ice fishing

According to many experts on the interwebs, Nebraska’s ice-fishing season has been DONE for a couple of weeks now. BALONEY. Nebraska is a big state.  You have probably heard me say before that the state’s geography and climate changes A LOT from one end of the state to the other.  You may live in the southeast part of Nebraska, where much of our human population does live, and you may think the ice fishing season is over.  It ain’t, not …

You saw the title of this blog post.  It is a title that I have used more than once, but I have never used it in this way. . . . At the beginning of the classroom ice fishing clinic in Kearney a few weeks ago, we started by mentioning some of the reasons we love to ice fish.  I have a hard time talking about that without cracking up.  Yes, I suppose I am soft.  I have so many …

We live in Nebraska.  The wind blows.  If you spend any time at all fishing, you know the wind has a huge impact on fish location and activity.  But, what about underneath the ice?  With a cap of ice to protect from the elements, does wind affect fish behavior? That is a question that Nebraskaland editor Jeff Kurrus posed to me.  Jeff loves to hunt and fish and whenever we happen to be in the office at the same time …

Yep, I have still been on the ice, have been on it as much as possible.  I will give you a quick report of what I have been catching. . . . I have been out in different parts of the state a couple of times.  Spent a couple hours one evening on a spot, and managed one of these! Then of course, I could only catch one.  Walleyes through the ice can be frustrating.  I would tell you that …

By now you have probably heard reports and rumors of low oxygen levels in at least some of our sandhill lakes this winter.  When I say “low oxygen levels” I mean to the point of causing fish die-offs.  No, I have not said anything until now.  Even now I do not have an official news release to share with you.  Unfortunately, at this time, it is something that needs to be mentioned. Yes, I hesitate to bring the subject up.  …

Calendar says yesterday was “Ground Hog Day”.  That does not mean a lot, but there are some interesting little observances.  Unfortunately, I really do not pay a lot of attention to what ole Unadilla Bill says.  Maybe I should? OK, OK, a guy can hope, right? Seriously, I am planning ice fishing trips a month from now! GO FISH!

Mormon Island State Recreation Area in Hall County is undergoing a sewer improvement project that could affect ice-fishing. With the area’s typically high groundwater level, contractors must pump groundwater away from the construction site. So, water will be pumped into Lake No. 1 north of the accessible fishing pier and east along the north shoreline beginning this week. This will melt the ice on the surface of the lake where the water is displaced. Ice anglers should take extra caution …

I had something happen on the ice last week that I want to tell you about. . . . You better believe I religiously ice-fish with a depth-finder in my hole just like every other hard-core ice angler these days.  No, I have not jumped into the forward-facing sonar pool yet, but the Vexilar gets turned on before I drop the first bait down the first hole and it gets turned off just before I walk off the ice.  That …

We just had the classroom ice fishing clinic in Kearney last Saturday.  At that clinic every year we spend at least some time talking about staying warm.  You will never enjoy ice-fishing if you are cold.  Of course layering is the key and there is a lot of excellent clothing on the market these days made just for layering, just for ice fishing! Another critical part of staying warm is good boots!  Good boots are especially important because, well, while …

It’s winter. Snow has already fallen. It’s cold outside. Brrrr … But there is a no need to be a couch potato this time of year staying cozy by the fire for hours or binge watching a dramatic TV show series. Nah, not when there are fun things to do outdoors, that is! There is actually host of activities that can be done outside in Nebraska throughout the winter months. So, gather up your winter garb, here are some ideas …