[ Submitted by Commissioner Mick Jensen] – Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Nov. 4 -6, I had the opportunity to do some duck hunting at the Flying V with Dan Kreitman and family who had purchased the opportunity at the Big Game Society’s annual meeting at Wilderness Ridge. The hunt package included two nights lodging, with meals and three days of excellent duck hunting on the Missouri River by Niobrara. On the first day of the hunt in the floating blind …

[Submitted by Commissioner Mick Jensen] I recently had the opportunity to observe and be a part of a very interesting and fun event in Schuyler. Lonnie kit, founder and CEO of QC Supply in Schuyler, asked that I speak to his employees and families at a very unique event! For the last eight years Lonnie has  hosted a “Hunters After Hour” event on the Thursday before the Saturday deer firearm opener.  He provides a fantastic meal and door prizes. An …

Commissioners Lynn Berggren and Jerrod Burke along with their sons Pat, Kevin, Logan and friends went on a Mixed Bag Quest this fall.  Commissioner Burke documented their experience on Open Fields and Waters land in this article. [ Submitted by Commissioner Jerrod Burke ] We began our mixed bag quest on Wednesday morning, Nov. 12. Commissioner Berggren, my son Logan and I were headed to a cabin at Medicine Creek State Recreation Area to meet up with the national Pheasants …

With high expectations Commissioner Burke and I spent a few hours on the water at Johnson Lake to kick off the holiday weekend. Trolling is the method we prefer, however after two-plus hours we drew the big goose egg! Saturday morning I left Johnson early to meet the Forney brothers and son Shane at Lake McConaughy. The walleye bite has been strong all summer and I always enjoy outings with a new group. Trolling nine hours produced four good catfish and, finally, the last …

Our kids were all home this past week, and family time and Johnson Lake time go hand in hand with the Berggrens. Grandkids enjoy the water dragon, and our kids still enjoy going for a pull. Jeanne and I even took our turn! The gulls are just starting to arrive so surface activity should heat up this week. Persistence really paid off over the weekend as we opted to troll searching for white bass. Continuing to change speed and lure selection finally hit …

On Friday afternoon, I met director Jim Douglas at Big Mac. The bite has been very good the past month. We put in at Admirals Cove hoping for some hot action ahead of the approaching storm. Slow drift with crawlers and leeches produced a couple fish hooked, however, both were lost in the underwater trees. Forty minutes is all we would get as the storm moved in quicker than expected. Saturday morning former NGPC Commissioner Tom Plummer joined us. We joined up at …

Ron Kratzer and I fished Sherman Dam Monday evening. Weather was hot with no wind which made fishing tough. Ronnie likes to troll so we drug Shad Rap’s and spinners with leeches along the west side in 14-20 FOW. One crappie and one small walleye was all we could produce. Boats in the area were struggling also as we were,  so no other fish caught in the area. Tim Shuckman, Dan Scofield and I fished Calamus Wednesday evening. Weather was …

Al Hanson, Joe Rydell and I fished Box Butte Reservoir on Wednesday morning. Located in the NW corner of the state, the lake offers camping, toilets, fish cleaning facilities and concrete boat ramp with dock. The lake, used for irrigation, will have been drawn down during summer months. Water level is currently down approx. 10 foot. The lake has walleye, northern pike, panfish, bass along with blue and channel catfish. Wednesday we had a nice chop on the water so we opted to troll for …

My family and I enjoyed another relaxing weekend at Johnson Lake. The bite has been fairly good the past three weeks, however, most of the walleye are under the 15″ limit. Persistence paid off Saturday as I landed this 25-1/2″ trolling the flats off the island. I took a couple quick pictures with grandkids Katelyn and Kaleb and then back in the water he went to swim another day. Remember to take a kid fishing.

Country music singer Andy Griggs was invited to hunt in the 53rd annual Nebraska One Box Pheasant Hunt last year. Son Pat captained the Nebraska team with Andy as team member. Andy is not only a great musician but loves to deer and waterfowl hunt. He had never harvested true Honkers so the invitation was made to return for late season goose hunting. Andy along with buddies Cody, Jim, and Chris joined Pat, Kevin, and myself for 3 days of hunting. …