Fishing

Several small news items I want to call attention to today.  These are not necessarily a big deal, but they do involve fisheries resources and fishing access.  So, many of you will want to know.  Let me just copy and paste the news releases here: This one likely will be true only for today: Calamus’ Buckshot Bay ramp to temporarily close July 13 LINCOLN, Neb. – The Buckshot Bay boat ramp at Calamus State Recreation Area near Burwell will be …

LINCOLN, Neb. — In order to allow for the maximum number of anglers and their boat trailers at the Plum Creek Wildlife Management Area, the south central Nebraska site closed to camping permanently July 10. The wildlife management area was designed as a fishing access point, not for overnight camping and has no site amenities. Due to the management area’s size and limited parking availability, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will prioritize boat and fishing access to the waterway there. …

Seems like I have heard a lot of complaints about the wind blowing this year.  No, not talking about some of our recent storm events; just complaints about the wind always blowing.  I even saw a TV weather geek put up a chart to prove that June was windier than “normal”. What in the world is “normal” in Nebraska? I will tell you, “normal” is the average of the extremes! Complain about the wind blowing?  Sure it does, this is …

Like all anglers, I love big fish.  The bigger the better.  Big, bad, predator fish turn my crank. But, I also love the variety.  In fact I spend at least some time every year just tossing a small “bobber” and catching some sunfish. Does watching a bobber go under ever get old?  Or maybe I should ask, are you ever too old to not get excited seeing a bobber go down?  If you do, then you should quit fishing. Now, …

Quick blog post before I head out the door for a long Independence Day holiday!  The “4th of July” has always been one of our favorite holidays, if not THE favorite.  We love the time spent with family, the feasting, fun, and, of course fireworks.  We usually slip away for some fishing too! I have shared this quote before, from our country’s second president, John Adams.  Seems particularly meaningful to me this year: The Second Day of July 1776, will …

It’s hot. It’s humid. Whew! Yeah, it’s summer alright. Hey, has your fishing success slowed with the conditions? Well, one fish leads the way with lots of action provided to anglers in the good, old summertime — bluegill. A male bluegill stands guard on its nest in a southern Nebraska pond. Underwater photo courtesy of NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Maybe it’s the kid in me, I don’t know. But, at 57 years of age (approaching 58), I still …

The July issue of Nebraskaland has a story about some of the improvements that have been done recently at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala (Lake McConaughy Recreation Area, Big Changes at the Big Lake).  Let me focus more specifically on some of the angler access improvements done at Lake Ogallala.  Beside the Nebraskaland story, let me share some photos and details.  First, the photos: Colby Johnson is our regional park superintendent out in those parts, and he sent me most of …

I usually have an idea of what I am going to blog about for the next week or two.  But, what good would blogging be if you did not post the “hottest”, most recent, breaking information? Most of you know that we have had a couple of notable state record fish caught in Nebraska the past two weeks.  First it was a big flathead catfish, then a big hybrid striped bass.  I was joking with my supervisor yesterday that fishing …

Big Changes at the Big Lake Nearly everything about Lake McConaughy is big. At 30,000 surface acres, it is Nebraska’s largest reservoir, its dam is among the largest of its kind in the world, and its fish grow to trophy proportions, accounting for several state records. Even its nickname, “Big Mac,” reflects its size. Located 8 miles northeast of Ogallala, Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area is known to most Nebraskans and residents of neighboring states as a great place for …

Story and photos by Jeff Kurrus July is the perfect time to fish for largemouth bass. Because of the heat, boat traffic on non-ski lakes is often minimal and your chance to fish your favorite spots, especially in the middle of the day, increases as the temperatures do. Whether new to dog-day fishing or a sweaty, seasoned veteran, try a few of these techniques to increase your summertime success. Tip 1: Night “The night is where it’s at,” a longtime …