Conservation

Found something funny/scary on the inter-webs.  Thought it was appropriate for today! https://youtu.be/-f2b5J7_1mo Can’t they hire an actor that at least knows how to hold a spinning rod?  However, the choice of bobbers was spot on! “Trick or Treat” and GO FISH! Our house will be the one handing out Snickers (not really, we’ve got Gummi Bears).

Let me say a few things about our Master Angler Award program in my blog today. . . . First of all, yes, we are running a little behind in getting Master Angler certificates mailed out.  If you sent in a Master Angler application since late summer and are wondering what happened to it, please be patient.  We are working a body short here in the office right now, and had to re-order the pins we send out for catch …

Last winter I told you about a little trip I took to the beautiful Nebraska sandhills; a trip to assist with some filming for a TV fishing show, TV Ice Fishing. Obviously, that filming was done for a couple of ice-fishing episodes for Jason Mitchell Outdoors.  The filming last winter was done for ice-fishing episodes that will be airing this ice season.  Well, they started airing ice-fishing episodes on Jason Mitchell Outdoors a couple of weeks ago, and the second …

October means paddlefish snagging season below Gavins Point Dam for those who drew a tag.  I have not said anything about this year’s season, but I want to mention that I have heard some great reports!  From what I have been hearing, the catch rates have been very good, and fish of a variety of sizes have been caught. I know a couple of guys who had tags this year, one of them his first paddlfish tag ever, and they …

Fall is big fish time, some of my biggest fish every year are caught in the fall.  With big fish in mind, I am a believer in big baits = big fish, all the time, but especially in the fall.  Go big, or go home. Sometimes a guy just needs to tackle-up to some heavier, bigger tackle to handle those bigger baits and big fish.  I guess the professional bass fishing circuit finally got with the program and are now …

Got out of the office for a bit today; ran over to Mahoney State Park and met one of our stocking trucks at the Century Link Pond.  Josh C. from our Calamus State Fish Hatchery was hauling some of the catcable-size, put & take rainbow trout today.  We met him there and did a quick “FaceBook Live”, while the trout were stocked. I know, the audio and video was not the best, but we were LIVE! https://www.facebook.com/NEGameandParks/videos/10154989546958513/ If you want …

Our volunteer, certified, youth fishing instructors are a huge help in many of our aquatic education efforts.  If you are an avid angler and would like to help out, would like to give back to the sport and resource, becoming a certified youth fishing instructor would be a great way to do it.  Here is another opportunity for certification: Become a certified youth fishing instructor Oct. 21 in Lincoln LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will certify …

Last week I noted that Nebraska Game & Park Fisheries biologist are busy around the state doing fish sampling this time of year (“Survey Says”).  A couple of weeks ago I slipped out of the office for a day and got my hands fishy helping with some of that sampling.  I have blogged many times about the flathead catfish fishery at Branched Oak Reservoir and the research that has been done on those fish in recent years.  With a total …

I have had several questions about the exceptionally low water at Box Butte Reservoir this fall.  If you have not seen it already, this news release should tell you why: Box Butte Reservoir to remain low for coming year HEMINGFORD, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reports the water level at Box Butte Reservoir will remain low for at least 12 more months as construction workers repair the dam’s toe drain system. During this period, the Commission encourages …

CHADRON, Neb. – Participants of the Chadron State Park Bioblitz in late September identified 203 species of plants, animals and insects, providing evidence of the biodiversity in the Pine Ridge. Amber Schiltz, Nebraska wildlife education coordinator for the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, was pleased with the tally, especially considering the time of year. Species ranged from the osprey flying high above the park’s pines to the smallmouth bass swimming below the pond’s surface. “We saw 45 bird species alone, …