Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Kind of “tweener time” right now–water is too thin to walk on, too thick to cast a bait into. Sure, been hearing a few reports of folks getting on some thin ice already, but I am betting our warm weather and big blow last night did not do us any favors. While I am waiting for safer ice, time for a little look back at the fall. . . .
I fish hard in the fall. It is my favorite open-water fishing of the year. Yes, it can be a challenge, but oftentimes the pay-off is big. Patience and persistence are key, and nothing beats time on the water! The only thing I know for sure is you cannot catch anything sitting at home on the couch.
I fish for a variety of species year-around. That is true in the autumn as well. Often start out with some warm-water species:
Got around the state a couple of times this fall. Love doing that and being able to experience the variety of Nebraska fisheries and fish. A number of those fish were trout:
Sorry, the dumb look is a common theme in many of my fish pictures.
So, here are some without:
Mixed in some coolwater species too! Caught a bunch of pike in the sandhills:
And saugeye “back east”:
Finally, after Thanksgiving, one more trip west to play with some trout again!
I have been on the ice already, checking to see to see if it was safe. Have not found any that was thick enough, yet. Hopefully soon!
While I get the ice gear ready, will remember what a good fall it was–variety of good fish caught across Nebraska! All of them caught without a boat, and all released so I can catch them again!
Bring on the ice!