Sports

Fall trout spawn in full swing

MANCHESTER — Hundreds of yellow ovals offset the brown and green coloration of each female brown trout ready to spawn at the Manchester Fish Hatchery. The splashes of color are signs that trout spawning season is in full swing. Brown trout are currently being spawned. Brood trout are brought to the hatchery from French Creek in Allamakee County. They are held at the hatchery across two spawning cycles then released back in French Creek, supplementing earlier generations of brown trout...
Iowa’s popular shotgun deer seasons just a few weeks away

Blaze orange clad hunters moving through Iowa’s timber will be a common sight when the first of two shotgun deer seasons open Dec. 5. An estimated 120,000 hunters participate in the shotgun seasons, harvesting about half of the total number of deer for the year...
Lures to catch fish

It’s been said more than a lot of times that “fishing lures aren’t made to catch fish, they’re made to catch fishermen.” When I was first getting into the fishing business I thought that was a pretty accurate concept. I learned quickly that lures that didn’t catch fish didn’t stay on the market very long...
The Genz Fish Trap turns 40

Over the past 35 years, I’ve been blessed to count Dave Genz as both a mentor and friend and to be part of the Clam Outdoors pro staff led by Genz. He’s known as Mr. Ice Fishing for his revolutionary ice fishing ideas that brought ice fishing literally out of the Ice Age. It’s hard for me to believe that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the original Trap portable shelter that helped revolutionize the sport of ice fishing...
Iowa DNR offers tips, tricks for taking young anglers fishing

Give your kids a lifetime of big moments. A child’s first fishing trip is exciting for both parent and child. A fun experience can lead to future years of fishing enjoyment. Here are some simple tips for taking kids fishing: — Pack plenty of snacks and cold drinks...
Check out 'Cooking Gone Wild'

One of the “fruits of the hunt or the catch” is offering up a mouthwatering meal. Over the years, I have come up with several that I like, but I am always looking for more. Gary Howey, a friend of mine from Nebraska, who has carved out a career in the outdoor world with his Team Outdoorsmen Productions, has compiled a list of his favorite wild game/fish recipes in Outdoorsmen Adventures “Cooking Gone Wild” cookbook...
Water summary update: Dry conditions prevail in western Iowa

Rainfall in Iowa was almost an inch below normal in October, averaging 1.66 inches over the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update. "While October saw some improvement in conditions in the state, overall the precipitation was below normal,” said Tim Hall, coordinator of hydrology resources for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. ...
Ice fishing ideas

Two weeks ago, it appeared that ice on the pond was going to happen soon. Today, it doesn’t look like that so much. Not so long ago, for many of us, it was a pretty sure deal that we would be ice fishing on or shortly after Thanksgiving. In today’s world, that bet is off. But the bet is on that we’re close to freeze-up, and when that happens, we want to be ready. Following are some things that we can do to be ready to get on the ice when the ice is ready for us...