Fishing

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Keep your catch of fish as fresh as possible and you will be rewarded with a wonderful meal that is the finale to a fishing trip. In mid-October, trout will be stocked across Nebraska in small city park ponds and state park lakes. These pan-sized fish offer a person the delicious main course of a meal. From the lake to the table, every step is critical in making the best of what …

Just a couple of news items I want to include in the ole blog today.  Yes, I know these are going to be of limited interest, but there are a few anglers who will want to know.  That is why I do it! After last year’s flooding, I noted that a number of pits on our lower Platte River State Recreation areas were going to need renovations.  That process is going to take some time, not all of those fisheries …

If you are interested in fishing, you have probably asked, or been asked, a million times if the fish are biting?  I am betting I have been asked 10 million. You likely have heard some smart alec reply that “they are always biting”. Guess what?  The smart alec is right!  Decorum dictates that I usually cannot give that answer no matter how much I would like to. Seriously, fish have to eat, they have to take in energy to survive.  …

Do not know how many folks have heard about this, but I am betting if you have not, a bunch of you will be interested! Youth half-price lifetime permit drawing open now If you know a Nebraska youth who likes to hunt or fish, now is the time to enter them in our online drawing for the chance to purchase a youth lifetime hunt or fish permit for half the cost! Up to 250 permits will be available for purchase, …

I have a nephew who just had a baby.  Well, actually, you know his wife had the baby.  It is their first, a boy, they named him “Colter”.  I like it. It reminded me of this meme I stole from the interwebs: I always said I thought a good name for a boy would be “Remington Winchester”.  No one has listened to me. Actually, if I was going to name a boy after a fishing lure it might be “Rapala”.  …

Well it’s here.  You can even feel it in the air already.  FALL!  Many of you have been counting the days until you will grab your bow, shotgun, or rifle and head to the field.  Nebraska is a great place for all of those outdoor activities and more.  My problem is having enough time to do all of them.  Yep, I love to hunt too, so I can understand.  But, along the way, I discovered fall also is some of …

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Nebraska is home to more than 100 fish species. Many of these will never be encountered on a fishing hook because their size, habits or habitats make them unavailable or undesirable to anglers. Most fish that can be caught by hook and line are designated as sport fish species. Nebraska offers opportunity for more than 40 of these species. It is good to know which sport fish you are catching since several …

I have not done a blog post on a fisheries science topic in a while.  Time to dust off the theme song, if you want, listen while you read, She Blinded Me with Science, Thomas Dolby. Got another link for you to follow.  This one about some research that has been done on pallid sturgeon in our stretch of the Missouri River.  I found an excellent article in the Nebraska City News Press.  No, I am not going to copy …

Found this clip on the interwebs.  Love it. Love it because I know exactly how this kid felt: Admit it.  You’ve been there. Here is the last muskie I had hooked: She was right there.  You can almost see the water swirling yet.  What hurt so much is I had just sat down and sharpened hooks.  I spent at least ten or fifteen minutes sharpening hooks.  Started casting again and it was not three casts and I felt that “thump”.  …

In the 1800’s, the scene in America was somewhat lawless once you traveled west of the Mississippi.  America was trying to save its natural resources, which were being over exploited at an alarming rate, but had little might in which to do so.  Wildlife were in peril and they didn’t have many friends watching out for them! The idea of a game warden is not new to America.   In midieval times, Kings would often employ wardens to protect the King’s …