Fishing

I really have nothing to add.  Hope you get out and make some memories this weekend!

Never in my outdoor life have I ever endured so much negativity, so much criticism, and taken so much flak for an action. It all was the result of a photo and video I shared recently on my personal social media accounts. Both were of a large, master angler-sized flathead catfish that I caught in an eastern Nebraska sandpit lake and then duly released back into it. Here are the photo and short video clip shot by my fishing partner, Rich Berggren of Waterloo, NE. Alright, I know what you’re thinking: “Nice fish, good job on the release,” …

A couple weeks ago I had a little fun with a story I read about researchers getting crayfish drunk, And Now Even Our Crayfish Are Drunk!  Sometimes I wonder if anyone appreciates my pointy-headed sense of humor?  Previously in my blog, I have warned that fish biologist types tend to be a little warped. Hey, I resemble that remark! Then I got to thinking, there is some serious crayfish biology I can tell you about, should tell you about . …

Update: This version changes the date of a Family Fishing Event in Broken Bow to July 21 and adds a Fishing is Fun Event at Victoria Springs SRA on July 22. LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in July. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. July 1 – Archery fishing of game fish is allowed …

I suspect for many folks, with the way the calendar lies this year, we are on the eve of an extended weekend in celebration of Independence Day.  At this moment I cannot tell you for sure what our family will be doing, when we will be where, but I can assure you we will have a great time.  The “4th of July” is hands down one of our most favorite holidays!  We love fireworks, and you can guarantee there will …

LINCOLN, Neb. – High school anglers still have time to register for two fishing tournaments coming up in July at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area. The tournaments – the Nebraska BASS Nation High School Tournament and the TBF Student Angler Federation High School Tournament – are scheduled for July 21 and 22 respectively, making it easy for students to compete in both. Separate registration is required. Participation for each tournament is open to students in grades 9-12 who have a …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Fishing activity is picking up, with some excellent results reported. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds anglers to heed fishing regulations whey they are out enjoying the summer. The following are a few specific reminders: Cast nets – The use of cast nets in eastern Nebraska waters is prohibited. Cast nets are allowed on some waters of the state during some months. However, in one case, an angler used a cast net to capture gizzard shad …

Happens every year about this time, I hear reports of folks catching “blue” catfish, here, there, lots of different waters.  Problem is, they really ain’t blue catfish.  They are just big ole male channel catfish getting ready to spawn.  So, if you will bear with me playing the role of pointy-headed fish biologist, again, for a bit, let me give a little lesson in fish identification. . . . We have three large catfish species in Nebraska waters, channel, blue …

I want to call attention to some news from the past week.  Let me repeat the news release here: Low water levels at Ice House Pond on Fort Robinson State Park CRAWFORD, Neb. – A broken dam board in the outlet structure at the lower Ice House Pond on Fort Robinson State Park caused the water level to drop about 10 feet during the weekend. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has been in the process of designing aquatic habitat …

Heading north again to meet with my friends in the Siouxland Fly Fishing Club.  They meet every month at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center on the edge of Sioux City.  If I remember right, they get together to do a little fly-tying at 9:00 a.m., meeting starts at 10:00, and I will start rambling some time shortly after that.  This time I have a program on the role of fish stocking in fisheries management to share with them. Once again …