Home » Tag Archives: fisheries biology

Tag Archives: fisheries biology

Sandhill Lakes

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By now you have probably heard reports and rumors of low oxygen levels in at least some of our sandhill lakes this winter.  When I say “low oxygen levels” I mean to the point of causing fish die-offs.  No, I have not said anything until now.  Even now I do not have an official news release to share with you.  Unfortunately, at this time, it is something that needs to be mentioned. Yes, I hesitate to bring the subject up.  …

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Fish of the Week

Got a blog post for some of you most hardcore fish heads.  I know some of you are out there! One of my co-workers found this and called it to my attention. . . . The U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service has a weekly podcast on fish!  Yes, this is a podcast by pointy-headed fisheries biologists, so yes, it can be “deep”.  However, I know some of you love the information.  They have done a bunch of podcasts on …

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Don’t Stunt

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The December issue of Nebraskaland has a one-page story by Jeff Kurrus, Don’t Stunt.  Yes, Jeff spent some time in my office talking about the story.  Yes, Jeff quotes me in the article.  If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will recognize the subject matter, again: I have said before, will again now.  I have seen far more panfish populations that suffer from the effects of over-harvest, than I have seen in less numerous, larger, predator …

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Paddlefish

I probably should have blogged about this last month during the paddlefish snagging season.  Sorry, I did not get around to it then, but I am not going to miss this opportunity to highlight a Nebraskaland story you should check out. One of our Missouri River fisheries biologists, Kirk Steffensen, wrote a story on paddlefish and our Nebraska paddlefish fishery on the Missouri River.  I know the fish, that fishery and its history will be of interest to a lot …

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So you think you wanna be a fish biologist?

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Got an opportunity for some volunteers to help us collect fish.  Just let me say this. . . . While reading the following call for help, remember that this work goes on regardless of weather conditions, in March, right after the ice has gone out.  You will be wet, you will be slimy, you will have snot dripping from the end of your nose and into your beard (beards strongly recommended).  You will also need to be dependable; if you …

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Water, water everywhere

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Without a doubt, this has been a wet year in Nebraska.  If you look at a map of precipitation since Jan. 1, most of the state is above average and parts of the state are well above average. The result of all of that water has been high water levels in rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, pits and ponds, and in fact many of those waterbodies have experienced flooding this year.  We all know that there have been some devastating consequences …

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Pike Tagging

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When spring time rolls around, pointy-headed fish biologists get really busy.  I even get out of the office to help with all the field work that needs to be done this time of year. Most of you know that northern pike spawn right around the time ice goes out.  They will even spawn under the ice if we have a late ice-out, but if you are looking to collect a bunch of northern pike, that is a great time to …

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Catfish Rut

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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 …

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It is Valentine’s Day and Love is in . . . the Water?

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I am a fisheries biologist by training, and well, it could be said that many of us look at the world in a warped way.  For example, today is “Valentine’s Day”, the day to celebrate love.  But, why is Valentine’s Day in February?????  What makes the middle of February more “lovey”?  Or, would it be “lovely”?  “Loveful”?  “Loving”?  Whatever? Anyway, I have postulated that the only logic in having Valentine’s Day in February is that it is in the middle …

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Fishes of Nebraska

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I will admit to you that my desks are not neat.  I subscribe to the theory that a clean desk is evidence of a warped mind.  Come to think of it, I have messy desks, AND a warped mind.  Anywho, I digress. . . . There are a couple of piles of books you will always find on my main desk, sitting to my left.  Forward left is a big pile of In-Fisherman magazines; I read them religiously.  Off to my far left …

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