Fishing

I probably should have blogged about this last month during the paddlefish snagging season.  Sorry, I did not get around to it then, but I am not going to miss this opportunity to highlight a Nebraskaland story you should check out. One of our Missouri River fisheries biologists, Kirk Steffensen, wrote a story on paddlefish and our Nebraska paddlefish fishery on the Missouri River.  I know the fish, that fishery and its history will be of interest to a lot …

Fridays I try to lighten up a little bit.  Definitely been the kind of week where I could use some levity at the end of it. Folks are just so sensitive. . . . I love funny commercials, especially fishing commercials.  Ugly Stik has had some good ones over the years.  I cannot speak about their reels, but I have an Ugly Stik rod, have had it since I was a kid.  I am not going to tell you I …

Fall has been “on” for several weeks now.  If you have been reading my blog for a while you know that means I have been fishing, hard.  I probably fish as hard or harder in the fall than I do any other time of year, especially any other time of open-water fishing. What does that mean?  Does it mean I am on the water sunrise to sunset, three, four, or five days a week?  I wish, but not hardly. Don’t …

Again, I know this news will not be of interest to many, but there have been questions going around, and I want to get this out: Fishing salvage allowed at Standing Bear Lake ahead of improvement project Standing Bear Lake will be drawn down this winter to make way for boat ramp repairs, access and habitat improvements, and fisheries renovation at the Omaha water body. Public fish salvage will be allowed. From Oct. 29, 2022, to March 31, 2023, anglers …

Standing Bear Lake will be drawn down this winter to make way for boat ramp repairs, access and habitat improvements, and fisheries renovation at the Omaha water body. Public fish salvage will be allowed. From Oct. 29, 2022, to March 31, 2023, anglers may salvage fish from the lake for human consumption by legal methods. Length limits will be rescinded during this period, but daily bag limits remain in effect. Find information on bag limits in the Fishing Guide at OutdoorNebraska.gov/Guides. …

It is the end of October again; the season for all things spooky.  I guess.  Have blogged often about this curious desire we seem to have–the desire to have ourselves scared, spooked.  I am sure it is the adrenaline rush that we crave, whether we admit it or not.  It gives us a “high”.  It makes us alive. Without over-thinking, it is just plain fun. I find it curious the things that scare people.  Over the years I have made …

Seems like most of my blog posts this fall have been news items.  I know most of them do not impact a lot of anglers or other users.  But, if you are one who it will impact, you will want to know.  And, I know these things often “fall through the cracks”.  So, in no particular order: Olive Creek areas remains open after wildfire Olive Creek State Recreation Area and Olive Creek Wildlife Management Area in southwestern Lancaster County will …

The Yankee Hill Wildlife Management Area boat ramp access road will be closed starting Wednesday, Oct. 26, until further notice so work on the boat ramp may begin. The ramp has suffered significant erosion caused by water and wave action that must be addressed before further damage occurs. Repair work is expected to take one to two weeks depending on weather conditions. All other access points to the wildlife management area just southwest of Lincoln are open. For more information, …

Some of you hard cores are going to be on the water for a while yet, but some are thinking of getting ready for winter.  As more put their boats, docks and lifts away for the winter, make sure to remember this: Check boats, lifts, and docks for invasive aquatic hitchhikers as weather cools Nebraskans are urged to check boats, boat lifts and docks for invasive species when removing them from water bodies for the winter. Aquatic hitchhikers like zebra …

They strike often. They fight hard. They are easy to clean and cook. They are wonderful to eat and have tremendous health benefits! THEY are stocked rainbow trout in Nebraska waters. A hooked, pan-sized, stocked rainbow trout puts up a fight as it nears the shoreline of the Nebraska state recreation area lake. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. A major asset along with many of its excellent qualities as a cold-water game fish is the fact that …