I have been “out” more than “in” the past couple of weeks, and that will be the case for the next week or so as well.  Just want to quickly touch base here with my blog and wish you all a Merry Christmas! You might think that was the Christmas tree we had here in the Fisheries office.  Actually, it is what one of our brush pile fish attractors looks like below the surface of the water.  Happy fish, we …

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 …

It’s here! You can see the 2023 Fishing Forecast right here: 2023 Fishing Forecast It will take us a couple weeks to get the hard copies back from the printers.  So, for now you will have to study the digital version.  Ice conditions are looking better by the day.  Good luck!

Coming down to the wire here before Christmas.  Some of you may still be looking for gift ideas.  I have a good one: “Give ’em the gift of fishing.” I cannot tell you anything better than that right there. Got to fish with both my granddads growing up.  Do not know that either one of them were muskie slayers, but I have a bunch of their secret lures in my tackle box.  Got some of Grandpa Bob’s too!

I have probably said it a hundred times, will again.  I fish hard in the fall.  In my opinion, some of the best open-water fishing of the year occurs in the fall.  So, I try to finish open-water fishing each year with a flourish. Like everything else in fishing, although they may all be good, some autumns are better than others.  My fall bite this year was hit and miss.  I would have liked a few more big fish (which …

I like to spread the word on these film tour events, especially when there is a viewing in Nebraska.  This time it is for a virtual screening of the International Fly Fishing Film Festival.  Watch the trailer: Purchase “tickets”, International Fly Fishing Film Festival, Virtual Screening USA 2022. If you have never watched one of these events, well, they are just plain fun.  The fish and fishing in the films always get me fired up.  I know we are looking …

Many of us are patiently/impatiently waiting for safe ice so we can go ice-fishing.  Those of you who are tipup anglers simply cannot get enough of this: Have a great weekend.  If you find safe ice, dry one off for me!

If you have followed my blog for a while, you know that my first day on the ice each year is a day to be celebrated!  In fact, I proclaim that day each year as “New Year’s Day”.  It is the first day of the new ice season, first day of the next year’s season. I celebrated New Year’s Day 2023 on “black Friday”. Yes, I know that was a couple of weeks ago.  I did not blog about it …

Will give a quick report today on some of my adventures over the Thanksgiving holiday.  My wife and I ventured west to spend the long weekend with my son, aunt, cousins and their families.  We had a great time, ate a lot of good food, played games, told stories, hunted and fished. Yes, I said fished. . . . On ice. Now, I hesitate to even mention that because there is hardly any ice in the state that is safe …

I know, not much demand for boat ramps at the end of November, but some news items I want to share anyway: Hershey Beach boat ramp at Sutherland, two ramps at Enders to reopen Three boat ramps at Sutherland Reservoir and Enders state recreation areas will reopen to the public Nov. 29 after several improvements were completed. At Sutherland, the erosion under the Hershey Beach boat ramp has been repaired, and rock riprap has been placed along both sides of …