Fishing

By Grace Gaard, Aquatic Ecology Education Specialist Adventure: an unusual and exciting, sometimes hazardous experience. While rarely risky, the word “adventure” fairly sums up field-trip season for the Trout in the Classroom program across Nebraska. Although the in-field portion of the program took a hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, this spring marked the second year since the program’s full reboot. Program offerings hit their stride during the 2022-2023 academic year, and since the pandemic, the number of participating schools have …

I often joke that this time of year EVERYONE is an angler.  People who only fish once or a few times a year are fishing now. That makes this a good time for this reminder, for all of us, beginners and old salts: Fishing etiquette for every type of angler A great day fishing is as much about catching what you’re after as it is about the experience you had while away from home. But to keep your fishing trip …

I noted a week ago that the fish are biting, now.  The reports I am hearing and photos I am seeing have exploded in the past week.  May and June are some of the best open-water fishing months every year.  We are in the middle of that NOW! Have noticed some other things about all of those photos and reports, so I am going to blog about it again:  Best fish handling practices. Now, don’t you dare tune me out …

This event is still a couple of weeks out, but I want to let folks know about it.  Put it on your calendar! You can also sign up HERE. Unfortunately, from what I saw when I was at Standing Bear a few weeks ago, it needs a cleanup!  That goes for the area surrounding the reservoir as well as the exposed bottom of the reservoir with the water down.  If you can show up to help with this, it will …

All of us who love to fish have a story or two about the one that got away, don’t we? Invariably, the tale involves hooking the fish of a lifetime and losing it to unforeseen circumstances or mistakes. Trust me, I have made my share of mistakes when it comes to large, prized game fish. Your blogger mishandling a nice-sized channel catfish. Photo by Rich Berggren/Conservation Officer with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Without question, these stories, however embellished, …

All of my channels of communication have exploded this week with fishing reports and fish pictures.  In short, right now, do not pass “Go”, do not collect $200,  GO FISH!!!!  I always say that May and June are the best two months for open-water fishing in Nebraska, whatever species, whatever water.  GO FISH! Do not wait for someone to give you a report, do not ask if the fish are biting–they are! If you cannot decide where to go, pick …

I have a couple, three small news items to include in my blog today.  No, none of these are major, but if they are one of your favorite fishing spots you will want to know about them.  So, in no particular order: Killdeer Lake dam maintenance project to begin Killdeer Lake, located 2½ miles north of Martell in Lancaster County, will be undergoing a dam maintenance project beginning the week of May 8. The project, which will require the lake …

With the assistance of an adult relative, a youth greatly anticipates catching another bluegill from a boat in a Midwestern lake on a summer day. Photo by Rich Wynne. It bothers me to no end that people have such cavalier excuses regarding why they don’t want to wear life jackets on the water in a boat. In my 44 years at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, I have seen my share of boating tragedies. I have seen the victims …

Have a couple of thoughts to share with you for this weekend.  First of all, look at the calendar.  Yes, I know what today is. But, did you know that Yoda was a fisherman?  Obviously he was, he lived in a swamp. Here he can be seen handling a rod! Of course he was an excellent angler.  No, it was not because of some Jedi mind trick.  He simply fished with confidence! For you Star Wars “nerds”, I hear a …

Without a doubt this has been the most asked question recently.  So, I am going to spread this around as much as possible, as soon as possible: Surveys indicate mixed bag on fish winterkill Surveys by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission show many Sandhills lakes fared better than expected after a harsh winter led to fish kills. Deep snow over thick ice this winter caused oxygen depletion in many of the region’s most shallow and vegetated lakes, causing fish …