How To

I spread word last week about the rotenone renovation of Goose Lake.  I was busy and did not make it up to see the operation, but I did see a couple of follow-up photos.  It is always unbelievable the numbers, and domination, of rough fish when we do a renovation! Previous renovations of sandhill lakes have shown that there can be over 1600 pounds per acre of just common carp (Rat and Beaver)!  At that level, there just ain’t much …

From all indicators, he absolutely loved it! That would describe my young grandson’s first fishing expedition. I loved it, too! So, have you, the avid angler, taken a youth or a newcomer out fishing? Hmmm … You should! Well, let me tell you that there continue to be incentives for you to introduce someone new or someone who hasn’t been out on the water in a while to the lifestyle of fishing. In fact, the incentives offered are part of …

If you have read my blog for a while, you know that most of the time I have fish and fishing on the brain.  You also know that I love to hunt, but it is hard finding time to do it all.  I fish hard in the fall when most folks are hunting.  Spring turkey season is the one time each year that hunting distracts me from fishing.  Once again this spring, I have been thinking about some things, things …

There is no doubt that Nebraska’s muskie fisheries have garnered more attention from anglers in recent years.  They should, we have some excellent opportunities to catch this greatest North American sport fish trophy. In addition, northern pike continue to be a popular target among many Nebraska anglers.  Pike also are top-of-the-food-chain, apex predators that can be large fish and a prized catch. I hope anglers fishing any Nebraska waters where the big toothy predators are present will treat those fish …

The timing is right, this is happening now: Goose Lake Wildlife Management Area temporarily closure; lake to be chemically renovated May 3 Goose Lake in Holt County is scheduled to be chemically renovated, weather depending, May 3 to remove the existing fish population. It will be closed to the public that day. The rotenone treatment is aimed to eliminate common carp, an undesirable species detrimental to aquatic habitat and water quality. Because rotenone is a restricted-use pesticide, the area will …

Every year about this time I get the feeling that everything is happening way too fast!  I look for ways to slow down the clock, the calendar, and make spring last as long as possible.  For a couple of years during the stupid pandemic, it was a slower pace because of this restriction or that closure.  This year it has been back to full bore!  Love it! I really do not have a long blog post today, nor a lot …

I have been making the circuit of radio shows this week.  For some reason, this old Stooges’ line runs through my head: Talked spring crappie fishing and of course spring turkeys with Hershey and Rawlinson last night.  If you wish, you can catch the podcast, KFOR, Nebraska Outdoors. Tomorrow morning, 9:00 central time, I will be on The Great Outdoor Radio Show on Boomer Radio with my buddy Greg Wagner.  You can listen live there, or catch the podcast after …

Spring is coming along darned slow this year.  As a result, there are a lot of anxious crappie anglers still waiting for nice weather and a good crappie bite.  Eventually it will come.  It may come in “fits and starts”, or maybe our weather will finally shift and it will be “on”. Regardless, I know the spring crappie bite is on a lot of angler’s minds right now.  Our communications staff here at the Game & Parks thought it was …

Our Take ‘Em Fishing challenge is back for another year! Win adventure in 2022 Take ’em Fishing challenge Take ’em Fishing is all about sharing the experience of the sport. It’s about the excitement of feeling the tug of the line in your fingers for the first time. About the sound of someone’s first catch — big or small. It’s about the memories made. And the adventures to come. Participants in the 2022 Nebraska Game and Parks fishing challenge will …

As I glance around my Omaha yard from the mailbox, my eye catches bright yellow blots dotting the front lawn. Hmmm … I know this plant. I know its flowers. I know its leaves. And I can eat them. All of them! What is it? Why, it is the dandelion, of course! No, don’t stop reading the blog, stay with me here, please. Look, I know the dandelion is the scourge of yards, lots, flower beds, gardens and fields this …