By Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Found an interesting video on the interwebs the other day. Nope, does not have a thing to do with fish or fishing in Nebraska. However, it has everything to do with predator fish, open-water predator fish in particular. Moreover, it shows some amazing encounters with some wondrous creatures. Do not know if you will be able to get out and get on the ice this weekend, maybe you will want to take some time to watch this:
Wow!
Nope, not going to find any bluefin tuna anywhere close to Nebraska. Does not mean that I cannot be amazed by those fish. Pretty much all fish amaze me.
You might think I am crazy, but there are some similarities between those open-water predator fish and open-water predator fish you can find in Nebraska. I have seen white bass and wipers herding baitfish much like those tuna. No, those fish did not weigh hundreds of pounds, and the prey were shad, but the predator/prey interactions were very much the same, some of the behaviors were very similar.
Can even tell you some stories about bobbing around in a float tube in the middle of surface feeding frenzies of wipers. Have had panicked shad jump right into my tube with me. At the same time, could feel wipers rushing by my legs. Made a guy afraid to put a hand in the water. Also made me burst with anticipation knowing all I had to do was drop my lure in the water and I would hook up!
May never kayak with bluefin tuna, but adventure is where you find it! It is even here on our little puddles in Nebraska! Have a great weekend, hope you get a chance to get outdoors and appreciate some of our great fish & wildlife!