Barbs and Backlashes

My son and I do not get to fish together all the time.  Still it is nice knowing that even though we are separated by miles, we are on the water.  Maybe apart for now, but still on the water.  In fact it is interesting how often we are doing the same things even though we are fishing individually. For example, each winter we target big bluegills, 10-inches and larger, just like we get after muskies in open water.  At …

Got this note from Brandon Maahs, one of our field biologists in north-central Nebraska: Need a new fishing hotspot? Be on the lookout for new artificial habitat structures in Merritt Reservoir this year. NGPC Fisheries staff have built and are ready to deploy at least 30 modified Georgia Cubes. Years of siltation, erosion, and decay of submerged trees has reduced the overall habitat complexity within Merritt Reservoir. Adding artificial habitat, such as these PVC cubes, can help replenish degraded natural …

I got to looking through some old blog posts and discovered something interesting.  Seems as though in past years about this time, end of February, I have commented about people being in a foul mood and needing to lighten up!  I know that has sure been true again this week; lots of complaining.  I am telling you, people would be so much happier if they would just learn to ice-fish! So, this is for you.  In case you do not …

It is been a while since I have ventured into hard-core science for one of my blog posts.  Time to do it again. You will notice the big word I used as the title of this post.  Unless you have had a limnology class or two, you may not have seen that word.  However, if you fish in Nebraska you need to know what it means and understand how it works. Let me explain. . . . All bodies of …

I know a lot of you have seen this already.  I am just trying to spread the word even more: Participate in virtual fisheries meetings in March LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in a virtual discussion on fisheries management during meetings March 1-4. These public informational sessions – one statewide overview and four others specific to each of Game and Parks’ districts – will provide local updates on the fishing outlook and special projects in …

Work schedules for my kids converged recently and they both had days off at the same time.  They were going fishing. Of course I found a way to go with them! First, let me play my usual part of “old man” and say a thing or three about ice safety. . . . Our trip was at the beginning of the arctic outbreak.  We still found patches of unsafe ice.  Snow on the ice made that even more difficult to …

Spreading the word on this: Game and Parks to co-host invasive species webinar series LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn about invasive species during a five-part virtual webinar series during National Invasive Species Awareness Week Feb. 22-26. The series, hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Invasive Species Program through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will focus on a different topic each day. The webinar schedule is: Feb. 22 – Invasive Species 101, Feb. 23 – Invasive Plants, Feb. …

I am still just playing around with a depth-finder in my ice hole.  However, I realize that fishing electronics have advanced by leaps in recent years.  It is amazing what you can see on some of the “tools” available right now: You never know what you will find looking down an ice hole! Have a great weekend everyone!  Stay warm!

Anglers in Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, Cass, and Dodge counties; listen up, this blog post is for you. . . . Some of you will be receiving a questionnaire about Flanagan Lake.  That questionnaire will be coming via e-mail. Most of you know that Flanagan is a relatively new reservoir in the Omaha metro.  There has been a total catch & release regulation at Flanagan since it opened.  That regulation was implemented to give the fish community there the best chance …

Finally!  We finally are having some cold weather, some ice-making weather! Those of you who think mild winters are great may want to turn your heads while I turn some cartwheels! However, you hard-core ice anglers are going to notice some changes in the coming days; changes that affect the number of fish you are catching. I have spent a lot of time messing with a digital thermometer under the ice.  You would be surprised at what the water temperatures …