Fishing

I am not going to tell you when we are going to have safe ice.  I learned a long time ago that you cannot point to a day on the calendar and say that will be when you can start ice fishing.  You have to check it, make sure it is safe, every time (topic of a lot of past blog posts, and will be for future posts). However, I do know this:  It is time to get ready, time …

Took an extra day off over the long Thanksgiving holiday and missed the weather and bad roads coming home.  Need to catch up with another blog post. . . . I “called my shot” a bit last week expecting that I would spend some time both hunting and fishing with family over the long weekend.  We feasted, played games, enjoyed the time together and yes, hunted and fished. It always feels good to go for a little walk after the …

You all know I love to fish, year-round, love it all.  I love to ice fish, but have to admit my fall was really good this year and I hate to see it come to an end (updates and pictures coming in other blog posts, soon).  Yes, I was still fishing open water this past week; yes, my son and I did really well, but I am thinking that may have been about the end of it for this year. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in December. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. Dec. 1 – Bobcat hunting and trapping season opens Dec. 1 – Archery on Fire, Platte River State Park (SP), Louisville Dec. 1 – Light Up the Fort, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford Dec. 1 – Historical Christmas Dinner, Fort Robinson SP, …

Like many of you, I will be heading out the door for “grandmother’s house” for a weekend of feasting and family.  I will also try to sneak away to walk off some of the feasting and see if I might rustle up a few of these: The extended Thanksgiving weekend is also a great time to combo up–some late fall fishing along with hunting.  Maybe I can dry off a few of these: Or some of these, have to see …

You all know that I like to show off pictures of some of the exceptional fish our field fisheries biologists sample throughout the state.  I learned a long time ago that people are fascinated by big fish, and of course anglers love to know those fish are swimming out there in Nebraska waters. Yes, stewardship of the state’s sport fish fisheries is very important and we spend a lot of time sampling a wide variety of sport fish in lakes, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn the basics of ice-fishing or pick up a few new tips from experienced anglers at three free Family Ice-Fishing clinics in January. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Youth Fishing Program will host two on-ice events – Jan. 12 at Lincoln’s Holmes Lake from 1-4 p.m. and Jan. 20 at Kearney’s Fort Kearny State Recreation Area (SRA) Lake No. 6 from 8 a.m.-noon. On Jan. 19, the Nebraska Fish and Game Association will host a classroom …

I am never very crazy about polls or questions inquiring about “favorite fish”.  Every fish can be fun to catch and there is something unique to appreciate about every species.  Discussions on the topic invariably include descriptions of how various species fight when hooked, and those perceived to pull the most, hardest, or jump out of the water the highest rank high on every angler’s list. I love all of that, I love the thrill of having a fish on …

Last week I had a boring blog post about fisheries science.  It was a fundamental description of what a “fishery” is and how pointy-headed biologists manage fisheries.  Part of the reason I posted that was because I wanted to lay some ground work for additional posts about other fisheries management topics.  So, let me reconvene the Fisheries Science 101 class again today and talk about a subject that I believe is misunderstood by some. . . renovations. Let me start …

Our Nebraska Game & Parks Commission fisheries biologists are finishing up their fall fish sampling around the state.  I am starting to hear a few stories about what they sampled, will be getting data summaries and starting to put together next year’s Fishing Forecast in the coming weeks. Once again let me post a disclaimer before I show you the pictures:  When pointy-headed fisheries biologists sample fish populations they are NOT trying to capture the biggest fish in a population.  …