My 2024 Iowa season

[duckhunt]

I think this is a good time to start my new season.
Finally got on the ice last weekend. I guess everyone else had the same idea. Went to Lansing with my dad and a buddy from Wisconsin and found a whole bunch of other people.




I fished for about 3 hours only catching about 20 small gills. Dad and Jeff stayed out a couple more hours and had 18 keepers but also had to sort a bunch of smalls.

I left early to head up to Holeman marine to do some trading. If you read my posts in the past you should know that I've been fighting old junk motors I keep on my small boat at home. Well not anymore. Traded in a couple old 2 cycles for a newer 2008 4 stroke Yamaha 6 horse. Really looking forward to using this on the small rivers close to home.

 

[duckhunt]

App season has begun so I will tell you my plans.
Put my two boys and a friend of theirs in for type 1 Wyoming antelope. I am in for a doe tag for the same unit. To be honest I really don't care if I draw or not, just thought I would put in because I am going with the boys anyway. Also planning a South Dakota pheasant , grouse, prairie chicken hunt with a work buddy. On top of that I will do my usual Iowa deer hunts and hopefully mix in some duck hunting that I haven't done for a few years now. I decided to wait on colorado elk since Wyoming and South Dakota will already burn up some time and money.

 

[Gellar]

I think this is a good time to start my new season.
Finally got on the ice last weekend. I guess everyone else had the same idea. Went to Lansing with my dad and a buddy from Wisconsin and found a whole bunch of other people.

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I fished for about 3 hours only catching about 20 small gills. Dad and Jeff stayed out a couple more hours and had 18 keepers but also had to sort a bunch of smalls.

I’ve drove by up there a couple times this week. Lots and lots of people!

It looks like you have some busy plans for 2024! Good luck with your adventures.

 

[duckhunt]

Finally made it out on the big river last Thursday evening for a couple hours. I landed 2 keepers and my buddy lost a couple.


Tried something new with them tonight.
Parmesan crusted walleye. Delicious!

 

[Gellar]

That’s a nice walleye! Looks like it’d be just under the slot limit! The big river has come up a couple feet since last week, that should make for even better fishing.

 

[duckhunt]

That’s a nice walleye! Looks like it’d be just under the slot limit! The big river has come up a couple feet since last week, that should make for even better fishing.

Walleye was 19.5 and sauger was 15.75. I was happy with that because since the slot was put in place everything I catch is usually under 15 or over 20.

 

[duckhunt]

Managed to pick up a few perch with dad over last weekend. Water temp mid 50s, males were milking and a couple females still had eggs.



Drake was enjoying the nice weather on the river.

 

[duckhunt]

Been really busy lately so haven't done any outdoor activities lately but did check Wyoming results this morning. My boys and their buddy drew type 1 antelope tags, and I struck out on my doe tag.

 

[duckhunt]

I finally made it out on big river for a little fishing after a very busy spring and early summer. Jigged up a bunch of big sheephead and carp wich was fun but that's not what I was after. Did find a few walleyes. 1 small, 1 keeper, and 1 in the slot limit.
Was all alone so a picture was not easy. Measured just under 27.

 

[duckhunt]

An awsome Mississippi river sunrise last weekend.



Friday morning I learned my way around a few channels on pool 10 that I do not have much experience with. No fish caught Friday.

Saturday morning I met up with dad on pool 9 and ended with 7 keeper walleye between the two of us. Also some short fish and some junk fish mixed in. Sunday morning the walleyes shut down and it was just junk fish for the morning.

Finally got a chance to meet another hunt talker. One afternoon a truck pulls up into my driveway and out pops Gellar. Kind of nice to put a face to the name.

 

[Gellar]

Wonderful picture of the Upper Mississippi River! It was a pleasure to meet you. Did you mark those walleye spots on your depth finder? Since your boat is still at your place I could just help myself to those GPS coordinates!

 

[duckhunt]

Wonderful picture of the Upper Mississippi River! It was a pleasure to meet you. Did you mark those walleye spots on your depth finder? Since your boat is still at your place I could just help myself to those GPS coordinates!

Lol I was hoping you would send me your GPS coordinates.

 

[duckhunt]

Time to go through the hunting gear. After last season everything just got thrown in the garage. Sorted through muzzleloader supplies hoping to shoot Sunday. Everything organized except can't find my cleaning brush. Cleaned pack out and organized crap just thrown in there.

Next I decided to shoot my bow. Left shoulder has been bothering me ( factory work for over 20 years is taking its toll ) so probably turn the poundage down a little bit. First arrow the rubber tube for the peep sight broke. Just a little dry rot so I think I will take it to the bow shop for some work.

Going to try two different bullets on Sunday. Thor bullets and Hornady bore driver. Both 295 grain bullets. Plan is to be able to use the same setup for both elk and deer.

Also contacted land owners about the upcoming deer season. Got the green light so probably do some scouting and stand prep in the next few weeks.

 

[duckhunt]

I didn't get out to shoot a few weeks ago but did shoot the thor bullets today. Pretty happy with the performance at short distance. Going to try the Hornady bullets tomorrow.

Bad news on the antelope/ doe whitetail Wyoming hunt. The unit we were going to is on fire. Feel bad for the people that live there. Going to try for the refund and get points restored.

 

[duckhunt]

Shot the Hornaday bullets today. Was happy with the performance of those also. One dislike was they seemed to load really hard once I pushed em down to about a couple inches over the powder. With both bullets I ran a clean dry patch through to clean some fouling every other shot but did not seem to help with loading the hornadays. I definetly want to spend more time with the Thors.

 

[duckhunt]

Wyoming is back on the list this fall. Fire did not affect the public land or herd numbers much.

 

[Gellar]

Wyoming is back on the list this fall. Fire did not affect the public land or herd numbers much.

That is great news!

 

[Notmuchinfo]

That is good news. That is my unit also. Sure looked bad on the news.

 

[duckhunt]

Got a few walleyes over the weekend so here it is.
Beer batter filets and mac n cheese

 

[Gellar]

We are practically neighbors now and you don’t share?