Nebraskaland Magazine
Seems like most of my blog posts this fall have been news items. I know most of them do not impact a lot of anglers or other users. But, if you are one who it will impact, you will want to know. And, I know these things often “fall through the cracks”. So, in no particular order:
Olive Creek areas remains open after wildfire
Olive Creek State Recreation Area and Olive Creek Wildlife Management Area in southwestern Lancaster County will remain open after a wildfire burned through both areas Oct. 23.
Visitors should proceed with caution and be on the lookout for hazardous trees and potential hot spots in the burned areas. The boat ramp and campgrounds were not damaged in the fire.
Users should be mindful of boundaries, however, as border fences and signs have not yet been replaced. Download the state recreation area map at OutdoorNebraska.gov/OliveCreek.
Or find maps for both areas in the Nebraska Public Access Atlas, available in print at Game and Parks Commission offices and select retailers or online at OutdoorNebraska.gov/PublicAccessAtlas.
Yes, nearly the entire Olive Creek WMA burned. But the area remains open.
In fact, from what I saw, the fish are biting. There were several folks there fishing.
Yankee Hill WMA boat ramp road closed for repairs
The Yankee Hill Wildlife Management Area boat ramp access road will be closed starting Wednesday, Oct. 26, until further notice so work on the boat ramp may begin.
The ramp has suffered significant erosion caused by water and wave action that must be addressed before further damage occurs.
Repair work is expected to take one to two weeks depending on weather conditions.
All other access points to the wildlife management area just southwest of Lincoln are open.
For more information, email ngpc.boatingaccess@nebraska.gov.
Work on the new entrance road has started.
Burchard Lake
I did not make another trip down to Burchard, but I know a guy who did. He reported that milling work has started on the road! Hallelujah! Remember, the interior road and boat ramp at Burchard closes every fall on October 15. You can still walk in and fish from shore.
Bessey Forest
I know a lot of folks have been wondering about access to the Bessey Forest at Halsey. The Forest Service just issued an order on that. You can read the official document here:
Bessey Ranger District Closure Order
If I may, in one image taken from that order, here is what it means:
Fire restrictions are in place, no open fires, no campfires, no stove fires, no space heaters. If you are going to the Bessey Forest, I would make sure to stop at the office at the entrance to make sure you know what you can and cannot do.
No, this has nothing to do with fishing, but a lot of folks enjoy Bessey every fall. By the way, take the fishing gear, that sandpit at the entrance has some nice fish!
