Fishing

LINCOLN – The chemical rotenone has been applied at Omaha’s Wehrspann Lake in order to remove gizzard shad. Gizzard shad are susceptible to a low dose of rotenone while fish such as largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish and crappie are less affected. Low dosages of rotenone are done at low water temperatures to increase its effectiveness on shad and lower impacts on nontarget species. “Gizzard shad are targeted for removal because they are a detrimental species in small reservoirs such …

LINCOLN – Operators of boat repair shops and marinas can play a vital role in the fight against aquatic invasive species (AIS). The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is interested in providing these operators free training in watercraft decontamination procedures. With increasing concern about the spread of AIS such as quagga and zebra mussels via watercraft, Game and Parks is looking to partner with those operators as a preventative measure. Over the years, several boats that had live zebra mussels …

LINCOLN – Learn the basics of ice fishing or pick up a few new tips at three free Discover Ice Fishing clinics in January. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host a clinic Jan. 14 at Lake Wanahoo State Recreation Area (west boat ramp) from 1 – 4 p.m. On Jan. 21, the Nebraska Fish and Game Association will host a classroom clinic at Yanney Heritage Park’s Environmental Resource Center in Kearney from 8 a.m. – noon. This clinic …

No matter what kind of fish you pursue, you likely have a tackle box that contains a variety of soft plastic baits, “rubber” worms, grubs, crayfish, flukes, swimbaits, etc., etc.  Those baits are very effective and most anglers use them at least part of the time.  Some of us use them A LOT!  In the course of a day on the water, especially if fish are being caught, those plastic baits will take some abuse and need replacement.  So, then …

It is late November again and time to head out the door for Grandma’s house for the annual Thanksgiving feast.  This year I started doing some research on the origins of Thanksgiving, but I did not go far before it made my head hurt.  Like many things related to history, there is some debate as to origins, exact times and places, etc., etc.  In addition to the United States and Canada, there are some other places that observe thanksgiving holidays, …

There is a little pond at Platte River State Park.  It is open for catch & release fishing for kids and adults fishing with their kids.  As my kids were growing up, we took advantage of that fishing opportunity as much as possible; there were, and still are, some big Bluegills and Channel Catfish and lots of Largemouth Bass swimming in the Jenny Newman pond (Growing Up Jenny Newman). This fall it is time for the ole pond to get …

You know what they say, “All fishermen are liars except you and me, and sometimes I wonder about you.” Yep, you have to ask the right questions, but even then we can be really vague with our answers: Seriously, the mental approach to fishing fascinates me.  I have found it very interesting that some of the best professional and tournament anglers intentionally avoid getting fishing reports from a body of water they intend to fish.  In fact some of the …

Time again for an update on the state record “front”.  I have a handful to tell you about, plus another close call.  This time most of the activity has been in the bowfishing category, but I have one underwater spearfishing record to report, and one rod & reel record. . . . Rod & Reel Nine-year old Alex Weinrich from Pierce was fishing up on the Missouri River in Cedar County on October 14 when he reeled in a new …

A couple weeks ago I noted that fall is a busy time for our fisheries division field biologists (Standard Surveys).  I believe by now most of that field work has been finished, and now there will be some processing of samples and data followed by some report-writing in the coming winter months. Last week I got an e-mail from Dr. Kevin Pope at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln reminding me that some of the students there got their hands fishy while …

There is nothing worse than losing a big fish: “Sorry Hunny, that fish is gawwn.” Ouch, afraid to say, I know the feeling, so do you. That video advertises good line; equipment failure certainly is one reason you can lose a fish. . . . So is operator error.  But, I would say that other than those excuses, which would be good blogs for another day, the biggest reason fish are lost is because the hooks were not sharp!  Sharp …