Fishing

LINCOLN, Neb. – A public informational meeting regarding the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge fisheries will be held Oct. 5 in Valentine. The meeting, hosted by the refuge and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, will be held from 7-9 p.m. at the Niobrara Lodge, 803 E. U.S. Highway 20. Presentations will be given on improvements over the past several years, ongoing fish management surveys, fish populations for individual lakes, plans to eradicate common carp, and proposed future fisheries management actions. …

It was late afternoon, the day was winding down; my phone rang.  I answered and listened as an angler at nearby Bowling Lake described a fish he had just caught and laid in the grass; something he had never seen before.  Identifying fish over the phone is always a challenge, but in this case I had an idea what he had caught.  I asked him if he would be there for a few more minutes, I was on my way. …

Unquestionably, fall in Nebraska is one of the best times of the year to spend outdoors! The days are getting shorter and the summer heat is waning: the air is crisp; the leaves and other foliage are transforming into canopies of deep orange, bright yellow, and brilliant red; and the fall gardens are abundant with brightly colored fruits and vegetables. If you are looking for new and different opportunities to have fun, burn calories, acquire more Vitamin D, remain active, and maintain …

A couple of news items I want to call attention to today.  These will affect anglers in a couple areas of Nebraska, so even though the news releases have been published already, I want to mention them in my blog too. Merritt Reservoir Merritt Reservoir’s Main Landing temporarily closed September 8, 2017 LINCOLN, Neb. – The construction of a new boat-launch facility at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area’s Main Landing has begun. The Main Landing area will be closed temporarily. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Stagecoach Reservoir will be drawn down this fall for the construction of a new boat launch facility. In addition, the fishery will be renovated and a public salvage will be allowed. A 10-foot drawn-down will allow for the construction of a new, lighted boat ramp, gravel kayak launch, and a new breakwater to protect the ramp and increase access for shoreline anglers. Stagecoach’s fishery has been degraded by the presence of common carp and gizzard shad. The …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The construction of a new boat-launch facility at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area’s Main Landing has begun. The Main Landing area will be closed temporarily. Reservoir water levels are typically at their lowest now, following irrigation season. This will facilitate the construction of the new ramp, as well as a protective rock breakwater adjacent to the parking area for the old high-water ramp. Construction will continue into mid-October as the reservoir refills. An alternate fish-cleaning station is …

It is Friday, thank goodness.  I am not in a mood to post anything too heavy on my blog today, so let me tell you a little bit more about myself. . . . In my opinion, the old Muppet Show was some of the best TV ever!  As a matter of fact, I have the DVD sets of most of those old shows; still get ’em out watch them, and yes, I still laugh! A lot of Muppet characters …

I again have a few state record applications to clear off my desk; this is the time of year when they are mostly spear-fishing and bow-fishing records.  Let’s go underwater to start: Underwater Spearfishing Three applications for state record fish taken by underwater spearfishing are in the stack.  All of those fish were taken in July, let me start with the first taken on July 6. . . . Dylan Trauernicht of Gering was doing some diving on a private …

This news release went out at the end of last week, so I fully realize many folks have already heard about this, but I want to make sure everyone hears about it! Incident at Calamus is reminder to Clean, Drain and Dry August 31, 2017 LINCOLN, Neb. – A recent incident at central Nebraska’s Calamus Reservoir is a reminder for all water users – especially boaters – to clean, drain and dry their equipment after every use, according to the …

If you read my blog post earlier this week, you know that I just got back from a week fishing with family in Montana.  I love going to different waters, experiencing and learning different things.  In Montana we fished a couple of the most well-known fly-fishing waters in the world, and it truly is a different world.  It reminded me of this video I found a couple of years ago. . . . Warning:  Before you take the ten minutes …