ISU EXTENSION NEWS RELEASE Floyd County will offer the Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The program can be seen at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) team. The local attendance site is at the Floyd County Extension Office. The course runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $35 on or before March 7 and $45 after March 7. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the Floyd County Extension office by phoning … Continue reading Ornamental and turfgrass applicators course offered March 7

Fishing report by the Iowa DNRCedar River (above Nashua)Ice conditions may change fast with warmer temperatures. Use caution when going on ice. Check ice depths often. Bluegill – Slow: Find fish in slack water out of current. Stumps, brush piles, and deep holes hold fish. Use small jigs tipped with spikes or waxworms. Continue reading Cedar River fishing is slow; ice could be dangerous

From the Iowa DNR DES MOINES – Permanent ice shelters must be removed from all state-owned lands and waters by Feb. 20. Ice shelter owners are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to get their shelter off the ice. If a shelter falls through the ice, the owner is responsible for getting it out of the lake. Continue reading Ice fishing shelters must be removed by Feb. 20

Information about PWS construction and operation permitting, water use Iowa DNR news release “A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found increasing salt concentrations in most U.S rivers and streams.  Increased salt concentrations create a health risk for some consumers, as well as potentially creating a risk for increased corrosion for water treatment and distribution systems. The researchers used 50 years of data from 232 U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) to show the trends of increasing salinity in rivers and streams.  In addition, some of the rivers and streams became more alkaline.  Road salt was … Continue reading Salt concentrations in rivers and streams found to be increasing

Iowa DNR news release In 2017, Iowa residents purchased… Fishing 234,648 annual licenses 9,532 three-year licenses 8,293 lifetime fishing licenses 43,434 trout fees 8,415 third line licenses 1,082 seven-day licenses 2,881 one-day licenses 278 paddlefish licenses 46,389 fishing, hunting and habitat combination licenses Hunting 24,734 annual licenses 2,416 hunting and habitat three-year licenses 2,980 lifetime hunting licenses 73,540 hunting and habitat annual combination licenses 893 apprentice (hunting and habitat) licenses 24,536 migratory game bird licenses 22,675 habitat fees 12,890 furharvest annual licenses age 16 and older 639 furharvest annual licenses age 15 and younger 607 furharvest and habitat annual combination … Continue reading By the numbers: 2017 hunting, fishing license sales

Weekly outdoor news from the I Iowa DNR news release Hunters reported harvesting 105,544 deer in Iowa for 2017, which is an increase of more than 4,100 deer from 2016. Iowa’s deer seasons closed on Jan. 10. Most deer were harvested during the shotgun seasons. Shotgun 1: 26,546 deer – 13,804 antlerless, 12,742 antlered Shotgun 2: 19,921 deer – 12,326 antlerless, 7,595 antlered Bow (does not include LOT or crossbow): 19,797 deer – 7,737 antlerless, 12,060 antlered Landowners and tenants reported harvesting 7,376 antlerless deer and 3,785 antlered deer during the shogun seasons and 1,445 antlerless deer and 1,246 antlered … Continue reading 2017 Iowa deer harvest surpasses 2016 totals

The Iowa DNR has this to say about fishing the Cedar River north of Nashua this week: “Ice conditions are improving, but use caution. Check ice depths often. Backwaters have about 14 inches ice, but it varies in areas with current. “Bluegill – Good: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm or spikes in 10 feet of water. “Black Crappie – Good: Try bright colored jigs or small spoons tipped with minnow heads in backwaters. “Walleye – Fair: Use small spoons tipped with a minnow head in deeper holes just out of current.” Continue reading DNR fishing report for Cedar River: Ice is improving

The Iowa DNR fishing report for the Cedar River (above Nashua) is: Ice conditions are improving, but use caution. Check ice depths often, especially in areas with current. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm or spikes in 10 feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Use bright colored jigs or small spoons tipped with minnow heads in backwaters. Continue reading Cedar River fishing report: Fair with a bit of ice danger

Iowa hunting and By the Iowa DNR As of Friday, Dec. 15, you can purchase your Iowa 2018 hunting and fishing licenses! Find a nearby Iowa license vendor, or get your license on the DNR’s online sales site. A hunting or fishing license also makes a great gift for the holidays. You’ll just need the recipient’s social security number AND birthdate. Or you can call the DNR customer service desk at (515) 725-8200 for assistance looking up a person’s license information to make the purchase. Here’s a list of popular licenses from which to choose: • Angler’s Special 3-Year License: $53.00 … Continue reading 2018 hunting and fishing licenses on sale

Iowa DNR Ice is forming on the Cedar River above Nashua. Use caution if going out on early ice. Check ice depths often especially in areas with current. Walleye – Fair: Fish activity continues to be spotty. Use a jig tipped with a long piece of worm or minnow in deeper pools, eddies, and current breaks. Try also spinnerbaits with a slow retrieve. Northern Pike – Fair: Use dead chubs fished under a bobber or spoons. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: A few smallies are picked up while angling for walleye. Continue reading Cedar River fishing report: Ice is forming

The Iowa DNR has posted these fishing reports this week: Cedar River (above Nashua)The Cedar River continues to drop and water clarity is improving. Use this opportunity to get out and play before the cold weather sets in. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a long piece of worm or minnow in deeper pools and around brush piles near evening.  Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) There have been good to excellent reports of anglers catching walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass on the Cedar River. Target deeper pools or holes for walleye as they migrate to … Continue reading

IOWA DNR NEWS RELEASE: Iowa’s furbearer season opened Nov. 4, and the outlook for 2017 is good as populations are stable to increasing statewide. Vince Evelsizer, furbearer biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said that while prospects for a good season are there, the number of participants usually follows the fur market. “When prices are good, we have higher participation. When the market is forecasted to be down, like it is again this year, so is participation. But that lack of competition provides an opportunity to introduce someone new to trapping or someone who’s been out of the … Continue reading Iowa’s furbearer season began Nov. 4

The Iowa DNR reported Nov. 2 that the Cedar River above Nashua “continues to drop and water clarity is improving. Use this opportunity to get out and play before the cold weather sets in. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a long piece of worm or minnow in deeper pools and around brush piles near evening.” The report for the Cedar River from Nashua to La Porte City is: “There have been good to excellent reports of anglers catching walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass on the Cedar River. Target deeper pools or holes for walleye as they … Continue reading Fishing Report: Jig the Cedar

By the Iowa DNR Iowa’s annual pheasant and quail seasons open this weekend. The highest pheasant counts were found in counties from NW Iowa angling down to SE Iowa. Quail numbers are the strongest in decades, with the largest population in the southern three tiers of counties.  Here are some last-minute tips and resources: Check out IHAP maps and locations, where private landowners open their land to public hunting. Or visit the Iowa Hunting Atlas for all of Iowa’s public hunting areas. Blaze orange — wear at least one of the following with 50 percent or more solid blaze orange: … Continue reading Pheasant season opens this weekend

By the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources  Slightly cooler temperatures this week will be a welcome development for waterfowl hunters who have several chances to hunt this fall. Here’s a breakdown of Iowa’s waterfowl seasons:  North Zone Ducks, Mergansers, Coots: Sept. 23-Oct. 1, and Oct. 14-Dec. 3 Canada Geese, Brant, White-fronted Geese: Sept. 23-Oct. 8, and Oct. 14-Jan. 1, 2018 South Zone Ducks, Mergansers, Coots: Sept. 30-Oct. 4, and Oct. 21-Dec. 14 Canada Geese, Brant, White-fronted Geese: Sept. 30-Oct. 8, and Oct. 21-Jan. 15, 2018  Missouri River Zone Ducks, Mergansers, Coots: Oct. 7-8, and Oct. 21-Dec. 17 Canada Geese, Brant, … Continue reading Waterfowl hunting in Iowa takes off

It’s a great time to just be outside in northern Iowa. So, try some. Ice relaxing fishing. Here are the latest Iowa DNR reports on popular fishing spots around here. Clear LakeThe water temperature is 65 degrees.  Yellow Bass – Good: Drift a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or cut bait in 8- to 10-feet of water until you find fish. Try also near the rock reefs.  Walleye – Fair: Use a slip bobber and leech or minnow near the rock reefs.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or crawlers on the windward side of the … Continue reading Fishing Report: Check under the dock for muskies, DNR suggests