Conservation

I guess daylight savings time ends this weekend. Whatever. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back an hour Saturday night.  That is a relatively easy task for most of us, but a little more work for some: Sorry, I could not resist.  I thought it was funny. I wonder if they have to move the cars at Carhenge in Alliance? The old Bauer homestead and my grandparent’s old place are both located north of Alliance.  My grandmother was not a …

You know I love big fish, big fish of any species, but especially big, bad, predator fish.  Nebraska is blessed with a variety of fish, including a variety of large predator fish.  Two of our largest, apex predator fish would be flathead catfish and muskellunge. Flatheads and muskies are not found in every Nebraska water, but we do have some excellent fisheries for both species.  Obviously, flatheads and muskies are two very different fish.  Or are they?  Having fished for …

After 47 years of service, including nine years serving as director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Jim Douglas is retiring. He has celebrated a lifetime of conservation accomplishments. “Ask yourself what kind of world you want to live in and leave for your kids,” said Director Jim Douglas, a statement that says so much about what he has accomplished during his 47 years in conservation. For the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, he has served in a variety …

Spreading another news release around. . . . If you have a boat, any kind of boat, this is very important! Check boats, lifts, and docks for invasive aquatic hitchhikers as weather cools LINCOLN, Neb. –Nebraskans are urged to check boats, boat lifts and docks for invasive species when removing them from water bodies for the winter. Aquatic hitchhikers like zebra mussels can live up to two weeks out of water, and several lakes across the Midwest are first noticed …

It is the end of October, Halloweeney is Sunday.  I guess that means it is time for all things scary.  Earlier this month I speculated about the reasons we like a good scare now and then, Scary Stuff. Since then, I have seen a few discussions of spooky experiences outdoorsfolks have experienced while out in the “wild”.  Might as well throw in my $0.02-worth. . . . I have spent a lot of time on the water after dark, quite …

I am hoping many of you dismiss this blog post. First of all, this blog is pretty much going to be a link to another blog.  You can follow the link if you wish, or blow it off.  The choice is yours. Secondly, you will see the article is about fishing in Canada.  You can ignore that because obviously, it will not apply to the waters you fish in Nebraska. You might be even more inclined to dismiss it when …

From time to time I like to blog about some deep, science-stuff.  I do not do it often, because I do not want to be boring.  On the other hand, I know many of you have at least a passing interest in fisheries science and the work done by pointy-headed, fisheries biologists. There is an overwhelming amount of scientific literature documenting everything related to fisheries science and the almost infinite number of fish species.  Unfortunately, there is so much it …

Are you lucky?  Do you believe in “luck”? I have started many fishing seminars by stating that there is no such thing as “luck”.  Those anglers who seem to always catch fish are not “lucky”.  They know what they are doing. If you wish, “luck” has been defined as the residue of hard work, or where preparation meets opportunity.  I suppose those definitions of “luck” could apply to fishing. What about things that bring good luck?  Lucky charms?  What about …

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska wildlife officials are welcoming colder temperatures for at least one reason. A hard freeze kills the insects responsible for spreading two deadly viral diseases among big game populations during dry years. Since asking the public to report dead and sick big game animals in August, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has fielded more than 150 reports of suspected epizootic hemorrhagic disease, often referred to as EHD, or the closely related illness bluetongue. Todd Nordeen, Game …

I know, I know, the news release has made the rounds and you might have seen this already.  I also know there are some of you still fishing and some of you need to know about this: Northbound traffic inside entrance to Lake Mac’s Martin Bay temporarily closed for project LINCOLN, Neb. – The road inside the Martin Bay entrance at Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area is closed temporarily to northbound traffic, to allow for the construction of an improved …