Conservation

A couple of weeks ago one of my many fishing contacts suggested that there are a lot of misconceptions about the spawn period for our big three catfish species, blue, channel and flathead.  He thought that might be a good topic for a blog post and I agree with him! Our large catfish species in Nebraska are definitely warm-water fish.  In fact, they are some of the slowest-growing fish in our waters because they are warm-water fish, and we are …

I hate that I even have to blog about this, and I know many have already heard, but everyone needs to be aware of what is happening on our waters.  I am going to spread this even more. . . . Let me again start with the news release: Young zebra mussels detected at Cunningham Lake LINCOLN, Neb. – Microscopic young zebra mussels, known as veligers, recently were detected by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in a water sample …

I have been around, been back and forth at least half-way across the state a couple of times in the past couple of weeks.  As always, the fishing gear went with me, dried a few off along the way. . . . Got a call a year ago from an Oregon State baseball fan.  His team was in the CWS and he was going to be traveling across our great state, wanted to do some fishing along the way.  I …

Our video guy Ralph Wall recently did a piece with a Nebraska connection on Project Healing Waters.  I believe this would be a great time to post Ralph’s video and call attention to this worthy program! I know our Nebraska Chapter of Trout Unlimited has partnered with Project Healing Waters.  I also know that this is not the only kind of effort like this.  There are some Nebraska anglers who have also been part of the Heroes on the Water …

Another doozy from “KVD” to lighten your Friday, and get you ready for the weekend. . . . He wasn’t kidding, Karl’s Bait and Tackle. Again, I do not feature “KVD’s” “stuff” as an endorsement nor am I sponsored by anyone.  I just think the commercials are hilarious! However, there are some good deals, good baits there, and a wealth of information.  If that helps you take your fishing to the next level, then I hope you are all in! …

Federal Duck Stamps will go on sale today and will be followed by thousands of waterfowl hunters as they pay homage to conservation efforts that have been supporting wildlife for nearly 85 years.   But, like all stories, the facts are worth learning about. As the United States thrust forth into the new century, the trajectory for our Nation’s wildlife was dark.   This large scale loss of flora and fauna was exacerbated by the 1930s with the onslaught of the Great Depression …

I used to think that top-water baits were a specialized fishing presentation appropriately used ONLY under the best of conditions:  A warm, calm, sunrise with a few wisps of steam rising off the water?  Sure, there is nothing funner than catching a fish on a top-water bait, but my thinking was that there were usually better ways to catch more and bigger fish.  Throw a top-water bait first thing in the morning and maybe you could get a surface strike …

As soon as we arrived at the Chadron City Ponds for a short family fishing excursion, our dog Benny’s attention turned to the shoreline. His eyes were fixed on a bird dangling upside down from the rushes. Sadly, just as I suspected, the American robin had become tangled in fishing line. That bird flew off with a dangling leg for an undetermined fate as soon as I clipped the braided line free – a better fate than many of the …

If you fish for bass even a little bit, you know how effective rubber worms are and your tackle box likely has 23 different varieties, styles, and sizes in 123 different colors.  You hard-core bass anglers do not need me to tell you how to rig those rubber worms, but on the other hand, there may be some folks reading this that are newer to the fishing game, newer to the bass-fishing game in particular.  Someday I am going to …

Tomorrow is the day!  Time for the first of our annual carp carnivals! If you want more information on the whole carp fishing game, how about a little Carp Appreciation?! This event will go, rain or shine, the carp don’t care.  I tell folks that when we are holding events like this, we are basically just out there having fun and we hope that you bring the family and have fun with us!