Tag Archives: Fishing

From casting a line in a pristine trout stream to a kicking back while camping at a scenic, serene oasis, Nebraska’s state park system, celebrating its 100th anniversary, is an outdoor lover’s dream. There are 76 areas in our park system and they truly offer something for everyone. I know. I have firsthand knowledge of all of them. In my 42 years with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. I have been to EVERY. SINGLE.ONE and even worked in our …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Anglers must be aware of fishing regulation changes that take effect Jan. 1, 2021, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The changes are: Smallmouth Bass – Big Elk Lake (WP 7) and Portal Lake (WP 6), Sarpy County reservoirs under construction in 2020, each will have a smallmouth bass daily bag limit of two fish and 12-inch maximum length limit to protect larger smallmouths and allow harvest of smaller ones. Yellow Perch – Big Elk …

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Keep your catch of fish as fresh as possible and you will be rewarded with a wonderful meal that is the finale to a fishing trip. In mid-October, trout will be stocked across Nebraska in small city park ponds and state park lakes. These pan-sized fish offer a person the delicious main course of a meal. From the lake to the table, every step is critical in making the best of what …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Fall is here, and Nebraska’s outdoor resources offer a variety of ways to have fun, relax and enjoy nature. Here are a few activities the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recommends exploring in the coming months. State parks – Less crowded and decorated with autumn color, Nebraska’s state park areas are a great place to be in the fall. Take advantage of the cool weather and enjoy your favorite outdoor recreation activity, whether that be fishing, boating, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska has more than 1.2 million acres of publicly accessible lands across the state. The recently published 2020-2021 Public Access Atlas identifies and consolidates these public access resources for the benefit of Nebraska’s hunters, trappers and anglers. Printed copies of this year’s atlas are available at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offices and service centers, and soon will be available wherever hunt and fish permits are sold. To request a printed copy of the atlas or other …

By Jerry Kane Nebraska Game and Parks Commission For a novice angler, selecting fishing tackle can be intimidating. An angler will find a lot to pick from at the store. Aisles of items, in fact. Any angler can keep things basic for starters, especially with simple hooks, sinkers and bobbers. Hooks Hooks can be used with worms, minnows, prepared baits or plastic baits. They come in a variety of styles, sizes and colors. A good selection of hooks that will …

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission How much time do you want to spend untangling your fishing line? Zero, none, never! While I cannot guarantee you a tangle-free life, there are ways to help spend more time fishing, and it starts by using the right gear for the conditions and your skill level. If you are teaching a beginning angler, here is what they need to know about rods, reels and line. Reels There are four types of …

By Jerry Kane Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Whether you intend to release a fish you catch or you plan to legally keep it, the fish should be handled properly. For the fish’s sake – and yours. Any caught fish that you do not intend to keep should be returned to the water immediately with as little stress to the fish as possible. That means minimal handling of the fish. One thing can make handling fish challenging: Fish are slimy, …

LINCOLN, Neb. — The 2020 Hunting and Fishing R3 Summit is going virtual this year, streaming live over Zoom from 10 a.m. to noon CST Aug. 5. Register at OutdoorNebraska.org/r3summit on or before Aug. 2 to receive the virtual meeting Zoom link via email. Those unable to attend will be able to watch a recording of the summit online at a later date. “We hope this adjustment will allow more people and organizations to tune in live,” said Jeff Rawlinson, …

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Having a successful fishing trip depends on how you plan for success. Planning will help regardless if your goal is to catch a state record fish, or escape from chores for the day. Remember that some days we catch fish on bare hooks, while others days we just go fishing. Prepare and plan to have fun and you will never be disappointed. The following are few planning tips and hints: Plan where …