Iowa Man Recalls Bigfoot Sighting Along Wapsipinicon River

A fascinating interview recently surfaced on YouTube featuring a firsthand account from a man named Greg Lind, who describes a chilling encounter with what he believes was a Sasquatch along the Wapsipinicon River in Iowa. The conversation, hosted on the Linda Eastburn channel, dives deep into a sighting that took place over a decade ago on a stretch of water locals call Helmet Island. Greg grew up on the eastern side of Iowa near the Mississippi River, where stories of strange creatures along the riverbanks were a regular feature in local newspapers like the Des Moines Register and the Clinton Herald during the 1970s. Like many curious kids of that era, he was drawn to the mystery through horror movies and a beloved Friday night TV show called Chuck A's Creature Feature. But despite all those campfire-style tales from uncles and friends, Greg didn't really believe any of it. He was an avid outdoorsman who spent his time fishing, hunting, and boating, and he never gave much thought to the idea of a large, unknown creature roaming the woods. That all changed one crisp October night, roughly 10 years ago, when Greg, his brother, and a friend were fishing along the Wapsipinicon River, about 15 miles south of a town called Fletch (likely referring to the area near the town of Independence or the Wapsipinicon's winding path through eastern Iowa). The temperature was hovering around 35 to 40 degrees, and they had set up a campfire with their fishing poles cast into the water, equipped with little bells on the ends so they could detect bites after dark. The group had been fishing for hours when Greg noticed something unusual across the river, about 30 to 45 feet away. The woods had gone eerily silent, no raccoons, no possums, no deer, nothing. Stepping away from the fire and peering across the water toward Helmet Island, Greg spotted a massive shape standing on the island. He estimated the figure to be more than seven feet tall and well over 300 or 400 pounds. It appeared to be foraging along the riverbank. Greg rushed back to tell his brother and friend, but they dismissed him as crazy. Undeterred, he grabbed a flashlight, and all three returned to the spot. This time, the beam caught the creature more clearly, though thick clouds obscured the moon that night, making visibility tough. The cheap Walmart flashlight wasn't exactly high-powered, but the shape was unmistakable. Greg's companions saw it too, though they later insisted it must have been a person playing a prank. Greg disagrees. He knows that stretch of river intimately, having fished it from both shore and boat countless times. Helmet Island sits far enough from the opposite bank that it can't be reached on foot, and the other side is nothing but swampy, muddy marshland. He points out that no one could have waded out there in the middle of the night without a flashlight or boat, especially across a sandbar and muck. The creature simply vanished into a misty fog on the other side of the island and disappeared into the woods. What Greg could make out of the figure was striking. The head seemed to flow directly into the shoulders with almost no visible neck, creating a triangular shape. The arms hung unusually low, well below the waist, suggesting they were exceptionally long. The body appeared covered in hair, though the darkness made it impossible to determine the color. No eyes or facial features were visible, and the creature made no sounds at all, only the splash of water as it moved, possibly searching for fish. The Iowa region has a long, often overlooked history of Sasquatch sightings, particularly along its many river systems. The Wapsipinicon River, with its dense timber, marshy backwaters, and secluded islands, provides exactly the kind of remote, hard-to-access habitat that many researchers believe these elusive beings prefer. Helmet Island, with its natural isolation, fits that profile perfectly. Greg's brother still doesn't believe it was a Sasquatch, but Greg has no doubts. What he saw that night changed his entire perspective, and he felt compelled to share his story so others could hear it. It's a compelling account from a credible outdoorsman with deep knowledge of the area, and one that adds another intriguing piece to Iowa's growing catalog of encounters. The full interview is well worth watching for anyone interested in firsthand witness testimony from the heartland.