Fall Trout Stocking Begins October 3

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will begin its popular fall and winter trout stocking on Oct. 3, with a release planned for Sand Lake, in Marshalltown.

The DNR has 16 cool weather stockings planned and will release between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at each location as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer months. 

A family friendly event is often paired with the stocking to help anglers have success and fun while fishing.

“We do these events to create excitement about fishing,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau.  “The fish are here, easy to catch and good to eat. For someone who has not tried it before, grab your neighbors, friends and kids and out there. It’s time well spent.”

Anglers will need to have a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.  The daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10. 

Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but they must limit their catch to one daily limit.  The child can purchase a trout fee which will allow them to catch their own limit.

2014-15 Fall Winter Trout Stocking Schedule

Oct. 3, Sand Lake, Marshalltown, 12 p.m.

Oct. 11, Lake of the Hills, Davenport, 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 17, Banner Lake (South), Summerset State Park, Indianola, Noon

Oct. 18, Sand Lake, Iowa City, 10 a.m.

Oct. 23, Big Lake, Council Bluffs, 3 p.m.

Oct. 23, Petoka, Bondurant, Noon

Oct. 25, Discovery Park, Muscatine, 10 a.m.

Oct. 25, Wilson Lake, Fort Madison, Noon

Oct. 31, Ottumwa Park Pond, Noon

Nov. 1, Heritage Pond, Dubuque, 10 a.m.

Nov. 5, Moorland Pond, Fort Dodge, 1 p.m.

Nov. 8, Scharnberg Pond, Spencer

Nov. 12, Bacon Creek, Sioux City, 2 p.m.

Nov. 14, Prairie Creek Park (Cedar Bend), Cedar Rapids

Nov. 20, Ada Hayden, Ames, Noon

Nov. 21, North Prairie, Cedar Falls, 1 p.m.

Nov. 26, Blue Pit, Mason City, 11 a.m.

Five Hot Fall Fishing Spots in Iowa

One of Iowa’s best kept secrets is excellent fall fishing. Many Iowa anglers love to fish this time of year simply because it’s a relaxing time to enjoy being on the water, with smaller crowds and picturesque views. But just as importantly, cooler temperatures trigger fish to actively search for food, and that means a lot more action on Iowa lakes and streams. Here are five top picks for fall fishing destinations in Iowa:

NW Iowa: West Okoboji in Dickinson County
West Okoboji Lake, a popular tourist destination during the summer, becomes an angler’s paradise in the fall. Catching a fish is truly a bonus while visiting this beautiful lake. It offers great opportunities for panfish, walleyes, smallmouth and largemouth bass, and muskie. Take advantage of incredible aquatic vegetation lines, many rock reefs, points, and drop offs.

Others to consider: Silver Lake in Dickinson County and Storm Lake in Buena Vista County both for fall walleye fishing.

SW Iowa: Little River Lake near Leon
Just an hour south of Des Moines, Little River Lake is a gem for fall fishing. The lake was recently renovated and is now in its third year for producing healthy populations of walleye, bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish. The lake has a small campground along its shore and is on the outskirts of Leon for easy accessibility to convenience stores and restaurants.

Others to consider: Twelve Mile Lake and Green Valley Lake near Creston both for crappie and bluegill.

NE Iowa: Decorah
Check out Trout Run trail near Decorah for several easy-access fishing spots. Start in Decorah at the Bow String Bridge Park along Highway 9 and cast your way all the way to the trout hatchery. Bring the kids and take a walking tour to view the thousands of trout raised here for stocking in area streams. Various trout streams, campgrounds, small shops, eateries, bike trails and the State Trout Hatchery are all located within a short distance.

Others to consider: The DNR stocks trout in 50 trout in northeast Iowa in September and October. See the stocking calendar for locations.

SW Iowa: Mississippi River
Fall is a tremendous time for fishing along the entire 312 miles of the Mississippi River. Although most Mississippi River sites require a boat, the diversity of fish make the trip worthwhile. A couple of perennial fall favorites are south of Muscatine near Lock and Dam 17 for a secluded place to fish for walleye, or Sylvan Slough at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport. Boat ramps are available near the Lock and Dams at all these urban locations.

Others to consider: Lake Belva Deer in Keokuk County for crappie, blue gill and bass, and Lost Grove Lake in Scott County, a newly renovated lake that has been aggressively stocked for the last two years.

Central Iowa: Banner Lake South, Summerset State Park
Trout fishing is not just for travelers to northeast Iowa; Banner Lake South in Summerset State Park north of Indianola is an established location for cold-weather trout stocking. The DNR stocks trout in about 18 urban lakes across Iowa during the fall and winter months as a way to introduce visitors to this enjoyable fish to catch. Banner Lake South is admired for its clear water and is located on Highway 65/69 between Des Moines and Indianola.

Others to consider: 17 additional locations for cold-weather lake trout stockings across Iowa; see the DNR stocking information.

For a complete listing of places to fall fish in Iowa including lake maps, directions and amenities, visit the DNR Places to Fish webpage. A 2014 fishing license is valid through Jan. 10, 2015, and is a bargain for your leisure time at $19 for resident or $41 for nonresidents. Seven-day and one-day licenses are also available. Licenses can be purchased online at www.iowadnr.gov, or at any one of the 900-plus license vendors in the state.

Ask a Conservation Officer

Have a question on hunting, fishing or trapping? Ask Mark Sedlmayr, conservation officer and head of the DNR's Law Enforcement Bureau.

Watch for a post at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at www.facebook.com/iowadnr. Leave your question as a comment on that post, and Officer Sedlmayr will respond the next morning!

Fall Fitness Day

Help your students stay active this school year participating in the annual Live Healthy Iowa Kids Fall Fitness Day – register today. The activity options are endless for this fun day - check out these target casting games.

F-I-S-H

F-I-S-H is played like H-O-R-S-E in basketball. Two to four students can play using one target. The first player casts from a certain location using a particular cast (overhand, sidearm, etc.). If the caster hits the target, the next player must replicate the cast or receive a letter in the word “fish.” Each of the players repeats the cast until someone misses and receives a letter. The player after the missed cast gets to decide the location and style of the next cast which is again repeated by the others until someone misses. If nobody misses the cast, the player who started gets to select a new cast. The last person to spell “fish” wins.

Plug Golf

This game is very similar to golf, but spincasting rigs and casting plugs are used in place of golf clubs and balls. A plug golf course is complete with tee markers, greens, and hazards. (If you teach a golf unit, you could modify that course.) Participants “cast off” from a tee marker. Instead of reeling the plug back to themselves, they walk toward the plug as they reel. They cast again from this point and head for the “green” where the golf cup is replaced by a dishpan or similar object. Participants cast until they hit the target. Each cast counts as a point and the low score for the course wins. Courses can be either nine or eighteen “holes” and participants can compete as individuals, partners, or teams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 27th & 28th, 2014 - FREE!

Saturday: 9am - 6pm & Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Des Moines Izaak Walton League and Water Works Park
4343 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines
Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day by bringing the entire family out for a fun weekend discovering new and exciting ways to enjoy Iowa's outdoors. With over 50 free hands-on activities, visitor's are able to learn, observe and experience recreation opportunities in the great outdoors.

Hands-on activities include, but are not limitied to:
Fishing- Reel Fishing, Bow Fishing, Fly Fishing & Casting, Casting games, Fish ID tank
Water Sports- Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding, Life Jacket Safety
Kid's Corner- Fossil & Treasure Dig, Live Animals, Minnow Races, Make your own Bird Feeder
Camping- Tent Demonstrations and Outdoor Cooking
Buckskinners Encampment- Traditional encampment and Tomahawk range
Archery- Beginners Range, Traditional Range (9 and over) and Aerial Range
Shooting Sports- Trap Shooting (height requirement), Sling Shot and BB Gun Ranges
Wildlife- Trapping in Iowa, Waterfowl Hunting, Turn In Poachers (TIP), Game Care/Food Safety, Hunter Safety Trail, Treestand Safety
Conservation- Urban Garden Program, Soil & Water Conservation, Land Quality

The Iowa Outdoor Expo would not happen without the generous support from our partners and sponsors and the dedication of over two hundred volunteers.

For more information:
Rachel Ladd
c/o Des Moines Izaak Walton League
3434 George Flagg Parkway
Des Moines, IA 50321
Phone: (515) 729-6037
Email: Rachel.Ladd@dnr.iowa.gov

Southwest Iowa Educator Tests the Waters with DNR through Real World Externships

Mary Carlson is a science teacher at Red Oak Schools in Red Oak, Iowa. Mary completed her Real World Externship with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) team in Lewis, Iowa.

Mary was immediately accepted as a full member of the team. They included her in every project they undertook this summer. Carlson said her experience was amazing and varied. As a member of the team she helped improve the water quality of our lakes and rivers by working with vegetation, which included starting a lily bed.

She helped determine the existing water quality by testing fish. Mary could be found netting fish one day or shocking them with electricity the next. After catching the fish the mercury levels are tested to ensure the quality of the water meets the DNR’s standards. Data collection is a large part of the DNR’s job and Mary helped not only with the collection but also with data organization.

As a teacher, Mary plans to use her new knowledge to engage her students in more outdoor activities. Her classes will be engaged in a water quality day with her local DNR representative. She also plans on having her students prepare a presentation for the DNR based on the question, “would you eat that?” when presented with a fish dinner. This will allow the students to get an expert’s feedback on their research. The students will also get to ask questions, find out what the DNR employees do and the schooling that is needed to get a job with the DNR.