Home » Conservation (page 16)

Conservation

Standing Bear Cleanup

This event is still a couple of weeks out, but I want to let folks know about it.  Put it on your calendar! You can also sign up HERE. Unfortunately, from what I saw when I was at Standing Bear a few weeks ago, it needs a cleanup!  That goes for the area surrounding the reservoir as well as the exposed bottom of the reservoir with the water down.  If you can show up to help with this, it will …

Read More »

Going Fishing? Don’t Let The Big One Get Away!

All of us who love to fish have a story or two about the one that got away, don’t we? Invariably, the tale involves hooking the fish of a lifetime and losing it to unforeseen circumstances or mistakes. Trust me, I have made my share of mistakes when it comes to large, prized game fish. Your blogger mishandling a nice-sized channel catfish. Photo by Rich Berggren/Conservation Officer with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Without question, these stories, however embellished, …

Read More »

GO FISH!

PB050009

All of my channels of communication have exploded this week with fishing reports and fish pictures.  In short, right now, do not pass “Go”, do not collect $200,  GO FISH!!!!  I always say that May and June are the best two months for open-water fishing in Nebraska, whatever species, whatever water.  GO FISH! Do not wait for someone to give you a report, do not ask if the fish are biting–they are! If you cannot decide where to go, pick …

Read More »

Foreshadowing

P3220092

Yes, I have been spending a lot of time with turkeys this spring, literal, feathered turkeys.  I do every spring. Have not had a chance to blog about it yet.  There have been other items that have been a higher priority and have warranted previous blog posts.  Today it is time to tell a story. . . . If you have read my thoughts on spring turkey hunting before, you know that I consider the key to success to be …

Read More »

News Updates, May 8, 2023

WiIlowLakeSpring23BoatRampSchuckmanc

I have a couple, three small news items to include in my blog today.  No, none of these are major, but if they are one of your favorite fishing spots you will want to know about them.  So, in no particular order: Killdeer Lake dam maintenance project to begin Killdeer Lake, located 2½ miles north of Martell in Lancaster County, will be undergoing a dam maintenance project beginning the week of May 8. The project, which will require the lake …

Read More »

Spring Silliness

Have a couple of thoughts to share with you for this weekend.  First of all, look at the calendar.  Yes, I know what today is. But, did you know that Yoda was a fisherman?  Obviously he was, he lived in a swamp. Here he can be seen handling a rod! Of course he was an excellent angler.  No, it was not because of some Jedi mind trick.  He simply fished with confidence! For you Star Wars “nerds”, I hear a …

Read More »

Trapping Turkeys

Photos and story by Justin Haag A new research effort is aiming to uncover mysteries about Nebraska’s wild turkeys. University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers have teamed up with Nebraska Game and Parks to trap turkeys, measure them, collect samples and outfit them with GPS transmitters and leg bands. Over time, researchers will learn about turkey movements, habitat selection, nesting success and genetic diversity. These variables all play a role in wild turkey population numbers, which have shown a decline in many …

Read More »

Sandhills Winterkill Summary

IMG_1502 (2)

Without a doubt this has been the most asked question recently.  So, I am going to spread this around as much as possible, as soon as possible: Surveys indicate mixed bag on fish winterkill Surveys by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission show many Sandhills lakes fared better than expected after a harsh winter led to fish kills. Deep snow over thick ice this winter caused oxygen depletion in many of the region’s most shallow and vegetated lakes, causing fish …

Read More »

Community Fishing Events, 2023

Today is the first of May.  Let me post this as a reminder: Another season of family fun scheduled with Community Fishing Events Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for another spring and summer of fun with Community Fishing Events. Community Fishing Events provide opportunities for people of all ages who have never fished or have not fished in years to learn and enjoy the activity. Rods and reels, as well as bait and fishing instruction, will be available …

Read More »

Booming

PrairieChickenBoomingc

The story of this weekend adventure actually started a year ago.  Late spring 2022 my wife and my cousin’s wife decided that they had never been to see the prairie grouse dance.  Each spring prairie chickens and sharptail grouse have a mating display where the males “dance” to attract females.  It is a spectacle.  I had seen prairie grouse performing their spring mating rituals in many of my travels and adventures in Nebraska, but I told the girls to make …

Read More »