Outdoors

Jim McDonnell, who was a local fishing guide and outdoor expert, is one of 10 individuals being inducted into the 2020 Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. Plans for the induction ceremony will be released later. Known as the “Fishing Professor” or “Mac” to his friends, McDonnell spent 35 years as an educator and coach and operated his fishing guide business on the Iowa Great Lakes for over 40 years. Unfortunately, he passed away unexpectedly in 2012 at the age of 74...

We’re officially into the summer of 2020. The seasons come and go faster all the time. Many anglers got their fishing started earlier this year, and they’ve also fished more often. As we continue to go fishing for the next several months, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Following are some of those things...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with stakeholders and agencies from across the Missouri River basin to identify problem areas and potential solutions for flood impacts along the lower Missouri River. The study will use existing data and hydraulic models, along with stakeholder input, to define existing conditions and develop conceptual-level solutions for identified problem areas, and to develop a flood risk management plan...

You may have heard of walleye before, but do you know where the name comes from? The fish have whitish, glossy eyes that help them see through murky and dark waters. Their eyesight lets them hunt for food easier, too. The walleye is the largest species of the perch family — they can weigh up to 20 pounds. ...

As Father’s Day approached last Sunday, I gave reflection on my own upbringing and the parenting that I received growing up. I find that happening more and more as I move through the seventh decade of my life. As I look back at my youth, more and more I appreciate what my parents did for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood...

The summer of 2020 is here. For most anglers, spring fishing success has ranged from “pretty darn good” to “outstanding” to quote many. Summer fishing is different than spring fishing. Some people who fish refer to fishing in July and August as the “Dog Days”, and they’re not saying that in a complimentary way. However, fishing in the summer can be outstanding if we keep a few things in mind. Following are some of those things...

Iowa’s recent mild winter and dryer than normal April and May could lead to positive results for pheasant hunters this fall. Hen survival increases during mild winters, and more hens mean more nests and more nests typically means more pheasants in the fall...

Iowa fisheries biologist Ben Wallace recently received the American Fisheries Society’s Fisheries Management Section Award of Merit for his efforts in community based watershed management and lake restoration projects. The American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to strengthen the fisheries profession, advance fisheries science, and conserve fisheries resources. ...

We all love the Iowa Great Lakes area. We want to protect it — for future generations, for water quality, for wildlife. And we can all start helping to protect our natural world through simple changes we can make right at home, no matter where we live...

One of the sought-after fish on our Iowa lakes are slab crappies. When the month of May comes and the temperatures move into the upper 50s, crappies begin to move shallow into their spawning areas. Optimum spawning temperatures are between 68-72 degrees. ...

The summer bite has arrived across Walleye Country. Most species of fish have completed the spawning process and have one thing on their minds: Predators such as walleyes want to eat. If we want to catch more walleyes, we need to determine where they are and what they want to eat. If we do that, our chances for catching them are very good...

You might be sharing my feelings of both hope and uncertainty about what “Summer at the Lakes” will be like this year. We sense that this summer won’t be exactly like prior years. Let’s look for a fresh angle this summer. Nature is calling us to discover new places in new ways!...

On Thursday, June 11, the Iowa Tourism Office and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced two new opportunities for Iowans to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Iowa state parks and also to support tourism attractions and businesses impacted by the coronavirus crisis:...

Hundreds of bird species will benefit from $160 million in funding for various wetland conservation projects in North America. The funding was approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, which is chaired by U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt...

This past weekend (June 5-7) was the free fishing weekend for Iowans. Anyone, no matter their age, could fish the entire weekend without a fishing license. However, all laws and regulations were still applicable. Although it was windy Saturday and Sunday, it was a great weekend to wet a line. ...

For many anglers, the fishing this past spring has been very good. Some even describe the fishing and catching in the spring of 2020 as outstanding. Now it’s starting to feel and look like summer, and the calendar indicates that the summer of 2020 has arrived...

As I mentioned in our previous column, I consider slip bobber fishing a methodical almost finesse presentation in that you are sticking and keeping good live bait right in front of a fish. On the other hand, I also bring almost a power fishing mentality to slip bobber fishing. For instance, on Devils Lake where we are fishing flooded trees, I like to use a heavier braided line for my main line...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has outfitted a greater sandhill crane with a GPS transmitter as part of a small pilot study to learn more about this unique species that is increasingly calling Iowa’s wetlands home. Matt Garrick, research specialist from the Iowa DNR’s Clear Lake office, said it’s the first time the DNR has placed a tracking device on a sandhill crane and hopes the study will help shed some light on the behavior patterns of these birds...

Preserve the memory of your child or grandchild hooking their first fish this summer with a special certificate. Print the certificate yourself from an electronic file posted online or request a printed certificate. Apply for a first fish certificate online at www.iowadnr.gov/firstfish. It’s easy and free to participate. There are no size, species or age requirements — only that it is the very first fish the angler has successfully landed...

Big Spirit Lake, the largest natural lake in Iowa, is a true fishing and recreation destination. Much work has been done over the years to address the issue of runoff into the lake. A series of conservation projects over the past year have come together to protect key lands along the north shore of the lake...

A new fishing season is underway. Now is a good time to remember what fishing techniques have worked in the past, but we should also remind ourselves to revise those techniques when the fish aren’t responding to them. Here’s what I mean. Trolling with crankbaits has become a popular and effective way to catch walleyes. ...

On so many natural lakes, slip bobbers are deadly on walleye, particularly early in the season. Cold fronts, crashing water temps and dirty water accompanied by strong winds might absolutely wreck many bites, but slip bobbers still seem to catch fish during the tough conditions. ...

As some of Iowa’s most remote and peaceful areas, state forests are different from parks because their primary goal is management of woodland resources. Forests can be overlooked recreation destinations because of their rustic amenities, but nature lovers who visit will find countless opportunities for outdoor fun. Iowa forests offer hundreds of miles of hiking trails, bird watching, fishing, hunting and even primitive camping...

Fawning season is here which means car deer collisions will likely tick up and calls to conservation groups about abandoned fawns will begin. Iowa’s peak fawning season stretches from middle May to middle June, followed by a second and much smaller peak fawning season in July. Fawning season is preceded by yearling bucks being disbursed by the does as she prepares to deliver this year’s fawns...

One of my favorite magazines to read each spring is the Iowa Natural Heritage magazine. In the recent publication, a section entitled “Field Notes” shared information on their annual spring prescribed burns across the state, and I began to think about the topic of prescribed burns. There seems to be a misconception by a lot of people about why these burns are done...

This time of year, late May and through much of June, can provide some of the best fishing action of the year for many species of fish found across the Midwest. In fact, in the minds of some of the most successful anglers, June is the best time of the year to go fishing. If you get the opportunity to go fishing in the next few weeks, you should do so. And if you keep the following ideas in mind, your chances for catching fish will be very good...

What crazy and scary times the past several months have been with the deadly COVID-19 virus. Sadly, lives have been lost, and the entire country has pretty much been shut down. What incredible efforts by all of the front-line folks, who have done their best to save lives and keep the country afloat as Americans have tried to flatten the curve of the virus. ...

Iowa hunters reported harvesting more than 14,600 turkeys during the spring season, which is the highest spring turkey harvest since mandatory harvest reporting began in 2007. The previous high was 12,173 in 2016. Wild turkeys were harvested in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. Iowa’s spring turkey season ended May 17...

State wildlife experts are on the lookout for a new virus impacting the native rabbit and hare populations in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, California and New Mexico. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease can persist in the environment and can be spread from rabbit to rabbit, by predators, insects and even by vehicle traffic, impacting populations in new areas. While the virus is not currently in Iowa, it is as close as eastern Colorado and northern Texas...