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Conservation

Fall Trout Stockings 2019, The Rest

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Finally have the rest of the list for the rest of our fall, put & take rainbow trout stockings in urban and parks waters around the state:  Stocking Date Location Number Comments Week of Oct. 7 Scottsbluff Zoo Pond 900 Carter P. Johnson 2,500 Ft. Robinson Niobrara State Park Pond #2 1,000 Niobrara State Park Crystal Cove 4,500 South Sioux City Fremont #2 5,000 Fremont Lakes Ta-Ha-Zouka 1,500 Norfolk Pawnee Park West 1,500  Columbus Bowling 400  Lincoln Holmes 3,000  Lincoln …

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The Agony

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Broke a fish off this week.  It does not happen often, last one I can remember was a BIG fish a couple years ago.  Fought that fish for twenty minutes, could feel it going deep, line rubbing on something.  Knew it was not going to end well. This time I set the hook, good fish.  Will never know how good because the rod bent over and there she was, gone. I have had a headache ever since. Oh I know …

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Fall Trout Stockings 2019, West

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Without a doubt, one of the most common questions I am hearing right now is “when are the trout going to be stocked?”  Seems like everyone is wondering about the fall stockings of catchable-size rainbows in urban and parks waters around the state. Those stockings occur about the same time every year, and that time is October, usually mid-October.  I do not have the full schedule yet for this fall’s stockings.  We are still working out some logistics and honestly, …

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Paddlefish Snagging Season

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Today is the eve of our 2019 paddlefish snagging season.  Most have probably already seen this news release, but this is a good time for a reminder: Paddlefish snaggers should be cautious with high flows below Gavins Point Dam LINCOLN, Neb. – With paddlefish snagging season set to begin Oct. 1, dangerous conditions will be occurring on the Missouri River below Gavin’s Point Dam due to high water releases. Outflows from Gavins Point Dam will be at or above 80,000 …

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National Hunting and Fishing Day

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Tomorrow, September 29, is National Hunting and Fishing Day.  Governor Ricketts signed a proclamation this week recognizing that here in Nebraska. I have always thought that a national hunting and fishing day is especially appropriate for Nebraska because we have some great opportunities for a variety of fish and game.  We are the mixed bag capital!  Fall is a great time to “combo up” and do both, hunt and fish. Need an example?  One of my co-workers here in our …

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Cutthroat Stockings

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A couple of weeks ago I gave a “heads-up” that we were finally getting some cutthroat trout stocked in Nebraska waters again.  Many anglers have been looking hard for a cutthroat to complete their Trout Slam.  At that time, the first of those stockings was made in the White River southwest of Ft. Robinson.  We have stocked a few more thousand of those fish since then, here is the complete list: White River 1,000 Wood Reserve Ponds 600 Middle Fork …

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Thoughts on Waterfowl

It’s just my humble opinion, but I believe those of us involved in fish and wildlife conservation on a professional level are “wired” a bit differently than the rest of society. There’s some innate draw or attraction to wild and natural things and places that is difficult to explain, let alone understand. That attraction has led us down a path of life that isn’t just a job or a career, but a vocation that is inexplicably intertwined with our lives, …

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Youth Fishing Instructor Workshops

Again this is not new news, just trying to spread the word: Become a certified youth fishing instructor this fall LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will certify youth fishing instructors in Lincoln and North Platte this fall. Workshop participants will receive training and tools to conduct youth fishing clinics. These volunteers will have access to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission loaner fishing equipment and educational materials for events. They also will receive program incentives. Instructors are …

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Signs

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I believe that one of the most important skills that any outdoors-person can possess is observation–being able to sense things in “the wild” and interpret what they mean.  Us trappers call it “reading sign”.  It is knowing tracks and seeing trails, and a lot more than that.  Trapping is a great way to hone those skills.  Observing sights, sounds, smells and sometimes even tastes can tell you what is going on, if you just take the time to learn. Modern …

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Fish Tanks

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Honestly, I have been thinking of what might be a good blog post for today.  I always have a bunch of ideas, but none of them seemed like good ideas today.  So, I started scrolling back through some pictures to see if something might come to mind. . . . I noticed a bunch of pictures I took of our 6,000 gallon fish tank at the state fair.  The display of fish at the Nebraska State Fair goes back a …

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