NEBRASKAland Articles

Northern pike have been swimming in Lake McConaughy since biologists stocked them around the time the reservoir on the North Platte River began filling in 1941. But judging by fish sampling data, angler reports and the 10 pike that topped 36 inches in length or 10 pounds to qualify for Master Angler there in 2013, the current population may be the best since. That doesn’t mean there are a lot of the toothy critters in the lake. “[The pike population] …

Looking closely at photography blogs on the internet, there seems to be a quiet but growing realization that film and digital cameras may come and go as the technology rapidly changes, but good lenses can stand the test of time. All photographers should take note of this. Even the least expensive interchangeable lens digital cameras available today often use that same brand’s pre-digital lenses. Perhaps surprising, many older film camera lenses are available on the used market at reasonable prices …

Fort Robinson Intertribal Gathering Powwow, Crawford – June 13-15 Located on the parade grounds of the historic Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, the 15th annual Intertribal Gathering Powwow is hosted by the Friends of the Intertribal Powwow at Fort Robinson. Isanti Dakota Wacipi, Santee – June 21-22 The Santee Sioux Tribe host an annual traditional powwow with contest specials near the town of Santee. Winnebago Homecoming Celebration Powwow, Winnebago – July 23-25 The oldest memorial powwow in the nation, the Winnebago Homecoming Celebration honors …

This past weekend was really described by the title above, and for once I’m not describing the weather. Speaking of the weather, it absolutely impacted our plan. My buddy Steve and I fished a walleye tournament at Elwood Reservoir this past Sunday, and saying it was brutal is a real understatement. The water temp the previous week had been all the way up to 60, but when the 30 degree nights came along during the week, the water dropped all the …

William Cutler, in Andreas’ History of the State of Nebraska published in 1882, wrote that the town of Deroin was founded on the bank of the Missouri River in1854 by Robert Hawke, Joseph Deroin and others. The town was later renamed “Saint Deroin” to boost the town’s appeal, suggesting the prosperous downstream towns of St. Joseph and St. Louis. Deroin, the son of a French trapper and Oto woman, was born near Bellevue in 1819 and moved to the largest …

It finally seems that the cold wintery weather has disappeared. Since we’re well into a late spring, my biggest fear is that it’ll turn into a hot summer in a very short amount of time, which would leave some windows open for a short time to catch specific fish at specific times. Right now, we’re taking what we can get. Water temps across the central Nebraska region have slowly been rising, only to be pushed back down at times by …

In Nebraska, the wind is going to blow – especially in wide-open locales like the lakes at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. I’ve gotten used to it, but some days I just don’t feel like trying to keep a boat straight. But no worries. The most productive adjustment I have made when fishing for species like largemouth bass and northern pike is one I’ve been using since childhood – bank fishing. Bank fishing is especially productive at a place like …

If you know anything about fishing in Nebraska, it’s that you are usually not very far from a sandpit of some sort. For miles and miles along the Platte River valley, there are sandpits that were formed during the building of the interstate. There are also private pits that a lot of times are adjacent to these public waters. Add in various other man made pits, and you’ve got quite a selection. Here, we’ll discuss a few general tactics when …

For no good reason, I hate doing dishes when I’m camping. Well, to be honest, I hate doing them when I’m home, too. But since I go camping to relax, it’s usually cereal or rolls or something else cold to start the day. That all changed at a Cub Scout campout a few years ago, when I learned how to cook an omelet with no cleanup required: Just boil it in a Ziploc bag. Yes, I know, I was late …