Spring is coming along darned slow this year.  As a result, there are a lot of anxious crappie anglers still waiting for nice weather and a good crappie bite.  Eventually it will come.  It may come in “fits and starts”, or maybe our weather will finally shift and it will be “on”. Regardless, I know the spring crappie bite is on a lot of angler’s minds right now.  Our communications staff here at the Game & Parks thought it was …

Our Take ‘Em Fishing challenge is back for another year! Win adventure in 2022 Take ’em Fishing challenge Take ’em Fishing is all about sharing the experience of the sport. It’s about the excitement of feeling the tug of the line in your fingers for the first time. About the sound of someone’s first catch — big or small. It’s about the memories made. And the adventures to come. Participants in the 2022 Nebraska Game and Parks fishing challenge will …

It is time for my annual distraction from fishing.  That will be reflected here in my blog.  I pretty much am all fish and fishing, all the time, except when the turkeys are gobbling.  In just this past week, it has seemed to me that all of a sudden there are big, strutting, gobbling turkeys in many of the places where I expect them to be.  Even in the middle of the sandhills! I love spring turkey season for the …

I spent a few days out of the office recently; might as well tell you about it. . . . Spring is a busy time for fisheries workers.  Once the ice is gone, one species after another starts spawning.  We have a variety of crews busy collecting eggs for producing fish to stock, then there is sampling that needs to be done, some tagging projects, etc., etc.  In the spring it is “all hands on deck”. Pretty much every year …

A brief news item in my blog today.  Not a big deal, not going to affect a lot of people, but some of you will want to know: Grove Trout Rearing Station temporarily closing for maintenance The Grove Trout Rearing Station near Royal, Nebraska, in Antelope County, will close to visitors April 11-15 for maintenance and inspection on the diversion pond. “While the maintenance takes place, staff will be using heavy equipment, and public safety is taken into consideration for …

I think this is a relatively new song, at least it is new to me.  I love it! That should be the theme song for our Take ‘Em Fishing promotion this year! It is the weekend, GO FISH!  Then, show me!

I have a couple, three state record applications on my desk.  Time to give an update. . . . We usually do not have a lot of state record fish caught ice-fishing, but it is not unusual to have one or two.  I say it often, again, you just never know what might bite on the end of your line, even when you are ice-fishing!  In the order that they were caught: Yellow bass The first one was caught on …

Another news item today.  This news release went out late last week, but again I want to spread the word: Walleye egg collections begins; dam, breakwater to close at rec areas Fisheries staff at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission again will capture spawning walleyes at Sherman Reservoir, Merritt Reservoir and Lake McConaughy to collect eggs to meet stocking requests. As of April 1, a designated area along the dam at Sherman is closed to bank anglers and boats following …

There are so many fish and fishing-related things to blog about.  I try to include variety.  I try to include a blend of news, fisheries science, ichthyology and just plain fishing.  A lot of you are likely better sticks than I am, but I also like to include stuff that has worked for me, things that might help someone catch more fish. . . . Well, this is one of the biggest breakthroughs that I have seen in years.  I …

I need to spread the word on this too, and looking at the calendar, I need to do it now! Two angler creel surveys to begin at Lake McConaughy in April It’s the time of year for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to survey Lake McConaughy anglers for information that assists in statewide fisheries management decisions. Two surveys will be conducted at the state recreation area starting April 1: 1. A daytime survey will take place April through October with …