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King of the Stream: Chasing a Trophy Trout

King of the Stream: Chasing a Trophy Trout

  • 7/26/2016 11:15:00 AM
  • View Count 14300
Slightly shook up, I stopped fishing and tried to gather myself. I thought, “I just lost the largest trout I have ever hooked in an Iowa stream.” It had to be in the 18- to 20-inch range—a brown trout produced naturally in this stream.
Lake Macbride: The Big and Small of It

Lake Macbride: The Big and Small of It

  • 7/15/2016 11:05:00 AM
  • View Count 15103
I’d found the perfect outdoors go-to for some head-clearing solitude under one of the state’s most venerable tree canopies: the park’s majestic white oaks include many trees 150 years old and up.
4 Cool Things You Should Know About Mussels

4 Cool Things You Should Know About Mussels

  • 7/15/2016 9:50:00 AM
  • View Count 26628
Most people have seen the empty shell of a clam or mussel, but significantly fewer have seen the actual animals that live in there. Get a good look before they’re gone – these animals are some of the most threatened by habitat alteration and pollution today.
Give Old Stuff New Life with These Upcycling Projects

Give Old Stuff New Life with These Upcycling Projects

  • 7/13/2016 2:01:00 PM
  • View Count 17959
Turn a tired old DVD case into a travel-friendly art kit, transform a vinyl banner into a useful tote bag or upgrade a scratched CD into the blingiest turtle on the block.
4 Tips for Choosing the Right Canoe

4 Tips for Choosing the Right Canoe

  • 7/12/2016 3:55:00 PM
  • View Count 10274
Canoes are an ancient means of transportation, and originated many times in places like Australia, the Amazon and the northern United States. Today, modern models and materials give paddlers a variety of performance options, and knowing how to pick the right one will help you get the most functional, fun and usable canoe for your needs. Know the tips below to get one step closer to paddling.
6 best bass baits and lures for summer

6 best bass baits and lures for summer

  • 7/8/2016 1:53:00 PM
  • View Count 39001
When it comes to gamefish, not many have captivated the gaze of avid anglers like the bass. No matter when, where, or what you’re fishing in, consider using these foolproof baits to attract bass of all types.
Get the lowdown on river fishing in Iowa

Get the lowdown on river fishing in Iowa

  • 7/7/2016 2:46:00 PM
  • View Count 20843
With many thousands of miles of rivers in Iowa, and many methods to fishing them, there are many theories, techniques, and so-called secrets of the trade. So where do you start?
A Day’s Worth of Dynamite Dutch Oven Dining

A Day’s Worth of Dynamite Dutch Oven Dining

  • 6/27/2016 11:01:00 AM
  • View Count 28319
Enjoy a day’s menu of good food and camaraderie of the campfire ring with these meal-time suggestions. While the recipes may seem extensive, it’s mostly toss in the ingredients, heat and eat.
4 Quick Ways to Tell A Wolf from a Coyote

4 Quick Ways to Tell A Wolf from a Coyote

  • 6/8/2016 10:55:00 AM
  • View Count 70784
Iowa hasn’t been a consistent home for many large predators since the early 1900s, but healthy wolf populations from the Great Lakes Region are expanding their ranges. Look for the tell-tale traits below to know just what canine you’ve spotted.
7 Cool Things You Should Know About Hummingbirds

7 Cool Things You Should Know About Hummingbirds

  • 6/2/2016 2:46:00 PM
  • View Count 55775
Hummingbirds are some of the most distinctive birds to see in Iowa – if your eyes can keep up. Known for their extremely speedy flight and abrupt stops, these winged gems are fun to spot and easy to attract to your yard or apartment windowsill with a feeder. Look for them over the summer and you might even see a rare species!
Fishing the Graveyard Shift

Fishing the Graveyard Shift

  • 5/26/2016 4:11:00 PM
  • View Count 17536
Ultimately, I think the lure of the riverbank and flathead fishing is that life slows down so much. It is so very simple, so basic and elemental, almost like a form of asceticism. Life is reduced to its simplest terms.
Know Your Catch: How to ID Northern Pike and Muskies

Know Your Catch: How to ID Northern Pike and Muskies

  • 5/25/2016 11:47:00 AM
  • View Count 51466
Pikes and muskellunge are both predatory prize fish any angler would love to catch, but knowing the difference between the two makes a big difference in your fishing story… especially if you need to tell it to a conservation officer, because the rules for these species are different. Check out the easy tips below for identifying what’s on your line and what to do about it.
Spring Cleaning? Here's Where to Take Your Stuff

Spring Cleaning? Here's Where to Take Your Stuff

  • 5/18/2016 3:27:00 PM
  • View Count 11240
Shake off those winter doldrums and rejuvenate the home with a good spring cleaning. But don’t dull the shine of your good deed by improperly disposing of cleaners or unwanted items that could be reused around the house or community.
Here's Why Skunk Smell is So Hard to Get Rid Of

Here's Why Skunk Smell is So Hard to Get Rid Of

  • 5/18/2016 2:49:00 PM
  • View Count 79940
Everything about a skunk says, “don’t mess with me.” Their distinctive black and white stripes show they don’t need to hide for safety. If a curious predator doesn’t get that message, the skunk employs an intimidating foot-stamping. If a threatening animal still doesn’t respond to an obvious tail-lifting, the skunk lets loose.
Top Urban Fishing Spots in Des Moines

Top Urban Fishing Spots in Des Moines

  • 5/18/2016 11:15:00 AM
  • View Count 56061
Sixty percent of anglers travel no more than 20 miles to fish. For those near Iowa’s largest metro, hit these local picks. (Stay tuned for top spots in more cities in future issues.)
Meet Sparky, a Bison Lucky to Be Alive

Meet Sparky, a Bison Lucky to Be Alive

  • 5/17/2016 11:15:00 AM
  • View Count 24226
In rare cases, an animal can survive a lightning strike, like a bison struck in 2013 at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City. This bison earned his new nickname “Sparky” the hard way.
The Return of Lake Darling

The Return of Lake Darling

  • 5/11/2016 1:40:00 PM
  • View Count 14409
After a $12 million rehab of its lake, watershed and public facilities, Lake Darling State Park in southeast Iowa officially reopened Sept. 17, 2014. The 66-year-old park and lake are now among the state’s most picturesque recreation areas. Namesake “Ding” Darling must be smiling.
7 Cool Things You Should Know About Squirrels

7 Cool Things You Should Know About Squirrels

  • 5/6/2016 11:52:00 AM
  • View Count 120687
In Iowa it’s hard to go outside without at least glimpsing a squirrel. This nimble and common wildlife family is well known for its acrobatic tendencies and potential as a garden or birdfeeder thief. But do you know all the facts about your fuzzy neighbors?
Take A Quick Spring Cabin Getaway

Take A Quick Spring Cabin Getaway

  • 3/24/2016 11:36:00 AM
  • View Count 7047
Shake off the winter blues by renting a cabin for a couple of days. Take a spring hike or bike ride. Grab some binoculars and do a little wildlife watching. Birding is great during this peak migration time. And, of course, there is always fishing – spring offers some of the best!
7 Tips to Keep you Safe Outdoors in a Storm

7 Tips to Keep you Safe Outdoors in a Storm

  • 3/23/2016 4:55:00 AM
  • View Count 13469
It’s one thing to be caught half a block from the house in a blizzard or thunderstorm. But what do you do if a storm comes up suddenly when you are camping, hiking or boating?
Fire Helps Manage Iowa's Grasslands

Fire Helps Manage Iowa's Grasslands

  • 3/11/2016 9:18:00 AM
  • View Count 9216
The work to improve Iowa’s prairies takes center stage each spring when agencies and private landowners use fire to manage their grasslands and improve their value for wildlife.
Catfish with a Cajun Kick [Recipe]

Catfish with a Cajun Kick [Recipe]

  • 3/11/2016 8:46:00 AM
  • View Count 8023
With roots in Cajun-Creole cuisine, this recipe for blackened catfish - along with homemade remoulade and coleslaw - is sure to be a hit at your next fish fry.
Coralville Makes Green Strides for Water Quality

Coralville Makes Green Strides for Water Quality

  • 3/11/2016 7:24:00 AM
  • View Count 10179
Generally, Coralville Lake, just upstream from its namesake town, does its job as a flood control reservoir. But the lake was no match for the floods of 1993 and 2008, creating millions of dollars in damages for the eastern Iowa town.
Prepping Your Tackle Box for Spring Fishing

Prepping Your Tackle Box for Spring Fishing

  • 3/4/2016 8:48:00 AM
  • View Count 13996
If this stretch of warmer weather has you itching for spring fishing, now is a great time to dust off the tackle box and prepare for a great fishing season.
Lake Darling Takes the Spotlight Again Following Renovation

Lake Darling Takes the Spotlight Again Following Renovation

  • 3/2/2016 5:43:00 AM
  • View Count 11490
On the same September day 64 years earlier, legendary conservationist and Iowan Jay “Ding” Darling ceremoniously “set the gate” on the then newest and largest artificial lake in Iowa, Lake Darling.
12 Upcycling Ideas for the Savvy Outdoor Enthusiast

12 Upcycling Ideas for the Savvy Outdoor Enthusiast

  • 3/2/2016 5:00:00 AM
  • View Count 17465
Camping and relaxing outside should be great ways to spend your day and not your money. Still, accessories and new fandangled gear can get pricey pretty quick, so try these alternative upcycling options to get back to the fun instead of the store!
Cool Things You Should Know About Golden Eagles

Cool Things You Should Know About Golden Eagles

  • 2/18/2016 8:50:00 AM
  • View Count 39714
Once thought as wanderers from the Rocky Mountains and western states, research shows Iowa’s wintering golden eagles travel thousands of miles from the far, far north.
A Return to Glory Days at Little Storm

A Return to Glory Days at Little Storm

  • 2/17/2016 9:47:00 AM
  • View Count 10560
Longtime Storm Lake Mayor Jon Kruse remembers the glory days of waterfowl hunting in Little Storm Lake during the 1960s and’70s, but by the early ‘80s the ducks were gone. The marsh became a silt-filled carp nursery with little vegetation.
Iowa Outdoors Begins its 75th Year

Iowa Outdoors Begins its 75th Year

  • 2/5/2016 8:59:00 AM
  • View Count 7969
Launched Feb. 15, 1942 in the dark early years of WWII, the Iowa Conservationist magazine was born.
Golden in Search of Wings: Iowa's Golden Eagles

Golden in Search of Wings: Iowa's Golden Eagles

  • 1/28/2016 9:26:00 AM
  • View Count 43656
Once thought as wanderers from the Rocky Mountains and western states, research shows Iowa’s wintering golden eagles travel thousands of miles from the far, far north.
Conquer Winter on a Fat Bike

Conquer Winter on a Fat Bike

  • 1/27/2016 9:47:00 AM
  • View Count 17107
These heavy-duty bikes sport tires near 4 inches wide, which allows them to go where most road and mountain bikes can’t. The oversized tires’ extra surface area gives the bike traction on mud, snow, sand and other slippery surfaces, and the inflation can be adjusted to absorb impact.
8 Festive Birdfeeders to Make This Winter

8 Festive Birdfeeders to Make This Winter

  • 1/19/2016 9:58:00 AM
  • View Count 12304
While you may deal with this cold season by filling up on holiday treats and game day goodies, winter can be a lean time for Iowa wildlife. To help your feathered friends find a meal, take a few minutes to create one of these festive feeders for your yard, or make a fancy batch as a gift.
Cabin Fever: Backbone State Park

Cabin Fever: Backbone State Park

  • 1/19/2016 7:11:00 AM
  • View Count 15106
In Iowa’s oldest state park, old man winter won’t slow you down–he’s just part of the scenery.
How to Tell a Golden Eagle from a Bald Eagle

How to Tell a Golden Eagle from a Bald Eagle

  • 1/19/2016 4:50:00 AM
  • View Count 49251
Differentiating between a golden eagle and an immature bald eagle can be challenging. But sharp-eyed observers can tell the differences in the wings.
Are There Winter Tornadoes in Iowa?

Are There Winter Tornadoes in Iowa?

  • 1/5/2016 8:00:00 AM
  • View Count 8967
Because tornadoes usually require warm, humid air to form, it’s not surprising winter tornadoes are rare in Iowa. But they can happen, and occur more frequently in the southern states during winter versus the Upper Midwest.
11 Great Winter Cabin Getaways in Iowa State Parks

11 Great Winter Cabin Getaways in Iowa State Parks

  • 12/30/2015 8:26:00 AM
  • View Count 86447
The quiet solitude that makes a perfect winter getaway is waiting for you in beautiful, comfortable year-round cabins at several Iowa state parks. It’s a great time to take advantage of hiking trails (many allow cross-country skiing and snowmobiling), wildlife watching (deer and birds galore), fishing and more.
6 Ways to Start Off the New Year Outdoors

6 Ways to Start Off the New Year Outdoors

  • 12/29/2015 9:37:00 AM
  • View Count 8203
What better way to celebrate the new year than by getting outdoors? Here are a few ideas to get your year off to a good start!
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