DNR Asks for Anglers' Help with Study on Mudpuppies

The mysterious mudpuppy is the largest member of the salamander family in Iowa. It’s mostly nocturnal, never leaves the water and unlike almost every other reptile or amphibian in Iowa, it is actually active in winter.

The DNR, in cooperation with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and Minnesota herpetologist Jeff LeClere, recently launched a first-of-its-kind study of mudpuppy populations on the Mississippi River. Over the next several months, we hope to learn more about this mysterious creature and its habits on Pool 11 of the Upper Mississippi River near Guttenberg. 

Historically, we’ve known these fully aquatic salamanders have existed in this area due to reports of accidental catches by local anglers, but little else is known about how many or how few exist.  Researchers are hoping the information gathered will aid in better understanding mudpuppy populations in the region and what we may be able to do to help. 

Iowa anglers can help out by reporting any mudpuppies they may happen to catch.  Because mudpuppies are active in winter, this is the time of year that they become susceptible to being caught on a hook and line. Although they are very slimy and hard to hold onto, they are completely harmless. If you catch one, snap a photo and let us know the location you caught it. Be sure to release it right after that photo, as mudpuppies are considered threatened in Iowa, and cannot legally be collected or killed. 

Missouri and Big Sioux River Paddlefish License on Sale December 15

Anglers can purchase the special Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish license beginning Dec. 15 through Jan. 31. A limited number of paddlefish licenses are available – 950 resident and 50 nonresident.

This is the second year Iowans have the opportunity to fish for paddlefish on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers. The paddlefish season was opened on these rivers March 1, 2015 after being closed since 1986 due to concerns of habitat loss and declining population numbers. The paddlefish slot limit on the Missouri River requiring the release of all 35-45 inch fish protects the primary breeding stock.

Iowa anglers purchased nearly 700 special paddlefish licenses last year. All 50 nonresident special licenses were sold.

Anglers must purchase the special paddlefish license on the DNR website or by calling 800-367-1188. A resident license sells for $22. Anglers must also have a valid Iowa fishing license. The Missouri and Big Sioux rivers paddlefish season runs from March 1 to April 15.

The license, harvest tag, regulations and survey card will be mailed to purchasers in February. The postage paid survey card helps the Iowa DNR evaluate the success of the paddlefish season. Anglers are asked to report their paddlefish trips and number of paddlefish caught and released and if they harvested a paddlefish.

The Iowa DNR received 137 survey cards from last year’s season. Anglers averaged just over four paddlefish trips last year. The mean length of fish harvested last year was 32.4 inches.  Forty-eight percent of respondents reported harvesting a paddlefish.

For more on catching paddlefish in Iowa, check out our paddlefish regulations.

Iowa State-Fish Art Contest

Contest Rules & Guidelines
2016 Entry Form

The Iowa DNR is partnering with the Wildlife Forever^® State-Fish Art^® Contest to host an Iowa State-Fish Art Contest. Students are encouraged to use their artistic skills to create an image of their favorite Iowa fish (see the eligible fish list) in its natural habitat.

The first place artwork in each judging category will be submitted for National Awards. First place winners at the state level will be honored at the annual State-Fish Art Expo this summer. Each student submitting an entry will receive a Certificate of Recognition.

Judging Categories

Group 1 – Kindergarten-Grade 3
Group 2 – Grades 4-6
Group 3 – Grades 7-9
Group 4 – Grades 10-12

 

All entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2016.

Get Your Fish on with the Berkley High School Fishing Club

The Berkley High School Fishing Club is an interactive, online fishing program for all junior and senior high school students and their coaches in the US. Students and coaches complete monthly tasks (challenges) to gain points to win Berkley products. The program encourages students to learn new fishing skills and techniques while raising awareness of environmental stewardship and conservation.

High school students compete individually against other students to become the best angler in the nation. High school teams compete against other teams to become the winners of The Challenge.

WHO CAN JOIN?

1. Junior and senior high school students: (Ages 13-19) Students may compete individually or as a part of a fishing team. Students will gain points by completely monthly challenges to redeem points for Berkley rewards.
2. High School Team Coaches: gain points by completely team tasks and monthly challenges for the chance to win “The Challenge”

Join today: Register now!
 
THE FISHING TEAM CHALLENGE
Coaches and teams, get your high school age team involved in the Berkley High School Challenge. Compete with other teams around the nation for the chance to win $4000 in Berkley and Abu Garcia products. Beginning November 1st gain team points by completing the team tasks and individual tasks that could put your team in the winner circle in May 2016.

How the challenge works:
Coaches and students register for the online club and complete the challenges for points. Coaches report on activities that are completed by the club; students report on activities that they can do by themselves. At the end of the Challenge season, the schools with the most points will win prizes. Coaches and students will have the opportunity to win prizes throughout the Challenge season so be sure to check in often to see what new challenge you can be doing for prizes and points!

Time Period: November 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016; students may continue to participate in the online Club year round.

Fall Trout Spawn in Full Swing

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.

Brook trout, Iowa’s only native trout, already gave up their eggs in October.  A domesticated strain of brook trout is maintained at the Manchester Fish Hatchery. Over 453,000 eggs were collected this year.

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 in several dozen stretches of streams throughout northeast Iowa, supplementing earlier generations of brown trout.

All brown trout are stocked as 2-inch fingerlings. “Anglers like these ‘wild’ stream raised fish. They are harder to catch than our put-and-take stocked fish,” explains Mike Steuck, Iowa DNR fisheries supervisor for interior streams. “Many of the public streams have great numbers of brown trout in them.”

Rainbow trout, the backbone of Iowa’s trout program, take up much of December and January. Roughly 750,000 eggs will be collected this season.

Once a week, crews check for ripe female brood stock. After a quick sedative bath to quiet them, each big trout is held firmly over a plastic bowl, as one of the workers rolls a hand down her belly to force out a stream of orange-golden eggs—up to 4,000 to 6,000 per fish. Mixed in quickly is the milk-white sperm from two males. Water is added to activate the eggs and sperm allowing fertilization to occur. The ingredients are gently stirred with a turkey feather to avoid bruising the eggs.

The fertilized eggs are poured into an incubator tray and slid into their place below a stream of 50 to 52 degree water until they hatch. Approximately 30 days after fertilization, tiny sac-fry hatch. Dark clouds of tiny fish grow in raceways within the hatchery. The fish are “trained” by automatic feeders to eat.

As they develop and grow, they are monitored and transferred to larger tanks, then raceways.  The fingerlings will be kept at Manchester or transferred to Iowa’s two other stations, near Elkader and Decorah, to be raised for future stocking. In 12 to 14 months, they will be a half-pound and ready to be stocked.  Nearly 50 put-and-take streams throughout nine northeast Iowa counties and nearly 20 urban locations are stocked through the cold weather months.

“We stock about 400,000 catchable rainbow trout at the hatcheries,” said Steuck.  “We also stock approximately 200,000 brown and rainbow trout fingerlings annually to grow in the streams.”

There’s natural spawning, mostly brown trout and some brook trout, in over 40 northeast Iowa streams. Most trout caught, though, are spawned under the eyes of hatchery workers at Manchester. These coldwater fish are great fighters and beautiful in their spawning colors this time of year.

Visit the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/fishing for trout fishing tips and to find a trout stream near you.

2016 Fish Iowa! Games

Fish Iowa! Games is a great confidence builder for students. It doesn’t matter your size, age, or gender – everybody can compete on a fair level.”

 

Fish Iowa! Games is a competition where students cast from three distances using the flipping, pitching, and overhand techniques. It was developed by the Iowa Sports Foundation, in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 2006. Since then, over 90,800 K-12 students throughout the state have participated.

 

2016 Registration Now Open!!!

Register your school or your class now to secure your competition kit. The competition may be held anytime between February 1 and May 1. Competition kits will be shipped beginning mid January.

 

Competition Kit

• 3 targets
•  2 contest spincast rods & reels
• 10 casting plugs (5/16 oz) for practice
•  Medals – gold, silver, and bronze for each class

 

 

 

Essential Tips and Tricks for Bow Fishing

This fast-growing sport is fast and exciting, can be done anywhere in the state, and has potential environmental benefits to boot. All you need is a bow, a bow fishing reel, heavy test line, and bow fishing arrows, all of which can usually be purchased for a few hundred dollars. A sport fishing license is required to bow fish in Iowa, and allows the holder to take rough fish from public lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, as well as private ponds with permission.

Get some gear, find a friend, and see what you can catch. Try these helpful tips and tricks to get you started.

In the Rough
Bow fishing is only for taking “rough” fish. Iowa has a variety of rough fish found in lakes, rivers and ponds such as bigmouth buffalo, smallmouth buffalo, common carp, grass carp and primitive fish such as short nosed gar.  These fish are generally very large (but are all sizes), still make for good eating, and you don’t have to worry about length and possession limits. They are usually visible from the top of the water. Be sure you can identify the fish before you shoot. Game fish (ie. largemouth bass, bluegill) cannot be taken by bow and arrow.

It is not possible to catch-and-release while bow fishing. Excluding game fish gives desirable fish a better chance at reaching maturity. Rough fish often stir up mud in the water, feed on vegetation, or feed on the same food as game fish, such as zooplankton and other invertebrates.  Some rough fish, such as bighead and silver carp, are invasive species that damage the ecosystem. A full list of Iowa rough fish species is available in the 2015 fishing regulations booklet, available online here.  

Bring a Friend

Large rough fish, like grass carp, may take more than one shot to bring in successfully. Bring a friend along to get a shot you missed, a neighboring fish, or just help you haul in a big catch. Carp are particularly easy targets at spawning time, as they tend to move to very shallow water and as much as half of their body may be exposed above the surface.  

Aim From Anywhere

Bow fishing is great for those looking for flexibility in their fishing experience. You can shoot day or night from the shore, the shallows, a dock or a boat depending on your preference. There are areas in Iowa that do not allow after-hours fishing, and a couple that don’t allow bow fishing at all (see the 2015 regulations booklet), so be sure to check the specific rules at any location you visit.

 

Practice Your Aim

The deeper a fish is in the water, the harder they are to shoot successfully because the water will slow down your arrow. Aim lower than you think you should to hit the fish, no matter how deep the water. Why? Water is denser than air, and thus light travels through it differently. The fish you see from above the surface of the water is not actually where you think it is, because the light rays that make up the image you see are deflected as the transition from water to air in a process called refraction. All you really need to know to decide how low to go is your approximate distance from the fish, and the fish’s approximate distance from the surface. If you’re about 10 feet away and the fish is one foot below the surface, aim about 4 inches below the fish’s belly. If your distance from the fish or the fish’s distance from the surface doubles, double your adjustment too.

Have Fun

Bow fishing is a great outdoor activity that’s easy to learn. Shooting rough fish can be extremely exciting.  It takes a quick eye and a fast shot to have a chance to reel in a carp as they often surface the water only briefly. It is fun to see your catch and reel it in. Have a plan to dispose the fish you shoot.  Disposing of them responsibly is good sportsmanship and positively promotes the sport of bow fishing.

Hot Fall Fishing Spots

Excellent fall fishing is one of Iowa's best kept secrets. It's a relaxing time to enjoy being on the water, with smaller crowds and picturesque views. 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
West Okoboji Lake, a popular Dickinson County 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; Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County for great yellow bass fishing, plus walleye and muskie.

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 fourth 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. Added bonus: access to all the streams improves later in September and into October, as vegetation begins to die back, which makes casting for the big one much easier.

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

SE Iowa: Lost Grove Lake
Iowa’s newest lake, Lost Grove Lake near the Quad Cities, is now at full pool and offers plenty of opportunity to catch many different species. For being a young lake, sunfish and channel catfish sizes are already good. The area also includes accessible fishing trails and structures, special canoe and kayak accesses, courtesy docks and restrooms. Fish cleaning stations will be added next spring.

Others to consider: Lake Belva Deer in Keokuk County for crappie, bluegill and bass, Mississippi River (especially near Lock and Dam 17 at Muscatine for walleye, Sylvan Slough at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport too).

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 2015 fishing license is valid through Jan. 10, 2016, 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.

Trout Fishing Under A Canopy Of Fall Colors

Fishing Iowa’s trout streams this fall is a unique way to enjoy the cool weather and marvel at the amazing colors of fall and Iowa’s prize trout. Male brown and brook trout will display their brightest, most vibrant colors this time of year.

Northeast Iowa is dotted with hundreds of miles of trout streams. Stocked and naturally occurring trout can be found in the breathtaking forests and streams of this part of the state. Last year, nearly 39,000 Iowans and over 4,300 nonresidents spent over 430,000 days trout fishing.

Iowa’s trout season is open all year. Iowa’s trout streams are too. There are about 105 coldwater trout streams in 10 northeast Iowa counties. More than 40 trout streams have consistently naturally reproducing brown trout and natural reproduction is occurring, but not consistently in another 30 streams. These streams have a lot of wild fish available for anglers to test their skills.

Some streams are stocked with 10-12 inch trout weekly through October, so plenty of fish are available. The October stockings are unannounced. A list of stocked streams is available the DNR trout map or trout stream webpage. Wander downstream of the areas that are stocked and you will find wilder fish and fewer anglers.

Mike Steuck, Iowa DNR fisheries supervisor for interior streams recommends Twin Bridges and the Upper Maquoketa in the southern area and Sny Magill and Trout Run downstream of the Decorah Hatchery in the northern area as great places to try trout fishing this fall.

Trout are beginning their spawning rituals. They are trying to bulk up for winter and seem to be always hungry.  In October and November, brown and brook trout lay their eggs in nests called redds, areas of cleaned gravel on the stream bottom. The eggs will remain in the redds until they hatch in the late winter or early spring. Be careful where you walk to avoid stepping in or directly above these nests.

Fish overcast and gray days when using spin fishing gear. Trout seem to be less wary of lures at this time. If fly fishing, target midday on sunny and bright days. In cooler fall temperatures, bright warm days can stimulate an insect hatch. Dry flies can still be productive, but the insect hatches become more sporadic and less intense than in the summer.

Early fall is grasshopper time. They can be gathered in the cool of the early morning and are especially good for brown trout. Imitation grasshoppers also work well along with night crawlers, particularly following light rainfall.

“Brown trout are wary, be as quiet and concealed as you can,” said Steuck. “If you can see them, they have already seen you and probably will not bite.”

Learn to “read” a stream, to identify habitats that offer food and cover. Trout are not randomly scattered in a stream. They locate themselves along the edge of the current flow near protective cover. The stream current carries food to the trout while it waits.

Anglers 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.

More trout fishing information is available on the Iowa DNR’s website.

 

Fall Urban Trout Stockings

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will begin its popular fall and winter trout stocking on Oct. 9, with releases planned for Sand Lake, in Marshalltown and North Prairie Lake, in Cedar Falls.

The DNR 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 get out there. It’s time well spent.”

Bringing trout to cities and towns offers a “close to home” way for Iowans who might not normally travel to northeast Iowa to discover trout fishing.

Anglers need 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.
 
2015-16 Fall Winter Trout Stocking Schedule
Oct. 9, Sand Lake, Marshalltown, 12 p.m.
Oct. 9, North Prairie Lake, Cedar Falls, 11 a.m.
Oct. 15, Banner Lake (South), Summerset State Park, Indianola, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 15, Big Lake, Council Bluffs, 1 p.m.
Oct. 16, Lake Petoka, Bondurant, Noon
Oct. 17, Lake of the Hills, Davenport, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 22, Ottumwa Park Pond, Ottumwa, 11:30 a.m.
Oct. 24, Heritage Pond, Dubuque, 10 a.m.
Oct. 24, Discovery Park, Muscatine, 10 a.m.
Oct. 24, Wilson Lake, Fort Madison, Noon
Oct. 30, Terry Trueblood Lake, Iowa City, 11 a.m.
Nov. 3, Bacon Creek, Sioux City, 2 p.m.
Nov. 4, Moorland Pond, Fort Dodge, Noon
Nov. 6, Prairie Park (Cedar Bend), Cedar Rapids, 10:30 a.m.
Nov. 7, Scharnberg Pond, Spencer, Noon
Nov. 19, Ada Hayden, Ames, Noon
Nov. 25, Blue Pit, Mason City, 11 a.m.

Celebrate Iowa Hunting and Fishing Day - September 26

Many Iowans love to share their passion for hunting and fishing with family and friends, while making memories of time spent outdoors.

Recognizing this rich tradition, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation declaring September 26 as Iowa Hunting and Fishing day. The proclamation encourages all Iowans to share their outdoor pursuits with beginning adults and youth.

Celebrate Iowa Hunting and Fishing Day this weekend with these simple suggestions. Be sure to invite someone to come along.

Fall fishing is one of Iowa’s best kept secrets. Fish are actively feeding in preparation for the spawn next spring. Go in the middle of the day when water temperatures are warmer. Use live bait, particularly minnows, small tackle and fish slowly. Find a new fishing hole to explore with the DNR’s new interactive Fishing Atlas, and check out the week’s hot spots in the Iowa Fishing Report.

Dove hunting is an accessible sport for hunters of all ages and experience levels. Doves can be found in all 99 counties. They like bare ground and prefer open landscapes and larger food plots such as sunflower fields. If a sunflower plot is not available, try a weed patch or harvested grain field. Brush up on Iowa regulations for hunting migratory birds before you go.

Bow fishing for carp is a great outdoor activity that’s easy to learn. All you need is a bow, a bowfishing reel, heavy test line, and bowfishing arrows. It takes a quick eye and a fast shot to have a chance to reel in a carp as they often surface the water only briefly. Be sure you can identify the fish before you shoot. Only rough fish (such as carp and suckers) can be taken by bow and arrow. A fishing license is required to bow fish in Iowa.

Rabbit and squirrel hunting are inexpensive hunting opportunities to introduce beginners to hunting. Experienced hunters can test out their equipment and sharpen their outdoor skills before pheasant and deer seasons begin. If you’re looking for land to hunt, try the DNR’s interactive Hunting Atlas, which shows public land as well as private land enrolled in the Iowa Habitat and Access Program. Through IHAP, Iowa landowners receive help establishing habitat and in turn, open their land to public hunting.

Trout fishing in the fall offers cooler weather and amazing fall colors – including the trout! Male brown and brook trout show off their most vibrant colors this time of year). Trout are beginning their spawning rituals and seem to always be hungry as they try to bulk up for winter. Anglers need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Learn more about Iowa’s trout streams, including maps and stocking schedules.

Experience the fun of Iowa’s outdoors at the seventh annual Iowa Outdoor Expo, Sept. 26 and 27 at Waterworks Parks in Des Moines. Try fishing, bow fishing, canoeing and kayaking, outdoor cooking, trap shooting, archery, off road vehicles and more in a safe, controlled environment. The Expo is open September 26 from 9-6 and September 27 from 10-4. Attendees can read and sign Governor Branstad’s Iowa Hunting and Fishing Day proclamation. A full list of activities is available at www.iowadnr.gov/expo.

 

Fall Fishing Frenzy

Fall fishing is one of Iowa’s best kept secrets.

Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau, says fall is often overlooked as a prime fishing time because “many of us are in hunting mode or are busy with school activities, but there is excellent fishing to be had and most of our trophy fish are caught in the fall.”

Cooler temperatures and shorter daylight periods trigger fish to actively move in search of food to build energy reserves for winter to settle into their winter habitat. These predictable movements make them easier to locate.

“They’re trying to put on winter (fat) reserves and the fishing activity really picks up to a new level,” said Larscheid. “We get some great fishing opportunities in the fall. I encourage people to get out there and enjoy them.”

The fall bite in lakes and ponds shifts to the main part of the day. Fish are more active during the day and can be caught close to shore. Target areas of a lake where the water is warmer, particularly in shallow water bays along the north shore.

“Using live bait, particularly minnows, small tackle and fishing slowly are keys to fishing in cooler water,” Larscheid said.

Look for panfish schools in open water near structure like a brush pile, underwater hump, drop-offs, and rock reefs. Largemouth bass will likely be associated with some type of structure during the fall like underwater brush piles, old road beds, rock reeks, weed lines etc.

When river fishing, target the deeper holes on the outside bends in the river. Fish in streams will begin moving to their wintering areas in October.  Stream flow is often lower in the fall; allowing better angler access. Channel catfish will move downstream from smaller streams to the deepest holes they can find in larger streams. Walleyes will move to the next deepest holes and pike to the next deepest. 

Fall is a great time to be outdoors. The air is cool, the bugs are gone, and the fish are pulling out of their late summer slumber.

“I actually enjoy it more because the weather is more stable, the smells and sights of fall are spectacular,” Larscheid said. “It can be so much more peaceful and relaxing than other times of the year.”

Fish Identification Fun

Looking for a fun way to teach your students how to identify fish? Try one of these fun ideas.

You’ll need to create sets of Iowa fish photos cards along with accompanying name cards before you introduce your students to these fun activities that will test their fish identification skills. The DNR Iowa Fish Species website is a great resource for photos and facts.

Match This

Divide your students in small groups. Hand out sets of Iowa fish photo and name cards to each group.  Groups match the name card to the photo card.  Ask each group to discuss how they identified each species. 

Identification Relay

Divide your students in small groups. Place Iowa fish photo and name cards in the middle of the room. Designate a starting place (marked by a cone) for each group. When instructed to start, one member of each group runs to the pile of cards.  They select a fish picture card and its matching name card and bring it back to the group at their designated place. The group decides if it is a match.  If it matches, the next person goes to the middle to attempt to bring back another match. The race continues until a group has correctly matched all name and fish picture cards.

Fitness Fish

Assign an activity to each Iowa fish photo card (ex. Brown trout=10 pushups, rainbow trout=10 crunches, brook trout=10 lunges).  List these on the whiteboard.  Place photo cards face down in the middle of the room. Mark a start line with a cone. Divide your students in small groups. On the start command, one member of each group runs to the pile of photo cards, picks one, and returns to their group with the card.  The group must perform the activity associated with the species of fish on their photo card.  Repeat the race until each student has chosen a card.

Iowa Outdoor Expo for Kids and Families

September 26th & 27th, 2015

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. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation on April 1 designating September 26 as Iowa Hunting and Fishing Day. The proclamation references Iowa’s rich and storied tradition of hunting and fishing that predates statehood and that it is important for young Iowans to carry on the traditions of hunting and fishing and outdoor recreation.

With over 50 free hands-on activities and daily family presentations, visitor's are able to learn, observe and experience recreation opportunities in the great outdoors.

“This is a family friendly event with plenty of activities designed for people of all skill levels. We have instructors on hand to teach the activities, offer guidance and tips for them to enjoy the activity when they are on their own,” said Megan Wisecup, hunter education administrator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “We have scheduled a few new events this year, including two live raptor releases and a real pioneer wedding at the buck skinners tent Saturday afternoon.”

Hands-on activities include, but are not limited to:
Fishing- Reel Fishing, Bow Fishing, Casting games, Fish ID tank, Fish Printing, Fish Cleaning & Cooking
Water Sports- Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Life Jacket Safety, Knot Tying
Kid's Corner- Fossil & Treasure Dig, Live Animals, Minnow Races, Build a Bird Feeder, Fish Cleaning
Camping- Tent Demonstrations, Dutch Oven and Game Cooking
Buckskinners Encampment- Traditional encampment, Blacksmith Shop, Tomahawk Range, Atl Atl
Archery- Beginners Foam Range, Traditional Range (9 and over), 3D Range, Aerial Range, Tree Stand Safety
Shooting Sports- Trap Shooting (height requirement), Sling Shot, BB Gun Range, Air Gun Range
Wildlife & Hunting- Furharvesting and Trapping in Iowa, Waterfowl Hunting, Turn In Poachers (TIP), Wild Game Care/Food Safety, Turkey Hunting
Conservation- Urban Garden Program, Polk County Soil & Water Conservation, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Sierra Club, Urban Pollinator Program, Iowa DNR "My Eco Story" Trailer, Outdoor Health
Raptor Release- SOAR (release times available at the Registration Tent)

New this year- Live Game Field Dressing- Milo Locker

The Iowa Outdoor Expo is sponsored by the Izaak Walton League, Polk County Conservation, the U.S. Sportsman’s Alliance Foundation, SOAR Saving Our Avian Resources, Weatherby Foundation International, Friends of NRA, MidIowa Bassmasters, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Theisens Home-Farm-Auto, Shallow Water Investigators Bowfishing, Northern Lights Pizza and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

2015 Iowa Mussel Blitz

This annual research project continued this season to inventory and map the distribution of Iowa’s mussels on the Wapsipinicon River and for the first time since the first survey in 2005, the Mississippi River.

Ten species of freshwater mussels were collected in the Wapsipinicon and 23 species in the Mississippi by nearly 70 biologists, students and volunteers during the three day event. “We had excellent participation from volunteers and county naturalists in this year’s survey,” said Scott Gritters, Iowa DNR Fisheries Biologist.

Live mussels were inventoried, measured for growth; and then returned to the water. Most of the mussels were found using a technique known as pollywogging, which consists of crawling along a stream bed, probing the bottom with gloved hands.

“There’s a lot of purposes for these studies,” said Gritters. “One of the biggest things is we don’t want to harm them, and we also want to learn about the areas they live and thrive.”

“On the Mississippi River we are looking at habitat restoration projects that not only benefit fish but also provide the flows and substrates needed for mussels,“ added Gritters.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began researching the disappearance of native fresh-water mussels ten years ago in Iowa, including the federally endangered Higgins eye pearly mussel. Once ranging across most of the upper Midwest, this species has been eliminated from most of the river systems it once thrived in.

"Historically, there were maybe 54 species in Iowa. Now, it's about 42. Of those, nine are endangered. Another six are threatened," explains Gritters. Several more species are very hard to find any more in Iowa

Over the past several years, stretches of the Cedar, Wapsipinicon and Iowa rivers have been stocked with walleyes and bass whose gills had been inoculated with the mussels’ larvae.

“It’s a way to reintroduce mussels into our rivers by stocking fish, which is something we commonly do anyway,” applauds Gritters. “We stock a lot of fish for our anglers and this way we can ‘double dip’, so to speak.“

This year’s Mussel Blitz proved that the Higgins eye mussels stocked previously are still successfully reproducing in the Wapsipinicon.  

“Finding young Higgins eyes in the river proves they are reproducing — a milestone in our efforts to establish sustainable colonies in the state’s interior rivers,” Gritters said.

Mussels are a good indicator of the health of a river. The better the water quality, the more mussels there are in that water. Mussels compact the algae they filter then kick out the crushed pellet to waiting fish; much like the feeding done in fish hatcheries. Many of the major walleye spawning areas are in mussel beds on the Mississippi River.
 
“Fish and mussels have ‘co-evolved.’ They somewhat depend on each other,” said Gritters. “The more mussel species; the better the mussel density; the better our fish populations; the better our water quality.”