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My ice-scraper went to work this week for the first time in months. Some may lament this annual milestone and the coming of winter, but each scrape gets me more excited for ice-fishing and the soon-to-come season of fun on the hardwater – even if I am just a few days removed from a more summer-like scene of comparable enjoyment. With abundant sunshine and near perfect temperatures Sunday, Smith Lake Wildlife Management Area in Sheridan County reeled in my son …

It had been a frustrating autumn evening, one that felt right, but had resulted in no fish.  I was on my third lure change already. He appeared suddenly.  I had my head and head-lamp down tying on a bait; all of a sudden he was standing right beside me, peering into my tackle box.  Where he came from or how he arrived unnoticed at my side, I have no idea.  He was just there. An old gentleman with thick glasses, a well-worn seed corn …

I am a bird hunter. Shaped by my experiences.  A product of my surroundings.  As I was growing up the opening of bird season was a grand celebration that rivaled any holiday gathering or football game.  Family reunited, old friends came back and you even had a chance of running into an orange-vested celebrity or two.  In fact, as a hunter you kinda felt like a celebrity with all the welcome signs and hunter breakfasts. Read a couple (or more) …

Ring-necked pheasants are really a lot like us humans. They live their lives on a fairly predictable, routine basis. When a pheasant hunter learns to understand that schedule and interrupt the pattern, he or she will be on the path to having increased opportunities for success. Pheasants begin their day waking at roost sites, usually in areas of short to intermediate height grass or weeds where they have spent the night. At first light, they head for roadsides or other areas …

Just in time for Halloween, I have to tell you about a fish, a “scary” fish. . . . As I have mentioned in a couple of blog posts in recent weeks, our Nebraska paddlefish snagging season is in “full swing” during the month of October (a little World Series lingo there).  We have had a new state record paddlefish caught during this year’s season, Stop the Presses, BIG FISH!, and recently I have shared some other interesting paddlefish news items, …

If you look close at the 2015 Fishing Guide, the list of public fishing areas in the back, southeast region, you will find this line:  Duck Creek #12 (Nemaha County)–65 acres, 3.5 W, 1 N of Peru.  Dam scheduled to be built 2015-2016.  I am betting most have not seen that line, have not thought anything about it.  But, there is a new reservoir being built in southeast Nebraska! The project is a flood-control reservoir being built by the Nemaha …

You’re walking in chest-high grass along the edge of a harvested cornfield when suddenly the hunting dog freezes and then leans toward a patch of thicker grass and bramble. You approach it with stealth. A flash of color suddenly rises out of the grass. Everyone yells: “Rooster!” It’s a rooster ring-necked pheasant. You know that you have a scenario for a safe shot. You raise your shotgun reminding yourself to aim slightly beyond the target and follow through with the shot.” You squeeze the trigger. The shot rings out. “Boom!” The rooster goes down. The dog retrieves the …

Nebraska truly has a great diversity of fall colors to see from one corner of the state to the other.  This year it seems to me that our fall colors are a little late; we have had a relatively wet year and so far a mild fall.  Every year is just a little bit different.  However, there are some other fall colors that are right on time. . . . Almost all Nebraska fish spawn in the spring and summer. …

Yep, Still a Really Big Fish October is paddlefish snagging season on the Missouri River in northeast Nebraska.  Paddlefish are BIG, weird-looking fish and for those reasons they generate a lot of interest.  Last week I blogged about the new state record paddlefish that was caught on the ninth of this month, Stop the Presses, BIG FISH!  If you want to learn some more about that fish and the angler, Tom Keller, check out this video: There is an additional story, and …

Conestoga, Finally Our Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation project at Conestoga Reservoir west of Lincoln is finally getting off the ground! Aquatic Habitat Project to Begin at Conestoga Reservoir LINCOLN – The rehabilitation of the reservoir at Conestoga State Recreation Area is underway. The outlet structure will be modified in preparation for a project to improve aquatic habitat, water quality and angler access. Visitors can expect to encounter areas closed to public access near construction equipment and work areas. The reservoir has …