Conservation

Last week I had a boring blog post about fisheries science.  It was a fundamental description of what a “fishery” is and how pointy-headed biologists manage fisheries.  Part of the reason I posted that was because I wanted to lay some ground work for additional posts about other fisheries management topics.  So, let me reconvene the Fisheries Science 101 class again today and talk about a subject that I believe is misunderstood by some. . . renovations. Let me start …

Yes, my blogging is usually about fish and fishing, but I love to hunt too.  I know my bow-hunting buddies have been enjoying the best week of archery deer hunting over the past week and our rifle deer season here in Nebraska opens tomorrow.  I also know in my wanderings over the past couple of weeks that there is more deer movement every day right now! I am sure there have been a few news conferences like this already, will …

Our Nebraska Game & Parks Commission fisheries biologists are finishing up their fall fish sampling around the state.  I am starting to hear a few stories about what they sampled, will be getting data summaries and starting to put together next year’s Fishing Forecast in the coming weeks. Once again let me post a disclaimer before I show you the pictures:  When pointy-headed fisheries biologists sample fish populations they are NOT trying to capture the biggest fish in a population.  …

Ever since my days as a wide-eyed graduate student, I have known that folks, especially outdoors- and fisher-folks, have a great interest in what we do as fisheries biologists.  Early in my career I took every opportunity to communicate with people the work and projects I was participating in, and over the years my job has evolved into one where I do that all the time! However, it dawned on me last week that there are a lot of misconceptions, …

I know what I am going to post will be of interest to only a couple of small areas of Nebraska, but if you are one of the anglers within those small areas, these news releases will be of interest to you.  I also realize that these news items have been making the rounds and many are already aware, but something else I have learned after several years of blogging is that the more you can “spread the word” the …

Had a YouTube film I wanted to post today, an entertaining, humorous film with a dark twist at the end, perfect for Halloween.  What made it even better is it made a person think. . . .  Do we take our fishing too seriously? Gasp! Too seriously?  No way! On the other hand. . . . I take it real seriously, it is who I am, it is what I do. Just remember, it is supposed to be fun! I …

October meetings of the Nebraska Game & Parks commissioners are typically when changes in fishing regulation are enacted.  This news release went out late last week following the commission meeting: Commission adopts changes to fisheries regulations, orders LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission adopted changes to fisheries regulations and orders at its meeting Oct. 26 in Kearney. Many of the changes will result in increased fishing opportunities for Nebraskans. The changes to archery and snagging paddlefish regulations …

If you have ever done any still-fishing you likely have a rod holder or three.  In addition, if you have been serious about fishing that way, you might even have some sort of bite indicator, some audio alarm to get you outta your lawn chair and over to your rod. Back in the day, the Bauer clan took rod holders and bite indicators to a whole ‘nother level. At least once a summer, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, aunts, …

My friends at Seven Fish recently posted a video on casting spinners for some of our put & take trout.  There are some excellent fishing tips in the video, take a few minutes and watch it! That reminded me a similar video from a few years back, and besides the spinners you can catch those trout on small crankbaits and spoons too! If I am fishing one of our put & take trout fisheries, I often start by casting and retrieve …

Our Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation project at Conestoga Reservoir west of Lincoln has taken a while to complete.  Ain’t no excuses for that, and in fact there is no reason to make excuses–it takes some time to move over a half-million cubic yards of sediment.  There literally are a couple of new hills that were created with all of that sediment. No, “mother nature” did not do us any favors as too much precipitation slowed progress on the project over and …