open water fishing

It’s time to go trout fishing again in Nebraska. Rainbow trout are being stocked in city ponds and lakes across the state in March to enhance fishing opportunities this spring, especially in urban areas. Additionally, the Two Rivers State Recreation Area Trout Lake in Douglas County will open March 12. By then, more than 12,000 rainbow and tiger trout will have been stocked in the lake. All trout caught in the Trout Lake must be harvested and not released. Anglers …

I want to spread the word on some more job opportunities.  Want to be on the front line preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species? Conservation Technician II, 3 month Conservation Technician II, 7 month Again, these are great entry level positions for folks interested in careers in natural resource management, especially fisheries and water resources.  Primary job duties will involve on-site inspections looking for aquatic nuisance species, but workers in these positions will get involved in a lot of …

Seems to be common anymore that every one is looking for workers.  Might as well join the list. . . . Most years we, the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, will be doing on-the-water, angler surveys someplace in the state.  That kind of survey work is labor-intensive and expensive.  We never do a lot of angler surveys in any one year.  On the other hand, as it is with most data we work with, I will tell you that information …

The year 2021 is in the rear-view mirror.  Time to summarize the state record fish that were caught last year: Surface Spearing No state record fish were taken by surface spearing in 2021. Underwater Spearfishing Two state record fish were taken by underwater spearfishing last year, both of them channel catfish.  The first was taken on June 5 and weighed 26 pounds 9 ounces. A little over a week later, that record was bested by a 27 pound 5 ounce …

It’s winter. The daylight is short. The nights are long and dreary. Air temperatures outside are cold, downright frigid at times. There’s probably some snow cover. We are all spending more a lot of time indoors this season, aren’t we? It is that time of year when we get that cooped-up, restless, nothing-to-do feeling that is referred to as “cabin fever.” Stuck inside, too many of us get weary and lethargic and spend long, endless hours watching TV re-runs, binge-watching …

Keyes Outdoors produces a muskie fishing show for TV, Keyes Outdoors Muskie Hunting Adventures. You will not find Keyes Outdoors Muskie Hunting Adventures on any Nebraska TV stations.  Who fishes for muskies in Nebraska? I will tell you who fishes for muskies in Nebraska–Keyes Outdoors!  They filmed not just one, but two episodes in Nebraska last year.  The first of the year marks their new TV “season” and guess what two episodes debuted their 2022 season?!  You will want to …

I was “out of the office” a little over a week during the holidays.  Man was it hard to go back. During that time I managed to cover a large portion of the state, dried a few off while I was at it. Christmas day was low-key.  I slipped out for few hours of fishing–on open water.  Caught a bunch of trout, none of the big ones I was hoping for, but certainly was not skunked. New Year’s Day, the …

You all know that we have a whole list of urban and parks waters where we stock “catchable”, 10-inch rainbow trout in the fall.  There are a handful of those waters where we follow-up with some additional put & take trout stocking in December.  Now, there is NOT a whole list of waters that get stocked in December, so there is not going to be as much publicity.  Here is what I have been told has happened in the past …

Life in the Great Plains is one of extremes.  In recent years we have seen water levels on rivers like the Missouri higher than anything any of us have seen before. Now, they are the opposite of that.  Water levels are low. This may affect waterfowl hunters more than anyone right now, but there may still be some fishing happening out there.  Either way, you need to know this: Missouri River boat ramps affected upstream of Lewis and Clark Lake …

Like many of you this time of year, I am counting the days. . . . No, silly, I am not counting the days until Christmas.  I am counting the days until the “New Year”.  But, remember, my “New Year” starts the minute I step on the ice for another season! Right now it ain’t looking good.  I have seen nothing to lead me to believe we are going to be on the ice anytime soon.  WARNING:  I will get …