Unfortunately, I can still close my eyes and see those fish, one was one of the biggest bass I ever hooked, the other, one of the biggest walleyes.  I had fought them to the point of getting ready to put ’em in the net and then came that one last head shake.  In slow motion I can still see the fish facing me, mouths wide open, heads swinging back and forth, and my bait flying out. “There she was. . …

Had a conversation recently with one of my hard-core fishing acquaintances, reminded me of similar conversations I have had over the years with other good sticks, and finally it dawned on me that it might be a good blog post.  That is it would be a good blog post if I can actually communicate what is rattling around in my head.  So let me start with a story. . . . Once upon a time, on a lake north of …

Waters are starting to cool and stocking trucks are starting to roll! Rainbow trout stockings scheduled this fall LINCOLN, Neb. – Catchable-size rainbow trout are being stocked in city ponds and lakes across the state by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. These stockings will enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter. Trout fishing is a great way to introduce children to fishing because simple and inexpensive equipment may be used. A spinning or spin-cast rod and reel with a …

You all know that I usually try to lighten things up for the weekend with my Friday blog posts.  Oftentimes, I will use some unbelievable headline that I have found on the interwebs.  This one is a couple of years old, but it is a doozy! Wisconsin Man’s Prosthetic Leg Found in Beaver Dam I am not going to copy and paste the entire story; if you want to read it, you can find it here on the Twin City’s …

It has been a few months since I gave an update on our Trout Slam recognition program .  With the weather cooling, one of the best times of year to catch our cold-water trout lies ahead of us.  So, let me see if I can pique your interest to get out there and explore our trout waters. Entries during the summer slowed to a trickle, and there were several weeks where I did not see any entries at all.  I am …

I am going to put a combination of updates in my blog post today.  These are going to include news items for waterbodies from one corner of Nebraska to the other, so if you fish in Nebraska, something in this blog post is going to include a waterbody you fish. Box Butte Reservoir New boat launch opening at Box Butte Reservoir HEMINGFORD, Neb. — Construction is wrapping up for the upgraded boat launch facility at Box Butte State Recreation Area …

Got a chuckle out of this new Hank Patterson video this week: Now I will be the first to admit that since I was a grade school kid I have kept a log of all of my fishing trips, species, numbers, sizes, etc., etc.  So yes, I have an idea of how many fish I and my partners have caught.  If you want data, well, I have a pointy-head and I’ve got data! But, you know it really is not …

I was outta the office a week or so ago to help do some field work.  I got to help with some work on one of my favorite waters in one of my favorite parts of the state–Pelican Lake on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). I am not going to rehearse the details, or the merits, of the large Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation project that is ongoing on the Valentine NWR.  If you have been living under a soapweed and …

Many years ago when I was going to school training to be a pointy-headed fish biologist, I never dreamed I would be doing what I am doing now.  Yes, I am referring to blogging, communicating, writing and speaking, informing and educating; that is pretty much what I do all of the time.  A big reason I am doing that now, and something we never dreamed of years ago, is this interwebby thing.  Simply put, the internet is an extremely valuable …

I originally heard this story on a radio station, then found it making the rounds on the inter-webs: Market Shut Down for Putting Googly Eyes on Fish To Make It Look “Fresher” Apparently, after sitting around on a table in some stinky fish market, adding some “googly eyes” improves sales! See how much better it looks! Now why didn’t eye think of that? My latest walleye photo after dark was a little blurry, if I had added a googly eye …