Got a couple of updates on Aquatic Habitat/Angler Access/Renovation projects. As a matter of fact, I blogged about both of these back in September, Some News Items, September 2017. Merritt Reservoir As noted the boat ramp/angler access project at Merritt Reservoir was long-awaited and postponed for a year or two because of high water levels. Now, I will NEVER complain about high water in any of our irrigaiton reservoirs, but in this case it did delay the new boat ramp …
Read More »Some News Items, September 2017
A couple of news items I want to call attention to today. These will affect anglers in a couple areas of Nebraska, so even though the news releases have been published already, I want to mention them in my blog too. Merritt Reservoir Merritt Reservoir’s Main Landing temporarily closed September 8, 2017 LINCOLN, Neb. – The construction of a new boat-launch facility at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area’s Main Landing has begun. The Main Landing area will be closed temporarily. …
Read More »High School Bass Championships, 2017
I have been debating with myself whether to blog about this today or wait. I decided it is timely and needs to be mentioned now, but right up front let me apologize because I do NOT have all the details or photos. I will share what I know, what I have, but you may find more later. This past weekend the 2017 Nebraska High School Bass Championships were held at Merritt Reservoir. The event this year was a little different, …
Read More »Walleye egg collections to begin April 2
LINCOLN, Neb. – Fisheries staff at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission again this spring will capture spawning walleyes to collect eggs to meet stocking requests. Sherman Reservoir, Merritt Reservoir and Lake McConaughy have again been selected locations for this operation. The collection goal to meet 2017 walleye stocking requests is approximately 78 million eggs. As of April 1, a designated area along the dam at Sherman is closed to bank anglers and boats following sunset. The collection at Sherman …
Read More »Last Ice, ‘Hoppers, and Lightning
I suppose it is not really fair to blog about ice fishing when most waters in Nebraska are pretty much liquid now. However, even as I write this there might be a place or two in the state where you can still get on the ice and catch some fish. . . just make sure you are very, VERY, careful. Ice Safety Tool Having said that, let me say that I will be on the ice as soon as possible …
Read More »TV Ice Fishing
A couple of days ago I told you that last week was a busy week, and I told you about one of the things that made it busy–the MidWest Fish & Widlife Conference. During that conference I took a break to do an orientation session with a couple of our new commissioners here at the Game & Parks Commission, and then I headed out of town to help with another little project. . . . I have referred to some …
Read More »Health alert in effect for Willow Creek Lake, Rockford Lake, Merritt Reservoir
LINCOLN – A health alert is in effect for Willow Creek Lake in Pierce County, Rockford Lake in Gage County and Merritt Reservoir in Cherry County. The health alert was put in place after high levels of blue-green algae were detected at the lakes during testing by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. It is recommended that visitors to Willow Creek and Rockford lakes and Merritt Reservoir avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing. …
Read More »Update on Merritt Reservoir Boat Ramp Project
I know folks who fish Merritt have been wondering about our boat ramp improvement plans, there are some details in this old blog post, Angler Access Improvements. Getting that work accomplished is dependent on end-of-summer water levels at Merritt. So, the bad news is that water levels again this fall are too high for the work to be accomplished. On the other hand, you will never hear me complain about water in our Nebraska reservoirs, so the good news is …
Read More »Walleye Egg Collections to Begin April 4
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will collect spawning walleyes from Sherman Reservoir, Merritt Reservoir and Lake McConaughy in April. The collection goal to meet 2016 walleye stocking requests is approximately 78 million eggs. As of April 1, a designated area along the dam at Sherman is closed to bank anglers and boats following sunset. The collection at Sherman will begin the night of April 4. Anglers and boaters are asked to avoid Nebraska Game and Parks boats …
Read More »Angler Access Improvements
Quick blog post today; just want to again call attention to some angler access and aquatic habitat improvement projects that are underway–your angler dollars at work! Project to Improve Angler Access at Sandy Channel SRA LINCOLN – Anglers who fish at Sandy Channel State Recreation Area (SRA) in Buffalo County will soon have improved fishing access at three of the most popular lakes on the area. Lakes No. 2, No. 4 and No. 8 all have projects slated to improve …
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