Our great state has experienced some more flooding this past week.  It is a cliche, but again we have seen flooding like we have never seen before.  Most of you are probably aware that parts of central Nebraska had up to 10 inches of rain in one night last week, and well, when there is that much rain, that fast, there is going to be flooding in places where we have never seen it before. No doubt, flooding impacts fisheries; …

We live in a world that is way too uptight.  How uptight?  So uptight that even our crayfish are anxious.  Don’t believe me?  Well, there are some pointy-headed crayfish biologists that say otherwise:  Anxious Crayfish. Actually, if you read the article, it does make some sense, at least it does to a pointy-headed biologist.  Molting, or more correctly ecdysis, is a stressful time for crayfish and for good reason. . . . Ecdysial crayfish have “soft shells”, and it takes …

I have often said that one of the things I like most about trout fishing is the beauty of the fish.  Even a 6-inch brook trout can be a prized catch because they are such pretty fish.  I am convinced that is part of the glamour of trout fishing, that and fly-rods, and the fact that cold-water habitats where trout reside typically are also really purdy places. Likewise, I am awed by the diversity and beauty of fish on a …

I know the big Independence Day holiday is now past us and I know that there have been news releases on these items already.  I am not trying to “break” the news here so much as just trying to spread it: Goose Lake Of course high water and flooding have made access to Goose Lake in Holt County nearly impossible this year.  That has improved and the road is open again now; the boat dock is in place.  Now all …

Like many of you, I am finishing up a few things and heading out of the office for a long Independence Day weekend!  The “4th of July” has always been one of my family’s favorite holidays, and this year will be no exception.  Yes, we LOVE setting off fireworks, but there will also be parades, feasting, maybe some time in the water cooling off, and in between all the family activities we usually put in a little time on the …

I usually post a water/boat safety reminder in the early spring when the water is cold.  I did not this spring, but with the heat of summer and peak activity on the water, this is a good time to mention it again.  Unfortunately, it seems like there has been a story about some tragedy on the water someplace in Nebraska nearly every weekend this summer. My buddy Greg blogged last week about The Worst Excuses for Not Wearing a Life …

The big college baseball tournament in Omaha just finished up.  Like Major League Baseball, there are a darned lot of strike-outs in the game nowadays. . . . Likewise, if you have spent any amount of time on the water, you have at least a story or three about “the one that got away”.  Probably got a bunch more stories about fish you missed on the hook set.  You know you do, and you will appreciate this video: Had a …

Been a long time since I mentioned what is new on the state record front.  Got three new state records to tell you about.  Let’s start with a couple of rod & reel records: The first to hit my desk this year came back in April.  Scott McGuire from Grant pushed our tiger trout record even higher, just short of 5 pounds now, 4 pounds 14 ounces. Scott’s fish was 24 inches long, and was caught from the North Platte …

When we, the Fisheries Division of the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, does an Aquatic Habitat rehabilitation project, our goals are usually much larger than just providing a few fish attractor structures.  Do not get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with brush piles, log cribs, root wads, broken concrete, etc. that can be placed in a waterbody to attract fish and make them easier to find and catch.  But, when we are doing a rehabilitation project we usually have …

Blogged about fishing running through my veins earlier this week.  With Father’s Day last weekend, I got to thinking about fishing with my Gramps Roth and a story I want to write down. . . . I have lots of memories of fishing with Gramps when I was a kid, he lived in Atkinson, Nebraska and spent a lot of time fishing, hunting and trapping in that beautiful part of our state.  I always looked forward to visiting Gramps, seemed …