LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, has been issued for Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County and Rockford Lake in Gage County. A health alert remains in effect at Wagon Train Lake in Lancaster County. Visitors to Willow Creek, Rockford and Wagon Train state recreation areas should avoid full-body contact activities that could lead to swallowing water, such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, …

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission How much time do you want to spend untangling your fishing line? Zero, none, never! While I cannot guarantee you a tangle-free life, there are ways to help spend more time fishing, and it starts by using the right gear for the conditions and your skill level. If you are teaching a beginning angler, here is what they need to know about rods, reels and line. Reels There are four types of …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, remains in effect at Wagon Train Lake in Lancaster County. The alert has been removed at Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County. Visitors to Wagon Train State Recreation Area should avoid full-body contact activities that could lead to swallowing water, such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are OK. Dog owners are urged to keep …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters may begin purchasing 2020 Nebraska fall turkey permits Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. Central Time. A fall turkey permit is valid statewide and allows a hunter to harvest two turkeys of either sex with a shotgun or archery equipment. Each hunter may have up to two permits. There is no minimum age requirement for youth. The fall turkey season is Sept. 15, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021. Fall turkey permits may be purchased: • Online at …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The section of Rock Creek Road leading into Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area and to Rock Creek State Fish Hatchery has been reopened. The road was assessed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and cleared for reopening by the Dundy County Roads Department. Users of the road are advised to use caution as there are a few soft spots in the road surface and the road shoulders. For more information on Rock Creek Lake State …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Due to heavy visitor traffic, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds guests that the state’s five fish hatcheries remain closed. For the safety of staff, the following hatcheries remain closed until further notice: Rock Creek in Dundy County, North Platte in Lincoln County, Valentine in Cherry County and Calamus in Garfield County. The buildings at the Grove Trout Rearing Station in Antelope County are closed, while the grounds are open. The hatcheries will continue to produce …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters may enter a lottery to gain deer hunting access to Platte River Recreation Access (PRRA) lands in the central Platte River Valley, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Forty-seven hunters will be chosen from a random drawing in early September and allowed to hunt deer on designated PRRA lands Nov. 16-22, 2020. Applications, limited to one per person, will be accepted by mail or drop box at the Game and Parks service center in …

By Jerry Kane Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Whether you intend to release a fish you catch or you plan to legally keep it, the fish should be handled properly. For the fish’s sake – and yours. Any caught fish that you do not intend to keep should be returned to the water immediately with as little stress to the fish as possible. That means minimal handling of the fish. One thing can make handling fish challenging: Fish are slimy, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – With fall hunting seasons coming up, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters of temporary Hunter Education changes from which they can benefit. Until further notice, online-only Hunter Education courses, without the Hunt Safe Session requirement, is allowed for ages 11 and older in Nebraska. Youth ages 11-15 who take the online Hunter Education course normally are required to attend a two-hour Hunt Safe Session before they can receive a certificate of completion. That Hunt Safe …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The west lane of the Nunda Shoals boat ramp at Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area in Loup County is closed temporarily due to damage. The lane will remain closed at least until the water level drops low enough so park staff can assess the damage to the boat ramp. The east lane of the ramp remains open. To view an interactive map of other boat ramps available at Calamus or across Nebraska, visit Maps.OutdoorNebraska.gov/Boating. A park entry …