How To

It is October.  The end of the month is Halloween.  Folks like to celebrate all things spooky and scary for Halloween.  Isn’t that strange?  Why do we like a good fright now and then? Oh, it is the adrenaline rush, no doubt about it.  It makes us feel alive.  The unknown also heightens our senses, clears our head, makes us focus. I believe we have a connection and fascination with the rawness, even violence of the natural world.  Afterall, we …

Many of you have already seen the news release, but let me start with that: Rainbow trout stockings scheduled this fall LINCOLN, Neb. – Rainbow trout are being stocked in city ponds and state park and recreation area lakes across the state by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. These stockings will enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter. Cutthroat and tiger trout stockings also are scheduled for a select number of water bodies. Stocking schedules can change on short …

When you take children hunting, you better have a checklist. Warm clothes? Check. Warm boots? Check. Snacks? Check. Diaper bag? Excuse me? Baby food? Beg your pardon? Pacifier? Are you nuts? Jesse and Casey Campbell of Grand Island aren’t nuts, but that’s what their packing list has included since they took their son, Harris, hunting for the first time — when he was 2 months old. By the time Harris went on that goose hunt in February 2020, Harris already …

While I’m quite fond of traditional white-tailed deer shoulder mounts, European mounts — showing just the skull and antlers — are a spectacular alternative. For my first European mount, I removed the head and as much hair as possible, boiled the “stuff” attached to the skull on the stovetop, picked the rest of the fat, sinew and meat away with a pair of pliers, then prepared to fill out my divorce papers because of the odor in the house. There …

Going to highlight another project in my blog today.  Aquatic Habitat maintenance work is coming at Wagon Train Reservoir south of Lincoln: Aquatic habitat and sediment maintenance project to begin at Wagon Train Reservoir LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will lower the water level at Wagon Train Reservoir 8 feet in preparation for the maintenance of the sediment basins later this fall. Visitors can expect the boat ramp and construction areas to be closed. The reservoir …

I spend a lot of time in waders.  So far, I am a boatless angler.  I discovered a long time ago that by putting on a pair of waders and getting even a few feet off shore I could catch more fish.  In addition, in my “day job” as a fisheries biologist, waders are part of the standard uniform when doing field work.  Believe me, I have poked holes in waders in pretty much every way possible.  After a year …

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I would be “outta the office” for some time for my daughter’s wedding.  I also hinted that we were making a little trip for the wedding and that the fishing gear was definitely going along.  Time to give you a report. . . . That trip was to one of our favorite places, western Nebraska.  More specifically, we spent some time at Ft. Robinson.  The wedding went great, we had a great time …

I have several water level-related updates to call attention to today.  The first one comes from one of our power and irrigation districts: Fall fishing at Keystone Diversion will not be available; NPPD plans maintenance work for the dam’s gates Columbus, Neb. – Fishing activities near the Keystone Diversion at Lake Ogallala will not be available this fall as maintenance work on the gates of the Keystone Diversion Dam will be undertaken by Nebraska Public PowerDistrict (NPPD).  Prep work for …

We still have some warm days, even hot afternoons, but there have some been some cool ones too, and the evenings have been gorgeous. You know what that means? Fall is here! The fall bite is on, and this is the perfect time to combine a hunting and fishing trip, “cast and blast”, “fins and feathers (or fur)”. As a matter of fact, tomorrow is National Hunting and Fishing Day.  Our governor even proclaimed it!  So, you must go hunting …

I have been outta the office for the past several days, most of the past couple of weeks.  I have a bunch of news item updates to get to in the coming blogs.  Let me start with some renovations that are happening: East Sutherland I80 Lake’s fishery chemically renovated NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – East Sutherland Interstate 80 Lake was chemically renovated Sept. 15, 2021. The rotenone treatment used at the lake was aimed to eliminate common carp and other undesirable …