open water fishing

Several of you have asked about last week’s renovation project at Hackberry Lake on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge.  I was there, helped a little bit, took some pictures. . . . First of all, some context:  If you are not aware of the work being done on the Valentine Refuge, it has been cussed and discussed over and over.  Please go back and read this, Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Update.  If you are unfamiliar with rotenone renovations in …

Another one of my news blogs today. . . . Spreading the word on a news release: Summit Lake sediment basin reclamation set to begin LINCOLN, Neb. – Summit Lake is being drawn down this week for a sediment basin reclamation project at the Burt County reservoir. Reclamation of the sediment basins on the south and west arms of the lake will begin during the fall. The south boat ramp will be modified to allow boat access during construction, which …

Time for a state record update.  It is the time of year that the spear-fishing and bow-fishing records come in. White Sucker The first one actually came across my desk a few months ago.  Brionna Schafer of Alliance was bow-fishing when she arrowed a 6 pound 6 ounce white sucker back in April.  She found her fish swimming in Box Butte Reservoir. That was a big sucker!  It beat the old bow-fishing state record by just a little over a …

What did the fish say when it ran into the concrete wall? Dam. I will let that sink in for a minute for some of you.  For the rest, let me talk about fish barriers.  You know, things like dams. There are thousands of barriers to fish movements on Nebraska rivers and streams.  Some of those barriers are natural, waterfalls or chutes.  Most are man-made and include a variety of major dams and smaller diversion structures.  Some are as small …

I have long been a proponent of fishing for a variety of fish species.  By targeting different species of fish, you can stay on top of a variety of “hot bites” for the maximum length of time.  If the walleyes do not want to bite, but the crappies are jumping in the boat, well, why wouldn’t you fish for crappies?????  By fishing for a variety of species, the learning and the excitement, never ceases. But, there is something else I …

Got another news item today.  You may have seen the news release already.  If you have, ignore me.  If not, well, that is exactly why I am spreading this around: Hackberry Lake to be chemically renovated Aug. 9 LINCOLN, Neb. – Hackberry Lake on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge will be chemically renovated the week of Aug. 9 as part of the ongoing Aquatic Habitat Project on the refuge. The rotenone treatment is aimed to eliminate common carp, an undesirable …

In the past couple of years we have seen water levels in the sandhills unlike anything any of us remember.  Roads have been closed, valleys have been flooded, water has been everywhere.  I would not say water levels are low now, it is all relative.  Certainly they are lower. So, I want to spread the word on this: Blue Lake reopens after long closure ALLIANCE, Neb. — A Sandhills fishing destination has reopened after a 28-month closure. The Nebraska Game …

ALLIANCE, Neb. — A Sandhills fishing destination has reopened after a 28-month closure. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has reopened the access road to Blue Lake in the Sandhills of Garden County. The 2.7-mile two-track trail through private property has been closed since March 2019 because of flooding. Joe Rydell, a fisheries biologist for Game and Parks, said the water level has subsided enough that the trail can be navigated, with caution. This week, he mowed the trail and …

It’s hot. I will always tell you that you cannot catch anything sitting at home on the couch.  However, when it gets this hot, I have to admit my motivation to go fishing wanes a bit.  I might still “wet a line”, but I will be selective about the times and places to do it.  On the other hand, getting into the water sound like a great idea right now. Let’s go there. . . into the water.  I can …

This news release went out late last week.  Once again, I am just trying to spread the word. . . . Grove Trout Rearing Station closing temporarily to visitors July 22, 2021 LINCOLN, Neb. – The Grove Trout Rearing Station near Royal, Nebraska, will be closed to visitors until further notice due to upcoming expected high air temperatures in the area. Trout have been experiencing some health issues as the water to the facility has been warming. Warm water holds …