IOWANS HARVESTED 105,928 deer during the 2017/18 seasons, up 4.3% from last year’s numbers. Among that total 48,645 does, 47,993 bucks, 8,793 button bucks, and 497 shed antlered bucks were taken. Overall it was a pretty consistent year in regards to the past 3 years where harvests have checker boarded from 101,000+ totals to 105,000+ totals the next year. Not factoring in any major snow storms or other variables this is probably what Iowans can expect for harvest numbers in the foreseeable future. The last five years the totals haven’t went over 105,000 and 2
The Iowa Sportsman
seems to be the level that makes everyone happy (insurance, farmers, hunters, DNR, etc.). The only thing that will affect an increase in numbers is if the overall deer herd population increases back to numbers
in the early 2000’s and 1990’s. So we could see a spike in numbers a year here and a year there as the DNR tries to establish a happy medium for everyone. As far as county ranks go for total harvest it was the same old situation with Clayton outpacing every other county by far. Then came Allamakee at #2, Madison moved up a spot from last year to claim #3, Van Buren and Warren rounding out the Top 5. Take a look at the maps and charts provided and see how the harvest density population is around your area. • DNR collected data as of 1/31/18
91
98
79
325
124
239
84
91
239
380
69
93
537
219
76
345
149
759
268
990
99
119 82
74
46
397
289
81
88
1066
291
244
47
764
304
699
53
28
1910
1390
996
5
2849
2767
61
51
710
908
1218
24
29
68 67
66
629
14
35
1487
657
1088
1461
2148
998
1203
1722
1452
2009
2202
1800
2794
55
1128 37
1267 1202
4
19
788
39 33
1175
31
1330
27
38
1319
1253
1670 21
32
34
23
26
13
6
2486
1851
1868
36
8
1766
1366
17
44
2036
2146
1471
9
12
10
18
932
734
2106
20
873
1340
934
25
52
50
60
4478
1887
30
49
11
1921
1
738
125
40
16
59
65
432
3
45
1081
97
73
848
15
672
543
62
3315
41
981
80
2
2316
1007
48
444
56
454
63
986
285
71
42
542
191
136
43
660
72
7
759
64
503
84
58
797
70
268 94
96
242
330
86
344
54
78
233
77
86
89
95
58
252
75
285
92
87
Information courtesy of Iowa DNR
STATEWIDE TOTAL HARVEST NUMBERS FOR 2017
22
1687
BUCK HARVEST FOR 2017 83
89
86
217
334 60
360
95
85
98
171
= 1-9 = 10-19 = 20-29 = 30-39 = 40-49 = 50-59 = 60-69 = 70-79 = 80-89 = 90-99
97
87
74
457
85
218
515
176
88
374
492 263 68
293
54
67
410
193
403
48
433
221
56
576
364
443
383
1196
919
14
9
38
422
513
808
923
65
23
27
16
8
616
796
966
To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
702
386
579
11
21
747
882
34
58
39 36
5 530
1125
372
564
693 609
607
566
696
28
29
33
24
6
1060
757
25
35
550
851
593
759
709
456
12
19
22
31
30
20
49
45
13
911
55
423
46
1889
799
343
59
1127
1
15
62
32
481
1412
51
650
10
2
992
26
354
3
7
421
61
73
317 319
440
85
4
50
318
98
42
57
41
70
764
47
471
78
17
155
66
43
223
53
225
326
72
178
71
171 82
37
81
139
98
279
64
416
69
174 91
96
126
44
COUNTY RANK KEY
164
94
190
83
190
52
80
133
80
87
204
63
75
145
77
170
153
92
90
131
All harvest numbers are from Iowa DNR Harvest Reporting System.
204
93
99
77
759
509 40
499 19
TheIowaSportsman.com
3
ANNUAL IOWA DEER HARVEST REPORT 2017-18
DOE HARVEST FOR 2017 79
87
96
104
35 92
86 82
111
172
34 93
41
332
99
61
458 471
182
91
99
957
255 56
67
242 68
5
437
1470
1305 14
402
578
954
26
29
19
273
624
865
682
1005
45
40
20
443
503
852
1007
8
630
38
532
15
1075
931
921 36
574
806
25
721 21
847
1062
22
28
10
11
742
925
291
12
9
16
424
405 1026
24
18
48
61
50
609
35
63
215
674 3
51
337
30
46
65
432
27
400
572
257
2231
52
37
64
174
1
921
321
32
72
338
13
70
47
55
18
58
98
246
1644
39
521
416
66
95
71
99 82
43
299
82
150
83
2
1126
473
49
186
60
26
74
44
94
42
277
70
7
355
62
190 85
43
53
315
69
78 94
97
74
95
57
136
59
117
89
82
90
77
86
76 88
146 73
78
94 75
99
65
87
85
4
1413
605
6
1197 582 345 31
34
54
41 32
592 765
492 33
587 23
COUNTY RANK KEY = 1-9 = 10-19 = 20-29 = 30-39
= 40-49 = 50-59 = 60-69
2017 TOTAL HARVEST – TOP 15 County
4
2017
= 70-79 = 80-89 = 90-99
2017 TOTAL HARVEST – BOTTOM 15 Last Yr. Rank
County
2017
Last Yr. Rank
1. Clayton
4478
1
99. Calhoun
119
97
2. Allamakee
3315
2
98. Osceola
124
98
3. Madison
2849
4
97. Grundy
125
99
4. Van Buren
2794
6
96. Pochontas
136
96
5. Warren
2767
5
95. Ida
149
95
6. Jackson
2486
3
94. Humboldt
191
94
7. Winneshiek
2316
7
93. Buena Vista
219
87
8. Wayne
2202
11
92. Winnebago
233
90
9. Marion
2148
10
91. Dickinson
239
89
10. Dubuque
2146
8
90. Sioux
239
93
11. Lucas
2106
9
89. Sac
242
88
12. Monroe
2036
17
88. Audubon
244
91
13. Appanoose
2009
15
87. Emmet
252
86
14. Clarke
1921
21
86. Hancock
268
92
15. Guthrie
1910
14
86. Palo Alto
268
83
The Iowa Sportsman
April 2018 Newsletter
REGIONAL HARVEST AVERAGE FOR 2017 279
1824
457
724 575
830
To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
1419
2035
1493
TheIowaSportsman.com
5
TOTAL HARVEST NUMBERS PAST 10 SEASONS PER COUNTY Adair
County
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
996
1025
1049
896
834
937
1092
1108
1044
1271
Adams
908
819
864
898
983
1105
1289
1438
1377
1579
Allamakee
3315
3500
3634
3569
3011
3654
3616
3243
3866
4009
Appanoose
2009
1810
1760
1676
1707
2139
2389
2375
2743
2974
Audubon
244
206
256
234
257
280
309
320
286
312
Benton
932
946
929
974
900
941
968
1179
1214
1254
Black Hawk
738
721
767
679
651
726
637
713
720
696
Boone
848
967
996
978
878
979
931
976
1146
1133
Bremer
1081
1143
1236
1186
1131
1293
1231
1352
1279
1376
Buchanan
873
838
863
784
723
798
727
858
822
844
Buena Vista
219
218
290
243
215
282
255
261
287
343
Butler
981
902
990
998
853
992
892
972
993
1095
Calhoun
119
112
109
113
111
145
128
129
154
133
Carroll
289
302
293
277
291
376
333
391
321
382
Cass
672
644
656
630
613
703
845
848
829
938
Cedar
1253
1224
1255
1188
1228
1405
1474
1583
1847
1803
Cerro Gordo
503
478
475
448
446
528
484
529
490
517
Cherokee
537
467
602
531
458
642
546
571
635
587
Chickasaw
1007
974
1088
994
942
1063
1001
1098
1138
1217
Clarke
1921
1618
1631
1619
1460
1580
1699
1607
1693
1650
Clay
380
399
471
393
375
481
404
481
513
522
Clayton
4478
4313
4382
4282
4091
4622
4729
4856
6029
6739
Clinton
1319
1256
1271
1146
1155
1291
1434
1464
1685
1645
Crawford
397
457
425
440
453
484
583
680
638
665
Dallas
1390
1343
1387
1356
1168
1359
1381
1321
1440
1531
Davis
1800
1637
1575
1654
1694
2378
2474
2623
3136
3343
Decatur
1766
1622
1632
1615
1653
1825
2124
2170
2543
2409
Delaware
1471
1462
1427
1349
1435
1532
1629
1833
1971
2093
Des Moines
1202
1136
1109
1023
986
1066
1260
1203
1518
1534
Dickinson
239
213
261
217
242
280
216
269
258
267
Dubuque
2146
2152
2137
2021
2074
2045
2304
2232
2468
2650
Emmet
252
232
269
216
205
210
209
258
251
249
Fayette
1887
1885
2003
1953
1909
2064
2081
2222
2451
2974
Floyd
660
745
813
659
638
751
699
646
853
936
Franklin
444
425
438
388
409
483
374
408
453
517
Fremont
543
490
551
543
535
718
1028
1281
1201
1284
Greene
454
428
425
418
408
524
551
480
514
565
Grundy
125
104
127
78
91
144
123
138
88
118
Guthrie
1910
1851
1840
1893
1711
2131
2288
2182
2208
2206
Hamilton
304
272
289
278
292
405
331
307
403
337
Hancock
268
203
238
193
204
231
224
249
279
266
Hardin
699
714
799
712
745
874
783
761
854
997
Harrison
1066
1091
1132
1075
981
1249
1519
1737
1554
1601
Henry
1267
1204
1319
1210
1073
1309
1302
1266
1542
1506
Howard
759
688
766
750
707
880
798
833
892
948
Humboldt
191
180
183
211
198
223
219
211
264
253
Ida
149
152
138
137
111
162
175
189
184
180
Iowa
1461
1426
1486
1440
1416
1565
1633
1828
1931
2160
Jackson
2486
2657
2771
2564
2607
2721
2840
3002
3251
3342
Jasper
934
900
901
873
924
1116
1092
1344
1634
1733
Jefferson
1452
1201
1269
1303
1166
1425
1472
1466
1701
1925
6
The Iowa Sportsman
April 2018 Newsletter
TOTAL HARVEST NUMBERS PAST 10 SEASONS PER COUNTY County
2009
2008
Johnson
1670
1695
1833
1715
1720
1972
2068
2320
2526
2631
Jones
1851
1734
1748
1819
2050
2205
2377
2435
2707
2724
Keokuk
1203
1074
1222
1170
1275
1548
1622
1798
1683
1866
Kossuth
344
351
327
430
392
421
426
401
486
485
Lee
1687
1484
1549
1978
1980
1998
2169
2140
2030
2291
Linn
1868
1943
1931
2171
2227
2286
2537
2483
2960
2956
Louisa
1128
1086
1111
1190
1264
1328
1446
1431
1561
1771
Lucas
2106
2049
2052
2386
2409
2365
2326
2219
1962
1809
Lyon
325
254
284
339
291
372
345
436
516
469
Madison
2849
2603
2107
2496
2702
2784
2659
2701
2161
2110
Mahaska
998
938
975
1043
1194
1282
1287
1544
1417
1641
Marion
2148
2041
1833
1907
1958
2033
2246
2319
2132
2260
Marshall
657
632
683
900
834
917
1040
1123
1149
1173
Mills
542
521
603
773
1000
1036
1172
1129
1134
1074
Mitchell
797
870
800
882
826
847
999
935
1000
966
Monona
990
1007
836
1026
1394
1568
1402
1404
1391
1386
Monroe
2036
1723
1536
1754
1870
1995
2389
2464
2326
2515
Montgomery
710
685
800
1050
1283
1333
1242
1480
1209
1243
Muscatine
1330
1298
1355
1506
1506
1547
1720
1710
1922
1803
Obrien
285
249
250
309
313
328
319
343
407
317
Osceola
124
107
136
165
140
143
167
178
224
244
Page
629
619
911
1048
1420
1534
1539
1514
1506
1617
Palo Alto
268
263
246
329
309
335
365
387
419
429
Plymouth
345
321
376
558
565
596
494
511
576
540
Pocahontas
136
120
111
167
140
182
143
147
213
246
Polk
1088
1052
1091
1290
1408
1314
1398
1494
1361
1277
Pottawattamie
986
953
1007
1296
1728
1792
1761
1777
1605
1677
Poweshiek
734
697
655
792
791
839
897
980
1134
1130
Ringgold
1366
1162
1247
1426
1663
1758
1669
1833
1680
1935
Sac
242
216
227
238
290
337
323
399
430
486
Scott
788
755
684
861
899
1050
1190
1292
1365
1436
Shelby
291
316
334
444
420
514
379
388
430
471
Sioux
239
192
250
271
279
311
353
328
419
447
Story
432
487
442
520
492
501
625
588
693
658
Tama
1340
1364
1323
1516
1350
1590
1730
1772
1930
1969
Taylor
1487
1384
1922
2168
2600
2573
2579
2558
2329
2478
Union
1218
1001
1054
1291
1358
1413
1307
1517
1496
1573
Van Buren
2794
2492
2725
3421
3656
3785
4541
4438
4473
4742
Wapello
1175
1028
1060
1179
1339
1385
1704
1902
1718
1936
Warren
2767
2565
2440
2858
3285
3278
3092
2920
2618
2489
Washington
1722
1592
1680
1942
1778
1991
2298
2258
2381
2416
Wayne
2202
1986
1927
2252
2179
2145
2377
2374
2083
1952
Webster
764
737
713
824
646
707
830
847
907
927
Winnebago
233
212
192
245
189
206
244
218
284
310
Winneshiek
2316
2343
2186
2410
2558
2499
2452
2827
2873
3043
Woodbury
759
837
797
1169
1343
1633
1475
1292
1478
1457
Worth
330
320
288
340
293
315
347
365
421
382
Wright
285
285
308
371
328
364
385
356
425
441
99402
115608
121407
127094
136504
142194
Harvest Totals
2017
2016
2015
101395
To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
TheIowaSportsman.com
7
AS FISHERMEN THERE is a whole slew of things to consider in terms of fishing success. Things like gear, location, weather, presentations, just to name a few. At the end of the day the list could be a mile long and that’s a lot for one person to worry about when most of us ultimately are just looking to get outside, unwind and if we are lucky, catch a good bite. Some of the tips I would like to discuss have nothing to do with actually catching fish. Preparedness goes a long way and I cannot tell you how many times I have been fishing when something goes awry and if I had just brought a few essential items my trip would not have been cut short. These aren’t going to be the end-allbe-all for great fishing success. More so a consideration to make the outing enjoyable and without worry.
1. PREPARATION
Preparation in my eyes is one of the most critical aspects especially when venturing out onto new water or taking a trip somewhere. When I take trips I like to make a check list days ahead of time to ensure I have everything I need. Things like a flashlight or spotlight, lake map, knife, pliers etc... Some of these items sound simple but there have been many times where I forget to bring something I used on a different outing that I left in a different bag or on my work bench. Planning ahead doesn’t just mean having essential gear, it also means making sure
the gear is in good shape. Each summer I generally take two big fishing trips whether that means the Iowa Great Lakes, Minnesota, or Canada and I like to sit down and go through the tackle, sharpen hooks, grease reels and check the condition of the line. This gives me confidence and peace of mind, knowing that I am prepared for the adventure. Planning ahead can also be a little simpler such as getting stuff ready the day or night before you intend to fish, rather than last minute before you head out. This is usually when I leave something behind. Just this past summer I went
2. CHANGE YOUR LINE
I am a devout advocate of keeping good line on my reels, more specifically my reels with mono or fluorocarbon. Your line is the critical link between you and the fish and old or worn out line can make for a gamble with any aquatic beast. Monofilament line especially deteriorates rapidly with age and gets that famous slinky-like memory I’m sure most of you reading this have experienced. You can get away with running the same braid on a reel for multiple seasons so long as you don’t let it sit in the sun often but I generally like to change out my mono at least once a summer. The more you fish and retie lures or get abrasions from rocks and wood the more often this will need to take place to keep a fresh spool. I’ll never forget one time in Minnesota when I was about 14 years old. I was throwing a crankbait on a spinning rod with 8 lb mono and I had about one third of my spool left. Something crushed my bait which I am guessing was a decent pike and tore off. About the time my drag started to slow the fish my spool ran out and the fish was lost. Since then I vowed to spend the extra $10 for a new spool any time my line got low or old.
WHETHER YOU ARE ICE FISHING OR FISHING FROM A BOAT, HAVING GOOD ELECTRONICS LIKE SONAR UNITS AND FLASHERS CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN FISHING SUCCESS.
To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
to go catfishing at the river and left all my tackle at home because I was in a hurry. Look ahead at the weather too. Just knowing what Mother Nature feels like dishing out can dictate what clothes to wear, sunscreen to bring, and even a gauge on fish activity.
3. WEATHER
Weather is a big topic when it comes to
TheIowaSportsman.com
9
10 TIPS FOR BETTER FISHING SUCCESS target, a simple Google search about that fish during the expected weather pattern can tell you a lot. For example: You could search “fishing walleyes during hot spring weather” and you will likely get some good info off the net to start with.
4. LOCAL REPORTS
fishing and it definitely weighs heavily on fish behavior. Keep an eye on the forecast ahead of time and cater your approach to what the weather dishes out. This doesn’t just mean sun or rain, this also means pressure and temperature. Naturally fish behavior during a low pressure front will be a little more aggressive whereas during a high pressure front you may need to fish slower and in more finesse styles. Some species during very hot weather may be more active during the morning or evening. Many species will move deeper. If you know the species you want to
10
The Iowa Sportsman
This is often a great way to gain insight on what is biting and sometimes even specific locations. Browsing forums like www.iowasportsman.com or calling local bait shops can reveal a lot of information. I find this very helpful when traveling to locations I have never fished or haven’t fished in a while. You can often expect to gather intel such as what the fish are biting on, what time of day, and what depths but don’t expect specific locations to be handed out at will. Part of the beauty of fishing is finding that hot bite on your own!
worms to switch over to carp and suckers if the catfishing is slow. Other times when fishing for crappie or walleye I will transition to bass and bluegill during periods of the day when their feeding behavior slows down. Be agile and willing to switch things up especially when taking kids.
6. USE THE INTERNET
With our growing age of technology it becomes easier and easier for fisherman to gain knowledge of their target species without wetting a line. I spend a lot of time watching videos on YouTube from some of my favorite shows around the Midwest and browsing fishing reports. I also like to
5. SWITCH SPECIES
This is something I do quite a bit and you can turn a slow day on the water into a great day just by catering to a different species of fish. Sometimes this means targeting a less than favorable species but tight lines can be better than nothing. Many times when fishing catfish in the river I’ll bring a can of corn or box of
April 2018 Newsletter
look at the Iowa DNR website and check out their fish surveys and reports from new bodies of water I want to fish. The internet lets you explore weather patterns, examine lake maps, and find a wealth of knowledge.
7. HAVE GOOD EYEWEAR
Not only will a good pair of sunglasses protect your eyes from UV light and bright sun, they also aid you in fishing especially when sight fishing. It’s rare that I ever go fishing without polarized glasses. The polarization helps cut the glare on the water surface enabling you to see into the water or watch your line with greater ease. I find this very helpful when fishing clear water in lakes and streams and being able to watch your lure along with a fish’s strike. They also help to locate submerged structure and things like bluegill spawning beds or patches of aquatic vegetation.
8. KEEP SAFETY IN MIND
Fishing is not a dangerous sport per se but there are always dangers associated with it just like anything else we do. A hook impaled somewhere, a bee sting, tooth rash from a walleye or pike, sunburn, drowning and many more. This ties into preparation and bringing a few extra items with you, especially
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if bringing kids can be very important. Make sure a loved one or friend knows where you intend to fish before you head out in case the unthinkable happens. Carrying bandaids and antiseptic ointment in your tackle box is easy. Always have sunscreen available. If you are boating make sure there are enough life jackets and a throw pillow available and keep the little ones in a life jacket. Keep a chunk of heavy mono or braid wrapped up in case you need to pull a deeply imbedded hook out backwards. These are all simple things that can be overlooked and make a huge difference when the wrong things occur.
9. UTILIZE ELECTRONICS
Whether you are ice fishing or fishing from a boat, having good electronics like sonar units and flashers can make a world of difference in fishing success. They all come at a price but the advancements in fishing electronics nowadays not only make finding fish easier, they make it more fun! I don’t personally own a boat at the moment so I don’t have electronics for open water but a few of my friends do and we use them often. Even in rivers for locating mid channel submerged trees or depth breaks. My friend Jarred has a
Humminbird side imager on his river boat and we use it a lot when chasing flatheads to find river pinch points and rocky cobble in deeper water not visible on the surface.
10. DON’T GIVE UP EASILY
It’s easy for some of us to give up when the fishing becomes slow. I have found that sticking it out unless the weather determines otherwise can reward the patient angler. Muskie anglers know this well as the fish of 1,000 casts isn’t something that just happens on a frequent basis. Fishing is still fishing and depending on weather, fish mood, water condition and time of year the fishing might be slower than we hope for. Keep a patient attitude and don’t be afraid to try new things. Try a different species maybe, fish deeper or shallower, fish slower, fish faster and more erratic. Cruise around for a while with the sonar on and try to find a school of fish. Load up and hit a new lake, pond or river. Keeping the topics discussed in mind will most certainly aid in a more enjoyable time on the water. There are many other things that contribute to fishing success but these are a few that I hold in high regard when hitting the water. Good luck this season!
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AS MARCH APPROACHES there are quite a few anglers that start looking at their boats, rods and reels, thinking about the open water season. February is the time of year when in Iowa, most of the outdoor sports and recreation shows are taking place giving reason for thoughts of open water. Reality soon sets in as they peer out the window and see a blanket of snow covering much of the ground and fishing boats remain locked in their winter’s coat 12
The Iowa Sportsman
MARCH TRANSITION
As many ice fishing aficionados know, weather in Iowa can be unpredictable at best. Recent years have seen ice fishing seasons come to a close early due to poor ice conditions by the time March rolled in. The month of March is characterized by rapidly rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs increasing from 41 deg to 56 deg over the course of the month. Southern reaches of the state will likely have open water by the April 2018 Newsletter
end of March, but ice fishing equipment and tactics can still be employed. Central Iowa, depending on the year, may have fishable ice while Northern Iowa will remain locked up throughout the month.
SAFETY FIRST
As any ice angler knows, safety on the ice is paramount. Early ice anglers are always asking about safe ice, where and how thick. Truth is there is no “safe ice”. The winter of 2015/16 started with some very unseasonably warm weather and much of Iowa was ice free through December. As ice formed on area ponds and lakes, anglers vying for a chance at icing fish were challenged with pockets of ice up to 4 inches thick and a few steps later 2 inches or less. March can be similar as temperatures warm and lakes start to see run off flowing into them, and ice thickness can vary from one area to another. Check ice using a spud bar as you move out across the ice and never go alone. Take a length of sturdy rope that can be used to help pull you or your fishing partner to
safety. Hopefully you will never need to use the rope but it can save your life if it is needed. Let someone know where you are fishing and when you are expected to return. It’s always better to error on the side of caution than not. It’s been said many times on social media where an angler or several have gone through the ice in an attempt to get to their “honey hole”… No fish is worth losing your life for…stay safe.
WHERE TO LOOK
For ice fishing, the short answer to that question is…look for the ice shacks! Anglers that fish a lake frequently have already
remaining weed beds, and the topographical lay of the land beneath the ice. But what if you’ve never been out on a specific body of water? One of the best friends an angler can have, whether you are fishing open water or ice, is a lake map that shows the contours, creek channels and submerged structure. A great resource for lake information is the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website, http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing.aspx.. You can find printable lake maps, as well as printable fishing structure maps. And for those anglers that are using some of the newest in technology to help locate fish, GPS coordinates are listed providing exact location of rock piles and submerged brush piles. Creek channels and main channels that run through the lake, even road beds, all have fish holding features. My recommendations are to look for creek channels that come off the main lake that have about a two to three foot drop off from 10-13 feet of water. Follow those creek channels into
CRAPPIE WILL NOT BE FAR OFF…THEY WILL MOVE FROM THEIR DEEPER WINTERING HAUNTS TO SHALLOW AREAS WHEN THE WATER TEMPS WARM TO 45-50 DEGREES.
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patterned the fish, or historically will know where to look. So that’s a quick way to get into some great pan fishing in March. There are a number of factors that can affect the March crappie bite, but typically some of the things to consider are, water clarity, structure,
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HARDWATER TO OPEN WATER areas that are marked with structure, or if you’re not sure, start punching holes in the ice and do a bit of sleuthing with your electronics. If you can find both the weed beds or brush piles right off the creek channels, you’ll find the fish. Another key component to this time of year is look for turbid water. And by turbid I mean areas in the lake where early runoff is flowing in. These areas will attract small bait fish due to the increased oxygen levels as well as the food that comes in with the flow. Crappie, bluegill, walleye…any predatory fish in the lake are naturally going to be attracted to the fresh inflow and come into these areas following the food source. A great tactic in this instance is using live bait, or by mimicking the bait or insects with plastics. Brushy Creek is a very popular crappie destination for ice anglers. “The upper arms of the lake are probably the best chances for decent ice fishing”, said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Ben Wallace. Water temps in Brushy Creek in a typical March are still pretty cool. This lake takes longer to warm up due to its depth and high volume. Look for crappie in creek channels that have deeper water adjacent to them. They will stage just off drop offs as bait fish and other forage move shallow. Turbid water, areas where some melting has occurred and there is an influx of fresh water are also good areas to look. This not only brings in the crappie, but the bait fish they feed on. “You’ll never go wrong using a slip bobber and a minnow”, continued the biologist. “Brushy will stay pretty clear throughout March.” Late ice season bluegill patterns are not that much different than crappie, though these fish will tend to relate to structure or off the edges of drop-offs. Drill a number of holes in these spots. Your electronic gear, flasher and underwater camera will help you find active fish. Fish each hole until you find some really good sized fish. The larger bluegills tend to be just off the bottom, up to two feet. Smaller fish are often higher in the water column. As with Crappie, a great place to look for active bluegill are areas where there has been an influx of fresh water, turbidity not only brings in the bluegill but also smaller minnows and other forage that bluegill will feed on. The periods right at first ice and right before ice out are some of the best times to chase after keeper bluegill. As always, keep in mind that ice conditions will continue to change as the month wears on. Walleye will begin to transition to shallower areas following the bait fish. An effective tactic for locating active walleye is to drill several holes in the ice, and by several we’re talking about 20 or so, along the edges of a point where you’ve located active bait fish. Walleye will move shallow to feed and then move back out to the edges of drop offs. Move from one hole to 14
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another until you find an active pod of feeding fish. Once they move off, move with them and find another hole where you’re marking fish. The key is being mobile.
OPEN WATER
We’ve talked a lot about ice fishing…then you wake up on a weekend late in March and your favorite ice fishing destination is now open water and you say…”But I still want to fish!” Good news! The fish are still there and the early spring transition is on. What does that mean? Fish are searching for warmer water. Days are getting longer and water temps are warming. Walleye will start the trend first. Walleye spawn when the water temperature ranges from 42 degrees to 54 degrees F. They will be shallow and accessible from shore. A jig with a minnow or a minnow under a bobber will yield results early. Crappie will not be far off…they will move from their deeper wintering haunts to shallow areas when the water temps warm to 45-50 degrees. They will congregate around the entrances of creek channels until the water temperatures reach the 5055 degree range. Look for shallow south facing bays where water will warm sooner than other areas of the lake. Pre-spawn crappie will stage in these areas, but keep in mind that a cold front will push these fish back to deeper haunts. Bluegill will continue to thrive in weed beds and creek channels as they feed on the influx of food coming in to the lake with the melting snow. A small ice fishing jig suspended under a bobber with a spike or wax worm will garner results. Keep a keen eye on water temps though as the season progresses to summer patterns, bluegill are looking for warmer water up to 75 degrees for peak spawning times.
EQUIPMENT
Open water or ice fishing, especially in March you can continue to use ice fishing jigs and baits. Once the ice has left lakes and ponds continue to target areas you’ve had success with using small jigs and spoons tipped with your favorite ice fishing baits. Light and ultralight rods up to 6 or 7 feet will aid in getting your light baits out to the fish. Spool your reels with 4-6 pound monofilament, even 2 pound if you are so inclined. The lighter the line the harder it is for fish to see and your bait will get down to the fish quicker. March is certainly a transitional time for Mother Nature as a whole. Warming temps will encourage ice to leave area ponds and lakes and the blanket of snow will give way to a warm embrace of green leaves and grass. And not in the too distant future as the sweat rolls off the brow we’ll be reminiscing of days on the ice…Tight Lines All! April 2018 Newsletter
TROPHY ROOM
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Want to share a photo of your recent harvest or catch? Submit your hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor photos to The Iowa Sportsman Trophy Room and you could be in an upcoming issue! To Submit: E-mail a high-resolution photo along with your name and where you are from to: patrick@twinriversmedia.com or directly mail them to: The Iowa Sportsman, Attn:Trophy Room, 1597 3rd Ave NW, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.
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April 2018 Newsletter
IOWA SPORTSMAN COOKBOOK
TURKEY WILD RICE SOUP INGREDIENTS
• 3 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed chicken broth • 2 cups water • 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions • 1/2 cup uncooked wild rice • 8 slices bacon
• 1/2 cup margarine • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups half-and-half cream • 1 1/2 cups cooked, diced turkey meat • 2 Tablespoons dry sherry
DIRECTIONS • In a large pot over medium heat, combine chicken broth, water, green onions and wild rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until rice is tender, 35 to 40 minutes. • Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Allow to cool and then crumble. Set aside. • When rice is tender, melt the margarine in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in flour, salt, poultry seasoning and pepper all at once. Cook, stirring, until smooth and bubbly. Stir in half-and-half and cook until thickened, 2 minutes. Stir half-and-half mixture into rice mixture. Stir in bacon, turkey and sherry. Heat through and serve.
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The Iowa Sportsman
April 2018 Newsletter
WILD TURKEY BREAST IN WINE SAUCE INGREDIENTS • 3 lb turkey breast, cut into strips • 4 Tbsp flour • 1 tsp onion powder • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tsp paprika • 1 tsp sage • 2 Tbsp canola oil • 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 8 oz fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced • 1 bunch fresh chives, chopped
DIRECTIONS • In a skillet, heat canola oil to medium high heat to brown the turkey strips. • In a resealable bag, add the flour, onion powder, pepper, paprika and sage together; shake to mix. Add the turkey strips and shake to coat evenly. • Brown the turkey strips and lower the heat while adding the wine, mushrooms and chives. Cover and simmer for approximately 45 minutes.
WILD TURKEY RECIPE FOR BREAST FILLETS IN MUSHROOM SAUCE INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 lb turkey breast fillets • 1/2 cup onion, chopped • 1 cup button mushrooms, sliced • 1 cup cremini mushrooms, sliced (optional) • 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced (optional)
• 1-3/4 cups homemade chicken broth • 2 Tbsp cornstarch • 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped • 1 tsp white sugar • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper • 1/8 tsp dried thyme • 2 Tbsp canola oil
DIRECTIONS • Lightly coat the clean grill grates with canola oil and you will need to prepare the grill for medium direct heat. • Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium high heat, add the remaining canola oil with the mushrooms and onions; sautéing for five minutes - or until the liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated. • Combine the broth and cornstarch, mixing well until the cornstarch has dissolved. Now add the broth, parsley, sugar, salt, pepper and thyme to the broth mixture and bring to a rolling boil. Stir constantly until thickened. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm. • Lightly brush breast fillets with canola oil and place on the prepared grill. Grill 5-7 minutes, turning twice. Turnover and repeat on the other side and grill until the meat is no longer pink. Serve with the warm mushroom sauce.
WE WANT YOUR RECIPES!
We want to see what our readers are cooking up, more importantly we want to taste what you are cooking. Please send us some of your most tastiest wild game recipes and we will publish them in the Iowa Cookbook Section. You can send recipes to patrick@twinriversmedia.com or mail them to The Iowa Sportsman, 1517 3rd Ave NW, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.
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