Nebraska’s weather has done its usual March, Nebraska thing this week. I say it is schizophrenic. That, and the cold water, makes this one of the toughest times of year to catch fish from open water. On the other hand, if you can still get on the ice, late ice can be some of the best fishing of the year. That is exactly why I hope every year for the ice to last as long as possible. But, assuming that …
Read More »Early Spring Fishing Tips
I am going to be lazy today. I do not often do this, only once in a while. . . . My blog post today is simply going to be to share with you something one of my co-bloggers recently posted. Greg Wagner is one of my best buddies here at Game & Parks. We talk frequently, and often discuss current topics and potential content for our blogs. We have both been blogging for several years now, and have learned …
Read More »Early Spring Fishing Tips
The first portion of spring. It is here on the calendar. The weather has been widely fluctuating but the time to get ready for early spring fishing is has arrived! Emma Wagner-Nichols, your blogger’s daughter, caught this crappie in chilly, sunny weather in a private sandpit lake in Dodge County, NE. Photo courtesy of Emma Wagner-Nichols of Elkhorn, NE Have you put new line on your reels? Have you gone through your tackle box yet? Purchased your 2023 Nebraska fishing …
Read More »Crazy, So What?
It is springtime in Nebraska. If you are serious about fishing, you are going to be on the water during some abhorrent weather conditions. Otherwise, well, otherwise you ain’t fishing enough: Of course, if you are on the water like you should be, then folks think you are crazy: I had a day like that already this spring: The best part about it? No one else fishing! However, this gentleman came swimming by, literally right by my feet: He thought …
Read More »It Is All Relative
It is early spring and our waters are cold. Without a doubt I hear anglers ask more about water temperatures at this time of year than any other. There may be some reasoning behind that, but water temperature may not be as important as some think it is. Don’t get me wrong. I have carried a thermometer of some kind with me on every fishing trip since I was a kid. I have logged water temperatures from thousands of fishing …
Read More »Love/Hate
I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year, early spring. On one hand, who is not happy to see spring roll around? On the other hand, I hate to quit ice-fishing. We get a few days of nice weather this time of year and everyone thinks they are a fisherperson. On the other hand, in my opinion, early spring is some of the toughest open-water fishing of the year. The water is still cold, the fish are not …
Read More »It is Spring and Crappies Are on the Mind
If you blog about the outdoors, fish and fishing, subject matter is seasonal. Same time every year the same subjects are relevant and I will probably blog about them in some form. I hope people do not mind “re-runs”, but I am betting most will not remember, and there are a bunch of new readers. I re-ran one last week, got another here. . . . As soon as we have some nice weather this time of year, everyone wants …
Read More »A Break, and Some Thoughts
Other than my wife and daughter, I have had little interaction with any other humans for the past several days. Anytime I touch a surface, or come within 10 yards of another person, off I go to wash my hands. At least to this point, our governor has not ordered us to lock down for a couple of weeks. So, yes, I would still tell you that you can sneak away for a little fishing and practice social distancing. I …
Read More »Ice is Gone, Water is Cold, Now What?
We currently are in what I believe to be one of the hardest times of the year to catch fish–early spring. Do not get me wrong, there are some great fishing opportunities now. However, the water is still very cold and the weather is very schizophrenic. Whatcha gonna do? Well, for starters, my buddy Greg ran a blog this week on 7 Key Early Spring Fishing Tips. Check it out. A lot of Greg’s blog included “stuff” I have said …
Read More »The End, The Beginning
Last adventure report I called that I might not be done ice-fishing yet. I was not. Made it to more northerly parts of the state last week and crawled onto the ice one last time. Believe me, my partner and I spent as much time checking to make sure we could get on and off and go where we wanted, as we did fishing. Neither one of us ventured anywhere without the spud bar, ice picks and life jackets. You …
Read More »