Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
In my opinion, the biggest news this week, by far, was not something about some government re-opening. No, it was all about the northern lights, the ole aurora borealis! If you missed it, well, you missed it. Not often are we able to see the northern lights in Nebraska, especially southeast Nebraska.
My wife and I actually witnessed them on back-to-back nights this week. Tuesday night was by far the best display, probably the best I have ever seen. We also could see a little bit the next night too.
The first time I ever saw the aurora was on a fall evening when I had been shorecasting for walleyes. Yep, I caught one really nice ‘eye that night. Was thinking of calling it a night when I noticed a glow on the northern horizon. There was something unusual about it, they were not lights from any town or city. I kept casting and soon was treated to curtains of green and red that stretched from horizon clear over head. White shafts of light like spotlights would shoot up through those curtains.
My thoughts turn to fishing pretty much all the time. While experiencing the display this week I was wishing I was casting for walleyes someplace.
Do not know if an aurora borealis display is a trigger for a hot walleye bite. I can tell you for a fact I have caught fish on nights when the northern lights flared up. Think I need to spend more time fishing during the aurora to come to any conclusions.
Yes, I always think I need to spend more time fishing.
I have had a few hours on the water during solar eclipses. I thought the low-light conditions during an eclipse would surely trigger predatory activity and I would be on a hot bite. So far eclipses have not worked that way at all. Again, think I need more data to come to any conclusions about fish feeding activity and solar eclipses.
No eclipses forecast for this weekend. You never know about the aurora borealis. I do know it ain’t too late in the fall to catch fish–not by a long shot.
(Pun intended, firearm deer season opens this weekend and I imagine a bunch of you will be in the field doing that. It is all good, good luck, hope you see the turdy-point buck . If you get a chance, combo up and GO FISH!)