Conservation

I again have a few state record applications to clear off my desk; this is the time of year when they are mostly spear-fishing and bow-fishing records.  Let’s go underwater to start: Underwater Spearfishing Three applications for state record fish taken by underwater spearfishing are in the stack.  All of those fish were taken in July, let me start with the first taken on July 6. . . . Dylan Trauernicht of Gering was doing some diving on a private …

I know, I know. There is nothing like spring wild turkey hunting in Nebraska, and the fall hunting season for wild turkeys, well, it just doesn’t rise to that level. Or, does it? Hmm. I don’t think you can call yourself a true turkey hunter until you have willingly and eagerly accepted the fun challenge and vivid excitement of hunting North America’s largest upland game bird during the fall season in Nebraska. Hunters who have never experienced fall hunting are …

This news release went out at the end of last week, so I fully realize many folks have already heard about this, but I want to make sure everyone hears about it! Incident at Calamus is reminder to Clean, Drain and Dry August 31, 2017 LINCOLN, Neb. – A recent incident at central Nebraska’s Calamus Reservoir is a reminder for all water users – especially boaters – to clean, drain and dry their equipment after every use, according to the …

EDITOR’S NOTE:  This blog ain’t about Nebraska.  It IS about a lifestyle that includes family and fishing.  Even though this particular post is not Nebraska-centric, I suspect many of you will be interested in the adventures anyhow.  In fact, most of us have a list of waters in-state and out-of-state that we love to fish, let me drop the names of a few of them here. . . . My immediate family and I spent a week in Montana recently. …

The morning air is crisp and cold. Hardwood trees stand motionless and silent — faint brush strokes against the slowly lightening predawn sky. As light emerges, wild plants still green are bejeweled with dew. Small sounds begin to carve the creek bottom. A raucous calamity of crows can be heard in the distance. An assertive, vociferous blue jay appears on a limb. Two fox squirrels squabble amid the leaves on the woodland floor. The insistent nasal yammering of a white-breasted …

Today I want to blog about a little project some of our fisheries staffed did at Victoria Springs State Recreation Area (SRA), recently.  To give you a little background, I have to tell you about duckweed, a small aquatic plant. Duckweed is a common aquatic plant on some Nebraska waters, it is a small plant that floats on the surface.  It is NOT an algae, it actually has leaves and small roots.  Typically, duckweed grows on small waters that are …

All you bass anglers know about Texas rigging, but it is time for you to take up a notch! Sorry to give away secrets, but big fish love snausages.  I learned that from my cousin.  I know a lot of you are already fishing with snausages.  If you ain’t, you should be!

Our communications staff recently produced a 4-minute video on some ground-breaking and interesting work our fisheries production staff has been doing.  Yes, our state fish hatcheries and fish production staff produce millions of fish for stocking in Nebraska waters every year.  Recently they also have been dabbling in the production of freshwater, native mussels as well.  Watch the video, you will get the idea: Let me add some details to what the video told you.  Several species of freshwater mussels …

One of the biggest challenges of fishing is locating fish and understanding their behavior; that challenge is complicated because much of the time we cannot see the fish!  I am not a diver, cannot even swim very well, so I am fascinated by fish in aquaria, fascinated by underwater pictures of fish! A few weeks ago I referred to a blog and the website on which it was hosted, Engbretson Underwater Photography.  I love resources like that because they give …

Found a new “KVD” commercial recently: That reminded me of an oldie, but one of my favorites: I do believe that the more time an angler spends on the water the more of a “sixth sense” he or she will develop when it comes to finding and catching fish.  I cannot explain it, but sometimes you can just feel it, have an unexplained hunch about it.  Maybe it is not so much in the smelling, but then again. . . …