DES MOINES - It happens so infrequently that campers this week have been caught pinching themselves to see if it is actually for real. Good weather AND good fishing, both on Memorial Day weekend. With such a slam dunk forecast, Iowa State Parks campgrounds should be bustling with activity for the start of Iowa's busy camping season.

"Our campgrounds are going to be busy there is no doubt about it," said Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources state parks bureau. "People may want to arrive early just to get a spot. I'm expecting our more popular campgrounds to fill by Thursday."

Campsite prices are the same as last year and the self-registration is still first come, first served. Szcodronski said next year the DNR will have a campsite reservation system available.

"Everything is setting up nicely to have tremendous fishing in many of our lakes," said Marion Conover, chief of the DNR's fisheries bureau. "We are seeing bluegills on the spawning beds in southern Iowa and crappies close to shore in our northern Iowa lakes. With the good weather predicted, I would encourage our park visitors to bring their fishing rods along."

Campers should log on to www.exploreiowaparks.com for information on campground construction and to find park contact information. "Call the park before leaving and try to be flexible if the campground is full," said Jim Lawson, district parks supervisor for south central Iowa. "We have a lot of beautiful parks and campgrounds that are under used in some out of the way places and if campers are willing to travel a little."

Lawson said campers should go through their equipment before packing for the trip. "It's not a lot of fun to back up to the camper only to find a flat tire, or to unroll the tent and find a broken tent pole or no tent spikes," Lawson said. Campers should also plan to bring firewood, bug spray, a camera, matches, aluminum foil and sunscreen, he said. "And don't forget the can opener."

With all the traffic in the campground, campers are encouraged to be good neighbors and courteous to fellow campers.

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