Barbs and Backlashes

Got another club meeting to tell you about.  Yes, this one is just across the border into Iowa, but there are a bunch of Nebraskans that are part of this group and I will be attending their meeting on March 30.  I am talking about the Siouxland Fly Fishing Club, http://www.siouxlandflyfishing.com/index.htm . I will be talking about fishing opportunities, specifically fly-fishing opportunities across Nebraska for the coming year.  The club meets at 9:00 a.m. to do some fly-tying and then …

Already this spring I have hinted that I am a sucker for new baits, like most of  you, and I even mentioned one or two that I have already bought (it was a good investment, caught fish almost immediately).  Well here’s another one. . . . [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwwrHIo7hNg[/youtube] I have not seen any of those on the shelves yet, but I am warning you–if I find ’em, stay outta my way! Have a good weekend, I know the forecast is cold, …

I will always tell you that big fish are not hard to catch because they are so smart, but because they are so rare.  In almost any population of sport fish, any species, large specimens usually are the least abundant.  For that reason, I am a huge proponent of selective harvest.  I am not against harvesting some fish for a meal of fresh fish now and then, and I believe we should maintain the tradition of eating some of what …

I have blogged about the handicap-accessible fishing pier project at Bowling Lake before, http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2012/09/bowling-lake-fishing-pier-project/ .  The group of anglers who got the ball rolling on that project, “Anglers of the Blue Moon”, have already had one fund-raiser at La Paloma Restaurant here in Lincoln.  That evening was such a success that they are hosting another one tomorrow night, March 19.  Here is all the information: Start working on an appetite now, plan to come out and buy some raffle tickets, …

Although I may resemble the guy in this commercial, it is not me.  However, the scene IS pretty much how I felt last weekend. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31asNbM9y38[/youtube] Seriously, I have that battery-operated, table top fishing game!  I do not know about the kids, but it is one of my favorites.  For some reason I cannot get anyone to play it with me anymore?  Come to think of it, no one will play the Babe Winkelman Trivia Game with me anymore either???? I …

Some of you may recall a blog post I made about a year and a half ago about fishing with Doug Stange and filming a couple of segments for In-Fisherman TV, http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2011/10/pinch/ .  I know many folks have seen those segments on In-Fisherman TV, http://www.in-fisherman.com/in-fisherman-tv/ , but if you have not, I recently discovered that they are posted on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/).  If you have not seen them yet, here they are: Those still are not the complete, full segments, almost …

This news release ran last week, let me blog about it again here in case you did not see it: Game and Parks Announces Spring Trout Stocking Schedule March 6, 2013 LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will stock catchable-size rainbow trout in several city ponds and lakes across the state this month. The schedule, subject to change depending on conditions, includes date, location, approximate time of stocking, and quantity: March 13 – Niobrara State Park (SP), …

A couple of weeks ago I figured my ice-fishing was done for this season.  But then our weather swung back to cold, again, and last week I had some business out west.  I debated whether to take the ice-fishing gear with me or the open-water gear.  I took both.  The first afternoon I planned to do some scouting, check out the conditions and see what I could do.  I was a little surprised when I pulled onto the Valentine National …

Once again on the invasive species front, there has been a bill introduced in the Nebraska state legislature that relates to our state’s handling of aquatic invasive species.  If you wish you can read it here, LB63 Here is an abbreviated version: And some “FAQs”: I cannot tell you what you should think about this bill, for or against.  But, I will remind you that we live in a country where you can freely participate in the political process and …

By now you have probably heard about the invasive “Asian carp”.  That term, “Asian carp” can refer to several species of non-native carp found in our country, but specifically is it used in reference to the bighead and silver carp.  If you want to learn more about those specific invasive species, and more, be sure to take some time and check this out, http://neinvasives.com/ . Asian carp, bighead and silver carp are here, in Nebraska waters.  You can find them …