Fishing

LINCOLN, Neb. – Catchable-size rainbow trout are being stocked in city ponds, park lakes, and other waters across the state by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. These stockings will enhance fishing opportunities this early spring. Trout fishing is a great way to introduce children to fishing because simple and inexpensive equipment may be used. A spinning or spin-cast rod and reel with a hook baited with a worm will work well. Add a split shot a couple of feet …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Free workshops are scheduled in Omaha and Lincoln this spring for anyone who makes decisions about lakes and ponds or wants to learn more about protecting them. The two-hour workshops begin at 6 p.m. Reservations are required. The first workshop will be in Omaha on March 21 at the Douglas-Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Road. Register at go.unl.edu/OMAHALakes; the deadline is March 19. The other workshop will be in Lincoln on March 26 at the …

Again I am blogging about something you might have already seen, but I want to spread the word as much as possible and there is something upon which I especially would like to comment.  So, as I have often done, starting with the news release: Archery paddlefish applications accepted March 1-14 LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept archery paddlefish permit applications March 1-14. The application period begins at 1 p.m. Central Time on March 1. …

Earlier in the week I noted that I would mostly be talking about Nebraska fish and fishing this week.  A large part of that will be the big show, the Omaha International Boat, Sports and Travel Show.  If you have not seen the video already, here it is: Like every year, our Game & Parks booth will be in the middle of the exhibitor’s booths.  Several of us will be there talking all things Nebraska hunting, fishing, camping, boating and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) events and important dates in March. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. March 1-14 – Archery paddlefish permit application period March 3 – Volunteer Youth Fishing Instructor Training, St. Mary’s Parish Center, Bellevue March 3 – Citizen Science Workshop, Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, Omaha March 3, 10, 17 – Marsh Madness, …

Got a busy week ahead, a week where mostly I will be talking about fish and fishing in Nebraska.  Oh sure, I will try to hit the ice if I have time, but I have a couple of events on the calendar this week. The first is in York tomorrow evening, a fund-raiser for York Adopt a Pet! I do not have a big presentation or anything for tomorrow evening, but I will certainly be around to talk to folks.  …

The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program recently hosted a Beyond BOW ice fishing event at the Valentine Refuge Lakes. With good ice throughout the state it was the perfect time to teach women about the equipment and techniques of ice fishing. During this Beyond BOW, women that wanted to learn how to ice fish or get more insight of the sport signed up to experience something new where they could learn together. Emails of what to bring were sent out …

If you do not ice-fish, I pity you.  Really I do. Another cold front blew through last night, temperatures are back in the teens today and folks are grumbling about it.  Many times this week I have listened to people longing for spring, warmer weather, anxious to get a boat back in the water.  Looking at the calendar, it is mid-February.  I hate to tell you, but we live in Nebraska and there may be a lot of winter ahead …

I am a fisheries biologist by training, and well, it could be said that many of us look at the world in a warped way.  For example, today is “Valentine’s Day”, the day to celebrate love.  But, why is Valentine’s Day in February?????  What makes the middle of February more “lovey”?  Or, would it be “lovely”?  “Loveful”?  “Loving”?  Whatever? Anyway, I have postulated that the only logic in having Valentine’s Day in February is that it is in the middle …

I am thrilled to say that we still have ice and it looks like we are going to be ice-fishing for at least a little while yet.  I have drilled up to 16 inches of ice in the past few days.  Whoot, whoot!  As a matter of fact, the conditions I fished in this past weekend were as “raw” as any I have fished all season.  That reminded me of a subject I have not mentioned yet this ice season–the …