Heavy rains overnight have forced the closure of George Wyth State Park and portions News release Heavy rains overnight have forced the closure of George Wyth State Park and portions of Dolliver State Park. George Wyth State Park will be closed completely starting at 4:30pm, Friday, May 4. The Cedar River is projected to crest on Monday morning and park officials hope to be back open by mid-week next week. Park staff expect water across the roadways in the campground areas and throughout the park. The trails will also be underwater and closed for any use. At Dolliver State Park, … Continue reading Storms cause park flooding, closures

DNR NEWS RELEASE DES MOINES — Iowans working together in their communities and backyards to improve soil and water quality, many with the help of DNR assistance and funding, are marking Soil and Water Conservation week April 29-May 5 to celebrate their achievements and inspire others to begin work on their own land. Projects that focus on reducing stormwater runoff in three urban areas – Easter Lake in Des Moines, Dry Run Creek in Cedar Falls and in the Iowa Great Lakes region – have used conservation practices to help filter and soak in more than 32.1 million gallons of … Continue reading Iowans working to protect and improve water quality mark Soil and Water Conservation Week

DNR news release Hunter Education Classroom courses are offered by knowledgeable and certified volunteer instructors and Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers. Classroom courses are typically 12-15 hours in length and are held over 2 to 3 sessions (days). In order to receive certification, a student must attend all sessions and pass the final exam. Iowa law requires that anyone born after January 1, 1972 must be certified in hunter education before they are eligible to purchase an Iowa hunting license. Upcoming Hunter Education Classes May 1, DeWitt, Wapsi Valley Ikes May 5, Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Fire Department … Continue reading Space available in upcoming hunter education classes

Iowa DNR It’s been cold lately, and some ice has reformed on area waters, but walleyes are biting well on the Cedar River in the Charles City area, according to the latest Iowa DNR fishing reports. River levels are up on the Shell Rock River above Greene. Try fishing the slack water areas below a dam with live bait, the DNR says. With the recent cold snap, skim ice is covering backwaters or the Cedar River above Nashua. Impoundments are fishing well. For walleye, fish below the dams with a variety of baits for a pre-spawn walleye. A jig tipped with … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Try slack water on the Shell Rock River

Iowa DNR news release Ordinarily, a slow moving vehicle at night in the Iowa countryside spotlighting deer, raccoons or coyotes would send Iowans to their phone, speed-dialing their local conservation officer, but in this case, it may be the officer doing the shining. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources annual spring spotlight survey is underway with Wildlife and Law Enforcement staff conducting nighttime counts of all furbearing animals, and white-tailed deer. The survey begins in early spring an hour after sunset, preferably on a night with a clear sky, low wind and high humidity. Each county has a preselected route … Continue reading Annual spring wildlife survey underway

Ice fishing has given way to open water casting in north central Iowa. Here are the latest fishing reports from the Iowa DNR: Cedar River (above Nashua) Open water fishing is around the corner. Large chunks of free-floating ice are causing hazardous boating conditions. Walleye – Good: Use a worm hooked in a worm harness or a jig tipped with twister tail fished below the dams. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers fishing below dams are catching catfish using a big hook loaded with nightcrawlers. Decorah District Streams Catchable trout stocking starts April 2. Gravel roads and parking areas are rough and mushy as the frost … Continue reading Fishing reports: It’s time for casting

Iowa DNR news release Channel catfish move close to shore and are eager to bite in many lakes and the large reservoirs across Iowa. 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. When the ice goes off, a winter’s worth of dead forage fish drift into shallow water for channel catfish to devour. Search for actively feeding fish on the windblown shorelines and points where dead fish are piled up and the shallow water warms quickly. Keep the wind in your face and … Continue reading Ice-out channel catfish are biting

If you are looking to catch some fish on the Cedar River above Nashua, stay off the ice and look for deep slack water along the shore, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources weekly fishing report: Cedar River (above Nashua) Unsafe ice conditions. Water levels are up from snow melt and clarity is marginal. Bluegill – Fair: Find fish in slack water out of current. Stumps, brush piles, and deep holes hold fish. Use small jigs tipped with spikes or waxworms. Black Crappie – Fair: Find fish in 8-10 feet of water. Use minnows, waxworms, and multi-colored spikes on a teardrop … Continue reading Fishing Report: Stay off Cedar River ice, look for deep water

Iowa DNR news release If you like to camp during Memorial Day weekend, the three-month window to reserve a state park campsite for a Friday arrival is now open.Those weekend dates are Friday, May 25 through Monday, May 28.New for the 2018 season, 75 percent of available campsites at each park can be reserved through the online reservation site; the remaining 25 percent are available first-come first-serve at the park.When visiting the reservation site, please note any closures or renovations taking place at each park. Five campgrounds will be closed for the entire 2018 summer camping season for upgrades and renovations. Those parks will still … Continue reading Memorial Day weekend camping reservation window is open

The 34th annual Elma Sportsmen’s Club Sports Show is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Alta Vista Hall. Admission is $5. Buy, sell and trade fishing and other outdoors equipment as well as guns. Continue reading Elma Sportsmen’s Club Sports Show is Sunday