open water fishing

Have a learning opportunity I want to publicize: Ponca SP hosting beginner fly-fishing, fly-tying class Anglers can learn the basics of fly-fishing and fly-tying at a workshop April 27 at Ponca State Park. This workshop, hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and taught by members of the Cornhusker Fly Fishers Club, will prepare participants to catch trout and panfish this spring. The event will take place 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Education Center. The cost is $25 per …

Want to mention a couple of things today, both of them related to walleyes. . . . First of all, we are in the middle of our annual walleye egg collections.  If you have been on Sherman or Merritt reservoirs, you likely have, or will see our crews, and nets.  If you want some more idea of what they are doing, may I suggest an old blog post, Walleye Spawn. If you see the nets in the water, please avoid …

Chances are you have heard about the solar eclipse coming next Monday, April 8.  If you were around these parts seven years ago, you experienced a total solar eclipse right here in Nebraska.  This time, Nebraska is not in the path of totality.  That don’t mean nothing.  It still should be a spectacular event.  All of Nebraska will be able to see at least 60% coverage of the sun.  Go HERE for a map that displays the extent of the …

You can catch any fish that swims on a jig.  Moreover, if you learn to be a good jig angler, you will flat out be a good angler, period. Those statements are a little misleading as especially in today’s angling world jigs come in an infinite variety of shapes, styles, actions, colors, bodies, tastes, etc.  They all work in the right place at the right time.  Like any bait or lure they are all just tools–use the right tool for …

Those of us who enjoy outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, boating and camping are spending an awful of time around the house when there is inclement outside. Nevertheless as you think of or plan your next outdoor trip, those conditions offer an opportune time to go through your equipment – cleaning, repairing, restoring and organizing various items that most likely were shelved, locked in a cabinet or safe or neglected. You have the time to do this, trust me. …

Disclaimer:  My “lighten up” blog post for Friday this week has nothing to do with fishing in Nebraska.  If you are going to get bent outta shape over that, stop reading here.  Just move along. . . . However, I know many of you, like me, are just plain fascinated by fish.  As a hardcore angler, the whole predator/prey interaction intrigues me.  In addition to that, is there anything better than watching ’em bust on top?  Well, this video takes …

You may have caught wind of this by now: Anglers, biologists join forces in Midwest Walleye Challenge Anglers and biologists are joining forces to bring a new kind of fishing tournament to Nebraska. The Midwest Walleye Challenge will give anglers in states across the Midwest a chance to compete for prizes while collecting important data for biologists. The collection of angler catch data during the Nebraska challenge, which runs March 30-June 30, can help the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission …

We have open water early this spring.  I know, everyone has the fever and cannot wait to hit the water and catch some fish. . . . Then they find out that the water is still darned cold, the weather is erratic and catching fish right now ain’t easy.  In my opinion, early spring is the most challenging fishing of the entire year. I have blogged often about some early spring strategies, so I am not going to repeat that …

As you know we have open water early this year.  Yes, fish are being caught already.  I am also hearing questions about early open water and spawning seasons.  This discussion comes up every spring.  I have and will give the same answers every spring:  Weather will modify spawning activities a bit, but you can count on spawning occurring pretty much the same time every year.  The amount of daylight or photoperiod is the primary driver of spawning activity on most …

Green grass shoots are sprouting in my Elkhorn, NE yard. The days are getting longer. Water temperatures are warming. The time is now to get ready for some early open-water fishing action! Emma Wagner-Nichols, your blogger’s daughter, caught this crappie in chilly, sunny early spring weather in a private sandpit lake in Dodge County, NE. Photo courtesy of Emma Wagner-Nichols of Elkhorn, NE Have you put new line on your reels? Have you gone through your tackle box yet? Sharpened …