for the most part, was an early morning or late afternoon evening event. Two reasons really; you want to avoid sweating […]

River Catfishing Techniques: Reading the Water

River Catfishing Techniques: Read the Water & Catch More Fish Every riverbank is telling you a story—the question is, are you reading it? What is the best way to find catfish in a river? One of the best river catfishing techniques is reading river geography. Focus on outside bends for deep holes, inside bends for […]

The Two “C’s” of Hardwater Fishing

The Two “C’s” of Hardwater Fishing Anyone that has bought a diamond engagement ring is probably familiar with the four “C’s” of diamond grading: cut, clarity, color & carat. These four items are what determine the overall quality of each individual diamond, so diamond shoppers pay very close attention to them. Similar to diamond grading, […]