Iowa
Beat the lake chaos with a deeper understanding of river fishing
It’s easy to find solitude on the lake in the spring. Ditto the fall, especially as the calendar flips closer to winter. But summer? Better be prepared to either deal with the traffic resulting from tubing, wake boarding, and water skiing, or sacrifice on sleep and hit the water early in the morning or late in the evening.
Plenty of anglers do it. After all, if the choice is to stay home or share the lake, most anglers are going to grin and bear the extra activity. But there’s another option that allows you to wet a line and, often as not, avoid the crowds.
Welcome to the river.
Student-athletes compete in largest youth trap shooting championship in Iowa
Athletes from 118 teams across Iowa converged on the Iowa State Trapshooting Homegrounds, north of
Iowa project will track juvenile movements of threatened turtle species
A central Iowa wetland is now home to 32 young Blanding’s turtles that were released
Beat the lake chaos with a deeper understanding of river fishing
It’s easy to find solitude on the lake in the spring. Ditto the fall, especially as the calendar flips closer to winter. But summer? Better be prepared to either deal with the traffic resulting from tubing, wake boarding, and water skiing, or sacrifice on sleep and hit the water early in the morning or late in the evening.
Plenty of anglers do it. After all, if the choice is to stay home or share the lake, most anglers are going to grin and bear the extra activity. But there’s another option that allows you to wet a line and,
Top Regional Stories
Ohio Insider: Lake Erie walleyes at a level ‘unlike anything we’ve ever seen before’
WI Daily Update: Individuals, groups honored for helping fight invasive species
Ohio conference shines spotlight on big factory farms’ impact on water quality
MN Daily Update: Apply for elk tags by July 3
Pennsylvania Game Commission has big plans for its new Pymatuning center
Notes off a soiled cuff: Giant flathead catfish caught in Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill River
More Top News
Fishing regulations to be relaxed at Iowa’s Cold Springs Lake
E-bikes change how hunters, anglers reach their spots quickly, cleanly, and quietly
Summer food plot maintenance: Lime, fertilizer, mowing and more
How to handle aging dogs when the heat is on
Efforts to restore the prairie at Iowa’s Green Valley State Park already bearing fruit
Winds push smoke from Canadian wildfires into U.S.
IA Fishing News
Fishing Reports
Iowa’s statewide fishing report on June 12, 2025
Iowa’s statewide fishing report on June 6, 2025
Iowa’s statewide fishing report on May 29, 2025
Iowa’s statewide fishing report on May 23, 2025
Lake Profiles
Bluebill in Iowa’s Cerro Gordo County is small body of water with a few options for anglers
Bass, crappie, bluegills biting on Iowa’s Lake Hendricks in Howard County
Fall bite for bass, panfish, walleye going on Iowa’s West Okoboji Lake
Bass, bluegill, perch to be had at Iowa’s Silver Lake in Worth County this fall
Fishing News
Part one of Ernest Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River”
Stay on the search and keep an open mind for spring muskies
Steve McComas: Who’s smarter, fish or anglers? Examples might surprise you
Opinion
Commentary: Proposed cuts to forestry program more than problematic
Outdoor Insights: Current threats to public lands have unified outdoors groups across the political spectrum
Commentary: Backcountry Hunters and Anglers sounds alarm amid push to sell half a million public-land acres
Commentary: Bipartisan bill aims to extend critical national park maintenance funding
Commentary: Value of public lands is enhanced by conservation. Here’s what that means
All About Hunting
Commentary: Big-game hunting a healthy flywheel in economic engine
Fishing, boating, birding, and hunting in the United States, each by themselves, are an economic powerhouse for the American people.
All these outdoor pursuits are enjoyed by millions over a broad range of household incomes and ages and other demographic characteristics. This is known thanks to the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation shepherded by economists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
E-bikes change how hunters, anglers reach their spots quickly, cleanly, and quietly
Twenty years ago, when I was in better shape, I bought a mountain bike from a professional mountain bike tour racer. The bike was outfitted with every conceivable off-roading option, including 21-speed gearing, technologically advanced shocks, and a host of add-ons.
Riding that rig up steep, loose grades seemed easy compared to my former bikes. Even when I was loaded down with a heavy pack, it coursed through muddy trails and jumped small downfall trees with aplomb. Nowadays, it is rare to see a hunter traversing trails on a regular bike because advances in battery technology have created electric-powered two-wheelers.
Summer food plot maintenance: Lime, fertilizer, mowing and more
As spring rains soak the landscape, many perennial food plots produce large amounts of nutritious deer foods. But as desirable food plot species like clover and alfalfa grow, so too does undesirable weeds and grasses.
It’s inevitable that some unwanted weeds and grasses are going to find their way into your food plot. Instead of driving yourself crazy trying to eliminate every single one, use these strategies to minimize their impact and maximize your plot’s health.
Podcasts
Episode 544 – Capitol wrap-up, new boating permits required, Lake Detective, BWCA temporary reprieve
Managing Editor Rob Drieslein and Staff Writer Natalie Ryder begin the program
Episode 543 – Capitol rundown, muskie tactics, ranger-and-dog reunion, public lands whack-a-mole
Managing Editor Rob Drieslein and Editor Tim Spielman begin the program talking
Episode 542 – New Minnesota WMA, pheasant chicks, Joel Pedersen from TRCP, public lands victory
Managing Editor Rob Drieslein and Editor Tim Spielman begin the program with
Episode 541 – New DNR aircraft, nature talk with Stan Tekiela, Lake Superior agates, bass opener
Managing Editor Rob Drieslein and Editor Tim Spielman start by discussing the
All Iowa Articles
Nature Smart: Prairie chicken dancing
I just wrapped up a nine-day northern grouse tour. During
Avoid these four common mistakes to become a better shooter in the moment of truth
We all know what to do. Identify legal game, aim,
Earlier pheasant hatch starting across Iowa, with peak still expected in June
The first reports of pheasant chick broods have been coming
It’s time to target bluegills on lakes across Iowa
In late May and early June, male bluegill build nests
Jeremiah Haas: Trusting your gut is often the way to go in hunting
Fifth season – or, the fifth and final week of
Master minnowbaits for better muskie fishing
As I rummaged through my tackle box trying to figure
Fly-fishing piquing your interest? This will help you get started
Some say fly fishing is a science. Your opinion comes
Here are the best ways to dodge danger in snake country
Four of us were heading to the spot where prairie
