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Steve Weisman

Many questions continue to surround forward-facing sonar in fishing

Featured, Fishing, Iowa, National Fishing, Opinion /

As fishermen, we’ve always wanted to know what’s under the water. Where are the fish? What kind of fish are they?
Back in the day, we used our eyes to figure out where to fish. We saw rocky points, emergent weed growth, where water was running into the lake and caused a current that attracted fish. Fishing from boats, when we caught a fish, we would mark the spot with our eyes by finding an object on the shore (a tree) and lined up with another object (hi-line pole). When we intersected the two, we knew we were on our spot.

Many questions continue to surround forward-facing sonar in fishing Read More »

Slow down and keep quiet: Follow these rules for better pheasant hunting

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Iowa, National Hunting /

Many of our lives today are busier than ever, but when it comes to pheasant hunting, being in a hurry is probably the worst thing we can do.
Too often, it seems pheasant hunters are on a mission and have that need to keep going — sometimes at what I would call breakneck speed. That’s where I firmly believe they are making a big mistake. This is especially true when it comes to late season.

Slow down and keep quiet: Follow these rules for better pheasant hunting Read More »

Iowa’s Clay County Ladies Pheasant Hunt keeps growing

Featured, Hunting, Iowa, National Hunting, News /

In the movie Field of Dreams, a famous line is often quoted: “If you build it, he will come.” Something similar to “build it and they will come” is happening in northwest Iowa’s Clay County where for the past seven years, the Clay County Iowa Pheasants Forever Chapter has held a yearly Ladies Pheasant Hunt.

Iowa’s Clay County Ladies Pheasant Hunt keeps growing Read More »

Prepare now with Iowa’s early ice-fishing season on the horizon

Featured, Fishing, Iowa, National Fishing /

When you ice fish and live north of Highway 20 in northern Iowa and the month of November arrives, it’s time to get prepared for ice fishing!
Here on the Iowa Great Lakes, there have been times when I have been ice fishing on Thanksgiving. It’s only been three to four times over the past 40 years, but there is always that chance. More often, it’s somewhere around the middle of December.

Prepare now with Iowa’s early ice-fishing season on the horizon Read More »

Dave Genz: Leader of the ice fishing revolution

Featured, Fishing, Iowa, National Fishing, Opinion /

Certain people have skills that set them apart from others and also the charisma that makes people want to be around them. As an outdoor writer, I have been fortunate to interview some of the best of the best in both the hunting and fishing world. One of them is Dave Genz, often known as The Godfather of Ice Fishing for his revolutionary ice fishing ideas that helped bring ice fishing out of the Ice Age.

Dave Genz: Leader of the ice fishing revolution Read More »

Iowa clean water panel shares sound advice

Featured, Iowa, Nature Page & Night Sky, News /

The mid-August Okoboji Blue Water Festival (OBWF) was both an opportunity to share the clean water successes occurring in the Iowa Great Lakes area, and the chance to educate people about all the work still needed. 
“We must all remember that our cherished way of life depends on clean water: healthy ecosystems provide wildlife habitat and places to fish, paddle, surf and swim,” said Greg Drees, co-chair of the OBWF.

Iowa clean water panel shares sound advice Read More »

A trout trip destination: Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Mo., is worth the drive

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, Iowa, National Fishing /

Although we anglers enjoy fishing our home waters, there is always the lure of fishing trip destinations. From my northwest Iowa home base, it might be a day trip to Clear Lake in north-central Iowa or Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa. Then, of course, there are the larger trip destinations across the Midwest.
One destination that has appealed to me before and one that I definitely recommend is Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Mo. It is over nine hours away, but the fact that it is known for its world-class rainbow and brown trout fishing makes it a must-go-to fishing destination.

A trout trip destination: Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Mo., is worth the drive Read More »

Want to get into ice fishing? Here are some options for getting started

Featured, Features, Fishing, Iowa, National Fishing /

For those wanting to get into ice fishing, and we’re certainly getting closer and closer to the early ice season, the question is how much is this going to cost?
Well, that depends on what level of entry you are looking for. You can get enough equipment (mostly used) to get going for a few hundred dollars, mix some new with some old, or you can go all out and spend $40,000 to $50,000 for all of the bells and whistles. Even that price tag is a lot less than a new 20’ walleye rig costing $60,000 to over $100,000.

Want to get into ice fishing? Here are some options for getting started Read More »

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