Fishing

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will certify youth fishing instructors Aug. 20 at Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, 21502 W. Neb. Hwy. 31, Gretna, from 9 a.m. to noon. Youth fishing instructors will receive training and tools to conduct fishing clinics. These volunteers will have access to Nebraska Game and Parks’ loaner fishing equipment and educational materials for events, as well as receive program incentives. They also are encouraged to volunteer for such Nebraska Game and Parks programs as Family …

I set you up last Friday by posting a video that showed Wels Catfish in Europe snatching pigeons off of river sandbars, and I postulated that our beautifully ugly Flathead Catfish might do the same thing (It’s A Fish Eat Pigeon World). This Friday, the birds turn the tables! I am NOT a bird biologist, and I am not sure where that video was taken.  I do know that is some type of small Heron, I am pretty sure a Green …

LINCOLN – Fisheries biologists from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission are investigating a die-off of common carp at Davis Creek Reservoir south of North Loup in central Nebraska. A viral infection is the expected cause of the die-off, and samples have been taken to verify the cause. The reservoir remains open to fishing, and no other species of fish have been impacted. Anglers should expect to see significant numbers of dead and decaying carp at the reservoir, with the …

I have been “out and about” on a couple of trips in the past few weeks.  Those trips were for events where my attendance was requested.  Pretty much everywhere I go, all the time, the fishing gear goes with me and I work in at least a little time for myself on the water.  Yes, that is my job too, but it is also who I am!  It has always been that way. In an earlier blog post I mentioned how …

I try not to bore folks too much with my day-to-day job activities here on my blog.  But, I want to share with you one thing I did last week. . . . The corollary to the fishing is always better in some other state (Grass is always greener), is “Why don’t you do what the biologists in _______________ are doing?” (fill in blank with whatever state you choose where the fishing is better).  I hope folks understand that we …

I have tried to post something “lighthearted” the past couple of weeks for my Friday, weekend, blog post.  Let me take it a completely different direction today, more along the lines of a horror story! If you have been reading my blog for any time you know as a fisheries biologist and life-long fisherman, predator/prey relationships fascinate me.  I often say it is a “fish eat fish” world.  Well, sometimes fish eat a whole lot more! That video clip comes …

Need to get a report up here today on the 2016 High School Bass Championship this past Saturday.  Here’s the bare bones: North Platte’s Pavelka, Rowland Repeat as State High School Fishing Champs LINCOLN – Grant Pavelka and Tyler Rowland of North Platte High School caught a five-fish limit weighing 15.85 pounds to capture the Nebraska High School Fishing Championship for the second year in a row. The event took place July 23 at Elwood Reservoir Wildlife Management Area north …

LINCOLN – Grant Pavelka and Tyler Rowland of North Platte High School caught a five-fish limit weighing 15.85 pounds to capture the Nebraska High School Fishing Championship for the second year in a row. The event took place July 23 at Elwood Reservoir Wildlife Management Area north of Elwood in Gosper County. The winning team’s largest bass weighed 3.57 pounds. Ben Pavelka was the team’s coach and boat operator. Ian Pinhero and Owen Jansen of Omaha Westside took second place …

I am a huge fan of selective harvest and catch & release fishing.  Of course releasing a fish does no good if that fish does not survive.  So, one “soap box” I often crawl up on is the one about proper fish handling. One debate when it comes to proper handling of released fish, is what chances a deeply-hooked fish has to survive.  Now, I do not have the publication on this research that is being done on Northern Pike …

I try to keep my Friday blog posts a little light-hearted and once in awhile maybe even funny.  However, I realize my sense of humor is a little warped.  It always amazes me that sometimes even those casual, weekend blog posts draw negativity. Well this one will probably draw some “fire” too.  I likely will be accused of being old-fashioned and “out of touch” with modern technology. . . . My wife and I went for a walk the other …