Barbs and Backlashes

I found this on the internet: If you ask me I will tell you that my favorite bait or lure is whatever is the right tool for the job, whatever the fish are biting on.  And, if you have been reading my blog for any time you have probably heard me say that I am not sponsored nor endorsed by any fishing tackle manufacturers. But I really, really like Rapalas! After buying that many Rapala baits, I should own stock …

We are in the middle of a Nebraska summer right now and that means in most cases that the fishing has become a little bit tougher than it was a few weeks ago.  The reason for that is simple, even though the fish’s metabolism is peaking in the warmest water of the year, the abundance of natural prey is also at its peak right now and fish do not have to look very hard to find more than enough to eat. …

I got back yesterday from the 2014 High School Bass Fishing Championship at Merritt Reservoir, and I need to give a quick report on that tournament.  Here is the news release that will be going out: Lincoln County Anglers Win High School Fishing Tournament LINCOLN, Neb. – Kylan Rhodes and Austin Denisse of Lincoln County won the 2014 Nebraska State High School Fishing Tournament on July 26 at Merritt Reservoir. The Lincoln County team weighed in a five-fish limit totaling …

Have you ever been in one of those awkward social situations where you are among a group of people and you are supposed to mingle and talk, but you just really have nothing to talk about? Here is my excuse. . . . I saved this quote, I believe Matt Straw made it in some In-Fisherman article or on-line story.  I do not remember where.  But, I thought it was really good advice when you walk into a room and …

I am old enough to remember when we basically had 2 and only two choices in fishing line–monofilament and braided dacron (By the way, I still use some old braided dacron, and it is a great line for some fishing situations).  We used to think we had hit the jackpot when we could walk into Gibson’s and find a huge spool of 8-pound test monofilament for 99 cents.  As I got older and wiser I discovered that there were much …

The 2014 Nebraska State High School Fishing Tournament is just around the corner. And I know there are some folks who are getting amped up for it! So am I!

I am betting that most of you who have been in the Nebraska outdoors this summer have seen at least one dragonfly.  Usually they are found near water, but not necessarily so, sometimes adult dragonflies can venture a long way from water.  However, dragonflies are definitely aquatic insects.  In fact dragonflies spend most of their lives in the water!  Adult dragonflies mate and then the females deposits eggs on the surface of the water.  Those eggs hatch into larval dragonflies …

We are over half way through 2014 and I have not given any updates on the state record fish front. It is time. Blue Sucker I only have a few to tell you about, might as well start with the first one to cross my desk this year.  Back in May, May 10 to be exact, Ethan Wellman of Mead arrowed a blue sucker with his bow.  Ethan’s fish weighed 11 pounds 1 ounce and will be a new state …

Just a week ago I told you about a big flathead catfish caught from Branched Oak Reservoir, Stop the Presses, Big Fish!  This week I have another monster fish to tell you about. I have been saying that there are some blue catfish in our Missouri River that are large enough to break our existing, 44-year old, rod & reel blue catfish record.  Last week that record came really close to being toppled. Bob Campbell down in southeast Nebraska caught …

My sister posted this quote on her FaceBook page months ago.  It is attributed to a Chinese philosopher: The mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it. Amen!  That is really good advise for the weekend, any weekend, especially if you have a fishing rod in your hand! GO FISH!