Category: Outdoors

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Walleye have moved out of over-wintering areas of the Cedar

Chris Baldus

By the Iowa DNR These are the area fishing reports for April 16, 2020 Clear Lake The water temperature is in the low forties. Channel Catfish – Good: Use chicken liver or cut bait fished on the bottom where water is following into the lake. Walleye – Good: Pitch a jig and minnow in 3 to 6 feet of water along the east shore and around the island. Fish are biting throughout the day, but the best bite is late afternoon. Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellow bass are being caught from the jetties. Boat anglers should try fishing the edge of the vegetation on the north … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Walleye have moved out of over-wintering areas of the Cedar

Outdoors

DNR investigates Tama County fish kill

Chris Baldus

IOWA DNR VINING—DNR staff are investigating a manure spill that resulted in a fish kill on Wolf Creek about 2 miles northwest of Vining in Tama County. A manure applicator for Mayo Farm Inc. reported Thursday morning that a drag hose leaked about 2,600 gallons of manure during land application. The applicator built a berm to dam up the spilled manure, but estimates that up to 500 gallons reached the creek. DNR staff saw live fish at the site Thursday, but found some dead fish in the same area — about 1 to 1.5 miles downstream — this morning. DNR fisheries staff … Continue reading DNR investigates Tama County fish kill

Charles City, Outdoors

Floyd County fish kill investigated

Chris Baldus

NEWS RELEASE CHARLES CITY—DNR specialists investigated a fish kill on a tributary of Flood Creek about four miles west of Charles City Wednesday. On-site field tests did not show elevated ammonia levels and live fish were seen along the affected two-mile stretch of stream, indicating the pollutant had moved downstream. “It’s really important for people to call DNR right away when they see dead fish,” said Rachel Glaza, DNR environmental specialist. “If we get there fast we can usually determine the cause. But in this case, whatever killed the fish had come and gone by the time we got there,” … Continue reading Floyd County fish kill investigated

Outdoors

Iowa pheasant population survey begins Aug. 1

Chris Baldus

IOWA DNR News Release The extent of impact that a cold and snowy late winter and heavy rains and flooding in April and May had on pheasant nesting success will likely be seen when the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducts its annual pheasant counts. The statewide survey takes place Aug. 1-15. The survey is conducted by Iowa DNR staff who drive 218, 30 mile routes on gravel roads at dawn on mornings with heavy dew. Hen pheasants will move their broods to the edge of the gravel road to dry off before they begin feeding, which makes them … Continue reading Iowa pheasant population survey begins Aug. 1

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Try a jig and a leech on Clear Lake for walleye

Chris Baldus

Compiled by the Iowa DNR Clear Lake The water temperature is in the upper 70’s. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with a jig and leech and fishing under docks with a minnow. Channel Catfish – Good: Fish the windswept shore and rocky areas with cut bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish the edge of vegetation in 4 to 6 feet of water with a small piece of crawler or leech. Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) River flows are high – about twice the normal flow … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Try a jig and a leech on Clear Lake for walleye

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Catfish action picking up on Cedar River

Chris Baldus

Iowa DNR Cedar River (above Nashua) Water levels are falling, but current remains high. Water clarity is improving. Water temperatures are in the upper 60’s. Use caution when boating in higher flows. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish action is picking up with warmer water. Use dead chubs or chicken livers fished in the impoundments or shallow slack water areas. Keep your bait on the river bottom. Walleye – Slow: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or ring worms in eddies or slack water areas. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find bass in eddies or current breaks; use spinnerbaits. Black Crappie – … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Catfish action picking up on Cedar River

Charles City, Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Use chubs on the bottom of the Cedar River north of Nashua for catfish

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — Water levels in the Cedar River above Nashua are stabilizing, but remain elevated with high flows, according to the Iowa DNR. Water clarity is poor and water temperatures are in the mid-50’s. Use caution when boating in higher flows. Here is some advice from the DNR’s weekly fishing report: Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs in the impoundments or shallow slack water areas. Keep your bait on the river bottom. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or ring worms. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Crankbaits will tempt a smallie. Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Use chubs on the bottom of the Cedar River north of Nashua for catfish

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Clear Lake walleye liking minnows and leeches

Chris Baldus

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa – The water temperature of Clear Lake is in the low 60’s, according to the Iowa DNR. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with jigs and a minnow or leech. With the clear water, the best bite is early morning and evening. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish the edge of the rushes with a small minnow. Yellow Bass – Slow: Use small jigs in 2 to 3 feet of water on warmer days. Best bite is at first light. Channel Catfish – Good: Fish the windswept shore and areas where water … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Clear Lake walleye liking minnows and leeches

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Humbling and exhilarating, Iowa’s springtime turkey hunting seasons begin April 5

Chris Baldus

IOWA DNR NEWS RELEASE Enjoy those easy-to-see large flocks of turkeys feeding in the fields while you can. In the next few weeks, the winter flocks will break up, and where you saw them last weekend is not where they’ll be when spring turkey season opens in April. Bagging a wild turkey is a challenge for even the most experienced hunters. Of the 50,000 licenses sold each spring, about 20 percent are placed on a bird. “Turkeys have home field advantage. We go where they live and use calls that try to mimic the sounds of a hen. We are … Continue reading Humbling and exhilarating, Iowa’s springtime turkey hunting seasons begin April 5

Outdoors

Make your camping reservation for Fourth of July

Chris Baldus

Iowa DNR news release Thursday, April 4 marks the first day to reserve a campsite for Fourth of July. Consider camping at an Iowa state park to enjoy the outdoors during the summer holiday! For those planning in advance, 75 percent of campsites are available and the rest are open for walk-up camping that week. More information about Iowa’s state parks can be found online.  Continue reading Make your camping reservation for Fourth of July

Outdoors

Fishing Report: Ice-out channel catfish are biting

Chris Baldus

Iowa DNR news release Channel catfish move close to shore and are eager to bite in many lakes and the large reservoirs across Iowa just after the ice is gone. The bite starts sooner in the southern Iowa impoundment since they lose ice a week or two before northeast Iowa natural lakes. After eating light during the winter, channel catfish go on a feeding frenzy in early spring cleaning up small fish that died over the winter. Search for actively feeding fish on windblown shorelines and points where dead fish are piled up and the shallow water warms quickly. Keep … Continue reading Fishing Report: Ice-out channel catfish are biting

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Lots of small yellow perch being caught on Clear Lake

Chris Baldus

By the Iowa DNR Clear Lake The lake is covered with several inches of snow. Local anglers have plowed a few paths on the lake for access. Please be courteous and don’t park in the middle of the path blocking traffic. Yellow Bass – Fair: Start shallow with a small jig or jigging spoon tipped with several spikes or a waxworm near the Baptist camp. You have to keep moving to stay on fish. Yellow Perch – Good: Lots of small fish are being caught. If you’re not going to use the fish you catch, please release them. Black Crappie … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Lots of small yellow perch being caught on Clear Lake

Outdoors

Iowa license plates can support natural resources

Chris Baldus

News Release Iowans can put their support for conservation on cruise control by purchasing a natural resources license plate when it’s time to renew their vehicle registration. The sale of Iowa’s natural resources license plates provides financial support for the Wildlife Diversity Program in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program (REAP). After the initial $45 fee, the $25 renewal fee will be added to the annual registration bill. Each year when the registration is renewed, $15 goes to the Wildlife Diversity Program and $10 goes to REAP. Proceeds from the license plates are … Continue reading Iowa license plates can support natural resources

Outdoors

Memorial Day weekend campsites available soon for reservation

Chris Baldus

News Release For people interested in camping during Memorial Day weekend, the three-month window to reserve a campsite at an Iowa state park opens Sunday, Feb. 24. Memorial Day weekend begins Friday, May 24 through Monday, May 27. Campsite reservations can be made three months prior to visiting, making it a good time to start planning a trip to a state park. Information on Iowa’s state parks is available at http://www.iowadnr.gov including the link to make reservations. Campers can also log on directly to https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/welcome.do. Due to renovations to campgrounds and poor weather conditions, the following parks will not be … Continue reading Memorial Day weekend campsites available soon for reservation

Outdoors

Petition seeks setting quality standards regarding nutrient levels in public lakes

Chris Baldus

DES MOINES – A petition by the  Iowa Environmental Council and the Environmental Law and Policy Center to have the state  adopt numeric water quality standards for certain public recreational lakes appears to be headed for denial. A draft document included in the state’s Environmental Protection Commission’s meeting packet for its Feb. 19 meeting is for denying the petition. Click here to call up the draft document. Open the EPC Meeting Packet and Agenda. The petition asks for standards that account for “water transparency, concentration of chlorophyll-a, concentration of total phosphorus, and concentration of total nitrogen. The proposed rules would also … Continue reading Petition seeks setting quality standards regarding nutrient levels in public lakes

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Crappie in the Cedar backwaters

Chris Baldus

By the Iowa DNR This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. Clear Lake Ice thickness is 12 to 18 inches. Yellow Bass – Fair: Start shallow with a small jig or jigging spoon tipped with several spikes or a waxworm. You have to keep moving to stay on fish. Yellow Perch – Fair: Lots of small fish are being caught. If you’re not going to use the fish you catch, please release them. Black Crappie – Slow: Use jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head in the early morning. Walleye – Slow: Best … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Crappie in the Cedar backwaters

Outdoors

Application process now open for Trees for Kids programs

Chris Baldus

DNR news release DES MOINES – Applications are now being accepted for the Trees for Kids Grant and Trees for Kids Seedlings through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Applications are due in March and are open to public organizations such as municipalities, schools, neighborhood associations, parks and recreation departments, county conservation boards, etc. Recipients of the Trees for Kids grants have the possibility to receive up to $5,000 to purchase trees and mulch from a nursery, but must include youth education, preferably by having youth help plant the trees. Application deadline for Trees For Kids grant is Friday, … Continue reading Application process now open for Trees for Kids programs