How To

This just dropped on our main Game & Parks Commission FaceBook page, might as well share it around: This year marks the 25th year of Nebraska’s Aquatic Habitat Program! The first of its kind in the nation in 1997, the program has since succeeded in: Generating more than $90 million for improvements to 137 water bodies. Enhancing aquatic ecosystems by implementing restoration techniques in-lake and in the watersheds that feed them. Improving accessibility to the water, through the installation of …

Eager to get on the water? Yeah, me, too. Summer (Post-Memorial Day) is a perfect time to float Nebraska’s water trails. There are many reasons to take a float trip on continuously flowing water. You can do it for the openness and space that it offers and the adventure of going somewhere you have never been. You can do it to make connections and memories with people and nature, re-trace history, experience wetlands, see a variety of wildlife species, get …

Well, we are officially past the opening summer holiday weekend.  So, it is summer, now!  This would be a good time to put out a reminder about all of our community fishing events: Another season of family fun scheduled with Community Fishing Events Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for another spring and summer of fun with Community Fishing Events. Community Fishing Events provide opportunities for people of all ages who have never fished or have not fished in …

All of us who love to fish have a story or two about the one that got away, don’t we? Invariably, the tale involves hooking the fish of a lifetime and losing it to unforeseen circumstances or mistakes. Trust me, I have made my share of mistakes when it comes to large, prized game fish. Your blogger mishandling a nice-sized channel catfish. Photo by Rich Berggren/Conservation Officer with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Without question, these stories, however embellished, …

Like many of you, I am out the door for the long, Memorial Day weekend!  Time for a short blog post before I go. . . . Fish are biting.  I know there will be a lot of folks “wet a line” this weekend, and they should!  I have often said that May and June are two of the best months for fishing open-water in Nebraska.  We are right in the middle of that now, a variety of species are …

We are on the eve of the big kick-off weekend for Summer 2022!  Great time for a reminder: After record year, Game and Parks reminds boaters to help stop aquatic invasive species While many Nebraskans are eager to enjoy Memorial Day weekend boating, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission urges them to be wary of pesky hitchhikers that invade the state’s waters. To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, Game and Parks watercraft inspectors will be checking boats before …

Monday blog post, spreading the word on a news item: Gracie Creek Pond temporarily closed to access as work begins on rehabilitation project The Gracie Creek Pond in Loup County will be closed temporarily to fishing and public access as work on its rehabilitation will begin with equipment mobilization May 23. The project will continue through the summer. Angler access will continue downstream of Nebraska Highway 96 and pond outlets. This popular trout fishing pond, located at the upper end …

Some of you may have seen these short, advertising spots: Not much else to say!  It is the weekend, it is time to GO FISH!  I will always tell you that May and June are the best months for open-water fishing in Nebraska, a variety of species, a variety of waters.  Well, look at the calendar, it is that time NOW.  Do not pass “GO”, do not “collect $200”, just go fish!  Pick a water and get out there, they …

It was a long time ago, but I can still see it clearly. . . an early summer day, beautiful day, great day to be fishing.  We were fishing with Gramps Roth, a gravel pit just off the Elkhorn River was one of his favorite spots.  Sometime after an hour or two of fishing, we spotted something chasing “minnows” over along the north bank.  Gramps decided he should head over there, I tagged along. I was fishing simple, a bobber …

Earlier this spring I blogged about some time I had spent helping in our annual walleye egg collecting (Where I’ve Been, Walleye Squeezing).  I mentioned at the time, that we had a new video in the works showing the whole process.  That will be included in this blog post. We have created videos of our annual walleye egg collections before.  I have posted them before, but this is a new one.  Might as well include it too. I also realize …