Ever since my days as a wide-eyed graduate student, I have known that folks, especially outdoors- and fisher-folks, have a great interest in what we do as fisheries biologists.  Early in my career I took every opportunity to communicate with people the work and projects I was participating in, and over the years my job has evolved into one where I do that all the time! However, it dawned on me last week that there are a lot of misconceptions, …

I know what I am going to post will be of interest to only a couple of small areas of Nebraska, but if you are one of the anglers within those small areas, these news releases will be of interest to you.  I also realize that these news items have been making the rounds and many are already aware, but something else I have learned after several years of blogging is that the more you can “spread the word” the …

Had a YouTube film I wanted to post today, an entertaining, humorous film with a dark twist at the end, perfect for Halloween.  What made it even better is it made a person think. . . .  Do we take our fishing too seriously? Gasp! Too seriously?  No way! On the other hand. . . . I take it real seriously, it is who I am, it is what I do. Just remember, it is supposed to be fun! I …

October meetings of the Nebraska Game & Parks commissioners are typically when changes in fishing regulation are enacted.  This news release went out late last week following the commission meeting: Commission adopts changes to fisheries regulations, orders LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission adopted changes to fisheries regulations and orders at its meeting Oct. 26 in Kearney. Many of the changes will result in increased fishing opportunities for Nebraskans. The changes to archery and snagging paddlefish regulations …

If you have ever done any still-fishing you likely have a rod holder or three.  In addition, if you have been serious about fishing that way, you might even have some sort of bite indicator, some audio alarm to get you outta your lawn chair and over to your rod. Back in the day, the Bauer clan took rod holders and bite indicators to a whole ‘nother level. At least once a summer, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, aunts, …

My friends at Seven Fish recently posted a video on casting spinners for some of our put & take trout.  There are some excellent fishing tips in the video, take a few minutes and watch it! That reminded me a similar video from a few years back, and besides the spinners you can catch those trout on small crankbaits and spoons too! If I am fishing one of our put & take trout fisheries, I often start by casting and retrieve …

Our Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation project at Conestoga Reservoir west of Lincoln has taken a while to complete.  Ain’t no excuses for that, and in fact there is no reason to make excuses–it takes some time to move over a half-million cubic yards of sediment.  There literally are a couple of new hills that were created with all of that sediment. No, “mother nature” did not do us any favors as too much precipitation slowed progress on the project over and …

I was wondering what to blog about today, it’s Friday and you know I try to keep things “light” for the weekend. Stepped outside for a bit over the lunch hour; since our mini-ice age earlier this week, the weather has been gorgeous and many of our trees are at their fall-color peak right now. And then it hit me:  Just post some of my favorite, pretty, fall-fishing pictures. Nebraska is a great place for sunrises and sunsets, and I …

I will always tell you that if you like to fish, if you want to improve as an angler, join a fishing club!  I can think of no better way to learn, plus it is a whole lot of fun to hang out with a bunch of folks who have the same interests, and our local fishing organizations are a huge asset in supporting our fisheries and our sport! I know this is short notice, but I will be at …

I hate publishing the lists of trout stockings in spring and fall because I know plans change.  I have helped with a fish stocking or three in my career and I know that things do not always go as planned. . . . Two Omaha rainbow trout stockings rescheduled LINCOLN, Neb. – Catchable-size rainbow trout will be stocked in three Omaha waters Oct. 16. The Grove Trout Rearing Station in Antelope County will stock 450 trout at Hitchcock Park Pond, …