Take Me Fishing™ has created a way for people to come together and share their fishing firsts. With the launch of the #FirstCatch campaign and #FirstCatchSweeps, Take Me Fishing™ invites anglers and boaters throughout the United States to share their #FirstCatch moments and memories via social media. From now until May 25, one lucky fan could have the opportunity to win an all-new boat, motor and trailer package by taking to Twitter or Instagram and using #FirstCatchSweeps along with a photo of their #FirstCatch.
To see what memories and photos are being shared, visit the #FirstCatchSweeps page at TakeMeFishing.org.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
4 Lures You Need for Crappie Fishing in Iowa
It’s
that time of year that anglers across Iowa have been waiting for – crappies are
biting. Crappies are one of the most frequently caught panfish. Add one of
these lures suggested by our fisheries biologist to your tackle box and start
planning your next spring fishing trip.
Tube jig
This small compact lure imitates a small minnow - one of the preferred foods of crappie. It has a very subtle presentation and does not need much action. Use when the crappie wants a subtle action.
Small hair jig
This
lure is made of deer hair or more frequently now an imitation hair like
flashabou. The hair under water
collapses when the jig is pulled forward and expands when the line is slack so
it has a pulsing appearance in the water.
Use when the fish are more active and feeding.
Small rooster
tail
This lure has a small spinner that creates a lot of action and flash. It is useful when crappies are very active or when you are trying to locate fish and need to search larger areas.
Leadhead jig (1/32 oz.)
This
lure imitates a small minnow when fished properly. Cast perpendicular to the
shoreline with a slow and steady retrieve. If this doesn't seem to work, let
the jig sink until it falls out of sight, then begin your retrieve. This lure has a small spinner that creates a lot of action and flash. It is useful when crappies are very active or when you are trying to locate fish and need to search larger areas.
Leadhead jig (1/32 oz.)
Visit the Iowa DNR places to fish webpages to find your next favorite fishing spot.
Monday, April 27, 2015
5 Awesome Tips for Spring Panfish Fishing
Crappies and
bluegills are biting in small ponds and lakes across Iowa. Spring panfish
fishing is a great opportunity to introduce beginners of all ages to fishing.
Panfish can be caught easily and are excellent to eat. Grab your fishing pole
and tackle box and try these simple tips for a fun and successful spring
fishing season.
Start Small
Smaller lakes and pond warm up sooner in the spring, so start here.
Smaller lakes and pond warm up sooner in the spring, so start here.
Keep it light.
Use light line (2 or
4 pound-test), light lures and light reels.
Fish close to structure like brush piles and
stumps.
Downloadable
fishing structure location maps are available on the DNR’s Where to Fish
website. Use these maps to pinpoint panfish
hotspots.
Keep your lure/bait properly sized for the
species you are seeking.
Use small tube jigs or twister tails (1/32nd or 1/64th ounce) suspended 24 inches under a small bobber. Weighted bobbers will help you cast further. Pencil bobbers stand up making them more visible.
Use small tube jigs or twister tails (1/32nd or 1/64th ounce) suspended 24 inches under a small bobber. Weighted bobbers will help you cast further. Pencil bobbers stand up making them more visible.
Fish the side of the pond where the wind is
blowing in.
Warmer water piles
on the side of lake where the wind blows in. Just a little warmer water may be
all it takes to attract fish.
Sign up for the Iowa DNR weekly
fishing report and find more tips and tricks for taking kids fishing and
cleaning and cooking fish on our Fishing Tips &
How To’s website.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Six Fish You Didn’t Know Existed in Iowa
You might know a largemouth bass from
a smallmouth bass, a crappie from a bluegill – but how about a pirate perch and
a trout-perch? What is a slimy sculpin anyway? Learn about
Iowa’s lesser-known and rarely seen fish with these fun facts.
Pirate
perch
There’s no eye patch, peg fin or parrot perched on its tail, so you’ll have to identify the pirate perch by its dark olive to black color. Its sides are a bit lighter and speckled with black and its belly is yellow. That is, if you can find one, as they’re pretty rare to see in Iowa. A species of special concern in Iowa, the pirate perch lives mostly along the Mississippi River and several tributary rivers, usually in backwaters and quiet pools. It munches at night on aquatic insects, small crustaceans and sometimes on small fish. Unlike many other fish, its anus is far forward of the anal fin on adults and located on its throat. The fish rarely grow past a length of five inches.
Slimy sculpin
Found only on the stream bottoms of northeast Iowa’s coldwater streams, the slimy sculpin is mostly olive brown with dark mottling and a lighter belly. It has two lobed, narrowly connected dorsal fins. A small fish, the slimy sculpin is rarely longer than four inches. Dining on larval aquatic insects and other invertebrates, the sculpin moves around rapidly, almost looking like it’s hopping. But when they do hold still, they can be difficult to spot, as their coloration blends in with the stream bottom.
There’s no eye patch, peg fin or parrot perched on its tail, so you’ll have to identify the pirate perch by its dark olive to black color. Its sides are a bit lighter and speckled with black and its belly is yellow. That is, if you can find one, as they’re pretty rare to see in Iowa. A species of special concern in Iowa, the pirate perch lives mostly along the Mississippi River and several tributary rivers, usually in backwaters and quiet pools. It munches at night on aquatic insects, small crustaceans and sometimes on small fish. Unlike many other fish, its anus is far forward of the anal fin on adults and located on its throat. The fish rarely grow past a length of five inches.
Slimy sculpin
Found only on the stream bottoms of northeast Iowa’s coldwater streams, the slimy sculpin is mostly olive brown with dark mottling and a lighter belly. It has two lobed, narrowly connected dorsal fins. A small fish, the slimy sculpin is rarely longer than four inches. Dining on larval aquatic insects and other invertebrates, the sculpin moves around rapidly, almost looking like it’s hopping. But when they do hold still, they can be difficult to spot, as their coloration blends in with the stream bottom.
American
eel
Eels aren’t just an ocean species, as they swim in Iowa along the Mississippi River and its larger tributaries. However, it’s rare to see an American eel in Iowa, as it’s not an abundant species here. The American eel’s color can vary from olive and brown on its back, which fades to a greenish yellow on the sides to a gray or white belly. Looking more like a snake than a fish, the American eel has a single fin comprising its dorsal, caudal and anal fins. They rarely get bigger than a couple of pounds, but a landlocked eel may reach 10 to 15 pounds and 5 to 6 feet in length. The American eel is carnivorous and feeds mainly at night on live prey.
Eels aren’t just an ocean species, as they swim in Iowa along the Mississippi River and its larger tributaries. However, it’s rare to see an American eel in Iowa, as it’s not an abundant species here. The American eel’s color can vary from olive and brown on its back, which fades to a greenish yellow on the sides to a gray or white belly. Looking more like a snake than a fish, the American eel has a single fin comprising its dorsal, caudal and anal fins. They rarely get bigger than a couple of pounds, but a landlocked eel may reach 10 to 15 pounds and 5 to 6 feet in length. The American eel is carnivorous and feeds mainly at night on live prey.
American eels in Iowa are well-traveled,
too. Females take anywhere from five to 20 years to mature in freshwater
streams before trekking downstream to meet males in the sea to spawn in an area
of the North Atlantic near the Bahamas and Bermuda. Once hatched, larval eels
drift with the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean until they reach the coast of
North America. The females move upstream in freshwater rivers to mature, while
the males remain in the Atlantic Ocean near the coastline. The flesh of eel,
while very rich, is said to be delicious. It is sometimes prepared by
pan-frying but is more often smoked, pickled or jellied.
Mooneye
Often mistaken for gizzard shad, mooneyes are steel blue on the back with silver sides and a white belly. You can find this fish mostly in southern and eastern Iowa on larger interior rivers like the Cedar, Des Moines and Upper Iowa, but you’ll find the most in the backwaters of the Mississippi River. Mooneye commonly reach 9 to 11 inches in length, maxing out at about 10 to 12 inches. Food consists mostly of plankton during the young stages of life, but the fish switch quickly to insects, mollusks, crayfish and small fish at later stages. If you’re looking to catch a mooneye, try quarter pieces of nightcrawlers fished on the river bottom. Be sure to report your catch, as there are currently no submissions right now for a state record mooneye.
Often mistaken for gizzard shad, mooneyes are steel blue on the back with silver sides and a white belly. You can find this fish mostly in southern and eastern Iowa on larger interior rivers like the Cedar, Des Moines and Upper Iowa, but you’ll find the most in the backwaters of the Mississippi River. Mooneye commonly reach 9 to 11 inches in length, maxing out at about 10 to 12 inches. Food consists mostly of plankton during the young stages of life, but the fish switch quickly to insects, mollusks, crayfish and small fish at later stages. If you’re looking to catch a mooneye, try quarter pieces of nightcrawlers fished on the river bottom. Be sure to report your catch, as there are currently no submissions right now for a state record mooneye.
Banded
killifish
Not a common fish in Iowa, the banded killifish lives mostly in natural lakes in the Iowa Great Lakes region and in the Missouri River. It cruises along just below the surface in a group, or school, feeding on insects, plant seeds and algae. A light olive color on the back and sides, the killifish also has a yellow-white belly and, as the “banded” part of its name alludes to, has 12 to 20 narrow vertical bars on its body.
Not a common fish in Iowa, the banded killifish lives mostly in natural lakes in the Iowa Great Lakes region and in the Missouri River. It cruises along just below the surface in a group, or school, feeding on insects, plant seeds and algae. A light olive color on the back and sides, the killifish also has a yellow-white belly and, as the “banded” part of its name alludes to, has 12 to 20 narrow vertical bars on its body.
Trout-perch
Is it a trout, or is it a perch? Like trout, it has a small fleshy fin, called an adipose fin, just behind a single dorsal fin. Its head resembles a perch. However, it doesn’t belong to either family. Instead, the trout-perch is just one of two species in the family Percopsidae. Populations of this odd fish are scattered throughout the state, from the Mississippi River in the east, the Grand and Chariton river watersheds in the south, and the Big Sioux and Rock rivers in the northwest. As they hide around structures or in deep water during the day, it’s unlikely you’ll see one, but game fish in our northern natural lakes have a good eye for tracking them down for lunch. Only three to five inches in length as adults, trout-perch have a pale olive or straw coloring with a white belly, along with two rows of dark spots along its side.
Is it a trout, or is it a perch? Like trout, it has a small fleshy fin, called an adipose fin, just behind a single dorsal fin. Its head resembles a perch. However, it doesn’t belong to either family. Instead, the trout-perch is just one of two species in the family Percopsidae. Populations of this odd fish are scattered throughout the state, from the Mississippi River in the east, the Grand and Chariton river watersheds in the south, and the Big Sioux and Rock rivers in the northwest. As they hide around structures or in deep water during the day, it’s unlikely you’ll see one, but game fish in our northern natural lakes have a good eye for tracking them down for lunch. Only three to five inches in length as adults, trout-perch have a pale olive or straw coloring with a white belly, along with two rows of dark spots along its side.
For more information on Iowa’s fish
species, from the common game fish to these odd finds, visit the Iowa DNR Iowa Fish
Species web page.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Outdoor Skills Professional Development
Teaching Outdoor Skills: An Introduction to Basic Outdoor Skills
June 23 & 24, 2015 (100% attendance required for credit)
8:30 am - 8:30 pm (6/23); 8:30 am - 4:00 pm (6/24)
Clay County Conservation Board (420 10th Avenue SE Spencer)
Registration Deadline: June 9, 2015
Registration Fee: $120 (1 license renewal credit and course materials)
Electronic Registration
Teaching Outdoor Skills: Fish Iowa!
June 16 &17, 2014 (100% attendance required for credit)
8:030 am - 6:30 pm (6/16); 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (6/17)Willow Lake, Woodbine & DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri ValleyRegistration Deadline: June 11, 2015 Registration Fee: $175 (1 license renewal credit and course materials)
Electronic Registration
June 23 & 24, 2015 (100% attendance required for credit)
8:30 am - 8:30 pm (6/23); 8:30 am - 4:00 pm (6/24)
Clay County Conservation Board (420 10th Avenue SE Spencer)
Registration Deadline: June 9, 2015
Registration Fee: $120 (1 license renewal credit and course materials)
Electronic Registration
Hands-on sessions will acquaint participants with a variety of basic outdoor skills and teaching resources/methodologies. Participants will receive introductory instruction and lesson plans for planning outings, map reading, hiking, paddling, fishing, archery, campfire programs, and basic firearm safety/shooting. Meals, materials and credit are included in the registration cost. Participants will be required to outline a teaching unit to integrate outdoor skills in their current teaching situation.
Teaching Outdoor Skills: Fish Iowa!
June 16 &17, 2014 (100% attendance required for credit)
8:030 am - 6:30 pm (6/16); 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (6/17)Willow Lake, Woodbine & DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri ValleyRegistration Deadline: June 11, 2015 Registration Fee: $175 (1 license renewal credit and course materials)
Electronic Registration
This course will acquaint participants with the Fish Iowa! basic spincasting module and a variety of other resources to teach fishing in a variety of settings. Participants will learn fishing basics including fish identification, fishing locations, casting techniques, and cleaning and cooking fish. Participants will experience lake fishing and bow fishing. They will also have an option to try kayak fishing. Instruction will include a variety of demonstration and hands-on, experiential approaches. Activities will also include peer teaching and small group work to develop appropriate teaching strategies for individual teaching situations. Participants will integrate discussions of human interactions with our aquatic resources, especially the Missouri River, as they learn about the history of DeSoto Bend. The course is presented by the Iowa DNR, Harrison County Conservation Board and DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
6 Tips for Catch & Release Fishing
Every angler should be prepared to release some of their
catch. Whether you are practicing catch and release by choice or to comply with
regulations, it is necessary to release the fish quickly. Follow these simple
tips to give the fish you release the best chance for survival.
Land the fish quickly and handle it as little as possible. The less you handle, touch or hold the fish the better.
Use barbless hooks
Barbless hooks are much easier to remove – this helps reduce damage to the fish and minimizes the time the fish is out of the water. Hooks can be purchased as barbless or you can pinch down the barb with needle-nose pliers.
Play the fish quicklyBarbless hooks are much easier to remove – this helps reduce damage to the fish and minimizes the time the fish is out of the water. Hooks can be purchased as barbless or you can pinch down the barb with needle-nose pliers.
Land the fish quickly and handle it as little as possible. The less you handle, touch or hold the fish the better.
Keep the fish in the water
It’s best to leave the fish in water while you unhook it.
It’s best to leave the fish in water while you unhook it.
Wet
your hands
The slime on the fish protects it from disease, so be careful not to wipe it off. Wet your hands before handling the fish – this reduces the chances you will remove the slime coating.
The slime on the fish protects it from disease, so be careful not to wipe it off. Wet your hands before handling the fish – this reduces the chances you will remove the slime coating.
Remove hooks quickly
Use either needle-nose pliers to gently remove the hook from the fish’s mouth.
Cut the line
If the fish is hooked deeply, cut the line as close as possible the fish’s mouth and leave the hook. Research has documented that cutting the line can greatly increase the survival of deeply hooked fish.
Use either needle-nose pliers to gently remove the hook from the fish’s mouth.
Cut the line
If the fish is hooked deeply, cut the line as close as possible the fish’s mouth and leave the hook. Research has documented that cutting the line can greatly increase the survival of deeply hooked fish.
Be sure to sign up for our Iowa DNR weekly
fishing report.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Walleye Spawning at the Iowa DNR Rathbun Fish Hatchery
The Iowa DNR is in the midst of intensive walleye broodstock collection and spawning, a major effort that takes place each year to ensure high-quality walleye fishing across the state. Fisheries Bureau management, research and hatchery teams, along with some dedicated volunteers, join forces to collect hundreds of walleye, which produce millions of eggs. Walleye eggs are incubated at Rathbun and Spirit Lake hatcheries and stocked as fry or fingerlings throughout Iowa.
Watch the video to see the process at Lake Rathbun and the Rathbun Fish Hatchery.
Watch the video to see the process at Lake Rathbun and the Rathbun Fish Hatchery.
Monday, April 6, 2015
First Fish Award - Catch a Memory
Catch a memory
when your favorite young angler hooks their first fish! Your child will receive
a frameable certificate to commemorate this special event.
It’s
easy and free to participate!
1. Take
your child fishing.
2. Snap
a photo of their first fish.
3. Fill
out the First Fish entry form (or email the information along with a photo) and
mail it in.
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