Barbs and Backlashes

I have mentioned this before, but I want to again point out our cooperative effort with the Omaha World-Herald on their GoOutdoorsNE.com outdoor page. I want to mention that again because recently Mark Davis from the “World-Herald” contacted me about doing an ice-fishing story.  Now I have had several newspaper and TV folks on the ice to do ice fishing stories over the years.  I am afraid some of them have frozen while they were with me, but if they are …

Cue the theme music, “Blinded Me with Science” by Thomas Dolby: The March 2014 issue of NEBRASKAland magazine just went on-line, Digital NEBRASKAland; there is a short piece there that Nebraska anglers will find of interest.  I have blogged before about how unique Nebraska’s sandhill lakes are, and in recent years fisheries research has taught us a lot more about those waters (e.g. “Blinded Me with Science”–February 25, 2013, “Blinded Me with Science”–November 21, 2011 ).  In March 2014’s issue of NEBRASKAland, …

If you are like me and my family, you are mesmerized by the Olympics.  Yep, we are at home watching the winter Olympics on TV pretty much every evening.  Sure, once every two years we take interest in sporting events that we know nothing about, nor care about, but the whole Olympic competition, whether it is summer or winter, is just riveting.  I love it.  When the winter Olympics roll around I am all for an event that celebrates snow …

Let me give you a summary of last year’s state record fish, and make some comments. There were 14 fish certified as state records in 2013.  There were 4 rod & reel records; creek chub, European rudd, longnose gar, and tiger trout caught in 2013.  Six bow-fishing records were certified last year; alewife, blue catfish, shortnose gar, smallmouth bass, flathead chub, and wiper.  Two underwater spear-fishing records were taken in 2013; common carp and smallmouth buffalo, and 2 surface spear-fishing …

I am betting by now that most of you have seen the 2014 Fishing Forecast.  If you have not, take some time and study that, your fishing will be better this year if you plan to fish the best waters! Some of you will want to do some more research into the fish populations in your favorite waters, and if you want even more fish data, be sure to check out this page, Fish Sampling Program.  If you go to …

These videos have been on the internet for awhile, but I just recently found them and thought they were hilarious.  Apparently, this is what happens after too long spent on the ice not catching fish (I suspect some “adult beverages” were likely involved too). By the way, do not even think of doing this with my auger.  That cannot be good on ice augers. But if you want to fire one up and give a demonstration, I might watch. Unless …

My family and I took a long weekend recently and made a trip “out west”.  We spent a lot of time with family and helped them get some chores done, but of course you know we were on the ice as much as possible!  It is time to give you a report, tell you about it. It has been mid-winter, but as you all know we had some brutal winds in January that opened up some of our ice.  We …

I do not have a lot of experience with any of the electric ice augers showing up on the market.  However, my buddy Teeg Stouffer over at Recycled Fish has put together a nice video comparing some electric augers, check it out: I am running an old 2-stroke Jiffy.  I have had that auger for years, so when I bought it, the 2-stroke augers were the only ones on the market.  My auger is big and heavy, but I knew …

Sorry, this is short notice if you want to attend, but Nebraska’s chapter of Trout Unlimited is having their annual banquet tomorrow evening in Omaha.  This is a fun evening and an important fund-raiser for this great organization.  If you are interested in attending, you can find information here, Nebraska Trout Unlimited. Bring some extra cash, there will be lots of great items on auction and raffle.  Say “Hi” if you see me there!

I actually knew about this the day after the fish was caught, but I was heading out of town the next day, and was waiting to hear how the anglers involved wanted to handle it.  I knew by the time I got back to the office this would be all over the internet and many have already heard about it.  But others of you have not, and I want to blog about it! Last week we had what was potentially …