It is time to go fishing

It is time to go fishing, and I have been out a couple of times, but the weather has not been favorable. Low pressure had moved in with light rain, fog , mist and winds from the east. As the old saying goes “ A bad day fishing is better than a great day at work.” So I reviewed one of my favorite websites produced by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and I found two good articles to share.

Iowa Fisheries experts Share Best Spring Fishing Spots Through Interactive Web Map

One of Iowa’s best kept secrets is the excellent fishing that takes place here with each spring. Now, the secret of where to fish this time of year is easier to access in a new interactive map created by the Iowa DNR.
The map features 50 top fishing spots, identified by DNR fisheries experts. By clicking on a point on the map, web visitors can find details on where to fish, types of fish to be caught, and tips to be successful.
“We often hear that people wish they knew the best places to fish, and we hope this typ of map is helpful,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of DNR fisheries. “We have hundreds of lakes, ponds and streams in Iowa, and fishing this time is a great opportunity for both new and expert anglers.”
According to Larsheid, chief of DNR fisheries, spring is the peak time for fishing because the fish will be aggressive as they prepare to spawn and lose some of their natural wariness. They are also close to shore making them accessible to those without a boat.
The map, created using Google, can be found at http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/map.html.

Good Fishing Expected for Holiday Weekend

Spring fishing is nearing its peak as water temperature holds in the middle 60s for many water bodies in Iowa. Crappies, bluegills, largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish and bullheads are all active and close to shore.
Barring any wild swings in the weather, the Memorial Day Weekend should offer some excellent fishing for a variety of fish species.
"I couldn't think of a better scenario for the upcoming holiday weekend. If the weather holds, fish will be close to shore and ready to bite. This is what we all wait for," said Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau. "Make sure the rod and reel are part of any weekend plans."
The period from late May and early June is an excellent time to take kids fishing because many species are spawning and do not spook as easily. Larscheid said anglers can increase their catch if they use small tackle. Keep the bait small, too.
"The biggest problem we see is anglers using too heavy of line, and large bobbers and hooks," he said. "Use as light of tackle as you can. I would suggest using four pound line, a bobber the size of a quarter and a size 8 hook."
The Iowa DNR issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays, but the report can be accessed anytime by going to http://www.iowadnr.gov/ then click on Fishing Report. A tutorial will guide the registration process. There is a new feature that allows users to select what information they want to generate by species or water body.

Good hunting and fishing. Hank.