Iowa Sportsman

Red Alert: The Disappearing Fox

Red Alert: The Disappearing Fox By Troy Hoepker I could sense Bob peering over his reading glasses and looking at me much in the same way that my own Grandfather would do from time to time as we both would sit and read quietly. I knew that each of them were simply taking delight in […]

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Trolling Tactics for Walleyes

Trolling Tactics for Walleyes By Steve Weisman As a fishing guide on the Iowa Great Lakes, M. Doug Burns is often asked by anglers, “What should I do when I troll for walleyes?” Burns, who has been a professional guide since 1986, begins to answer this question by saying, “There is not one single answer […]

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Spawning Bass in Iowa

Spawning Bass in Iowa By Todd Reed “I threw everything at them and nothing!”. “All I seemed to catch were small bass!”, “The bass would follow the bait all the way to the boat!”, “I kept missing bites!”. Do these sound like familiar phrases in May when trying to catch bass? I know I’ve said […]

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Catfishing the Ice Out and Cold Water Period

Catfishing the Ice Out and Cold Water Period By Brad Durick Northern winters can get long especially for the catfish anglers of summer. These guys have been patiently waiting all winter for their beloved lakes and rivers to open up so they can get back at it. So after a long winter of laying around […]

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Chasing Ice Out ‘Eyes

Chasing Ice Out ‘Eyes By Steve Weisman Ice out! Those two words create a feeling of excitement for walleye fishermen in northern Iowa. Two of those anglers, Kevan Paul, owner of Kevan Paul’s Guide Service out of Clear Lake, and Laef Lundbeck, owner of Blue Water Guide Service out of the Iowa Great Lakes (Royal), […]

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Catfishing in the Off-Season

Catfishing in the Off-Season By Brad Durick It is nearing the end of the football season as I write this piece and I keep seeing and hearing references to the playoff teams that championships are won in the off season. The videos they play go back to recruiting or signing top players and current players […]

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When we Steady our Upland Hunting Dogs

When we Steady our Upland Hunting Dogs By Ryan Eder Steady to Wing Pointers: For a pointer to be steady to wing (or steady to flush) this would mean that once the dog goes on point, they remain on point while the handler searches for the bird and kicks the bird up (this would also […]

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Field Hunting Mallards

Field Hunting Mallards As I looked through my binoculars, I couldn’t help feeling like an artillery battery waiting for the next wave of fighters. Checking the horizon for that distinct line in the sky.  As I squinted harder I saw them!  The first small wave followed by a much larger more intimidating squadron.  I threw […]

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Run and Gun Gobblers

Run and Gun Gobblers By Nick Johnson There have been encounters in my life that make me question what God was thinking when he made one organism in particular. Never in my life have I had a creature bring such frustration and reward upon me in a single day. To be clear, I am talking […]

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Stewardship… On Ice

Stewardship… On Ice By Rod Woten It’s amazing how far ice fishing has come in the past several years. Devices like portable sonar systems, underwater cameras, fully rigged ATV’s and snowmobiles, efficient gas augers and even the internet, have helped all of us to become fish catching machines when the hardwater months set in. We’ve […]

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