Fishing

Yes, there have already been news releases on these, and no, I am not letting anyone know before the weekend.  But, I am betting there are still some who have not heard.  So. . . . Rock Creek Lake SRA, hatchery temporarily close after storm washes out road July 24, 2020 LINCOLN, Neb. — Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area and Rock Creek Hatchery in Dundy County are closed until further notice after a Thursday night storm washed out access …

I have seen a lot of funny things happen at boat ramps.  The hotter, busier the boat ramp, the better it gets. Watched a fiberglass inboard/outboard get deposited about ten feet short of the water one time.  The crunching sound sent shivers up my back. Another time it was a husband and wife team, the greatest entertainment potential.  No matter what, they could not get the boat to come off the trailer.  Back it in deeper, rev the boat motor, …

Have not blogged about this for a while.  I usually “stir” a few folks when I do.  I grin maniacally when that happens; it means some have had to stop and think for a minute. It is mid-summer, it is hot, time to do it again. . . blog about catch & release and proper fish handling. Now, understand where I come from on this subject.  I AM ALWAYS GOING TO COME DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE FISH, THE …

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Visit any fishing tackle store and you might be overwhelmed with the selection of what is “required” to go fishing. There are lures, jigs, plugs and poppers of every color and shape and rod and reels of every price range. The truth is that a stick, string, hook, weight and optional bobber is all it takes to have a fun evening of fishing at the lake. Let’s discuss what you really need. …

Many of you know about the complete aquatic habitat rehabilitation project recently completed at Conestoga Reservoir.  If you have not had a chance to check it out, you need to.  As a matter of fact, a bunch of folks are catching fish there already, although none of the fish are very big yet. There was a ton of dirt work done at Conestoga.  We also built/installed a variety of angler access improvements and fish attractors.  I said you need to …

I do not understand why, but I have had several fishing partners accuse me of being “anti-social”.  They think I am always off fishing 200 yards away, by myself. I do not know what they are talking about, but yes, this is my idea of “social distancing”: https://www.facebook.com/mysterytacklebox/videos/693289968107736/ Which, by the way, has been hard to do with all the folks fishing during this coronavirus stuff. As you can see, that video came off of Mystery Tackle Box‘s FaceBook page.  …

By Jerry Kane Nebraska Game and Parks Commission A well-tied fishing knot can make the difference between a great day and heartbreak. For a new angler, landing a nice fish knowing the hook is secured by a strong knot is a satisfying feeling. On the other hand, losing that same fish with a subpar knot is disappointing – and unnecessary. Beginner anglers only need to learn how to tie a few knots, but they need to know how and why …

Been a while, too long, since I have given an update on our Nebraska Trout Slam.  I am sure most will remember, but in case you do not, follow the link to learn what a Nebraska Trout Slam is.  Briefly, it is catching one of each of the four species of trout found in Nebraska; brook, brown, cutthroat and rainbow.  Get that done, register your catches, and you will receive a certificate and hat pin. According to my latest ciphering, …

Trash. A large amount and variety of trash. Plastic bottles. Plastic grocery bags. Fishing bait containers. Spent fishing line. Cigarette butts. Banana peels. Food wrappers. Diapers. Broken lawn chairs. Old tires. Now, add single-use face coverings and rubber gloves plus empty hand sanitizer containers. Whew! The list of trash items seems endless. So many people are visiting outdoor places and spaces during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In Nebraska, fishing and state park permit sales are up. Float trip outfitters report …

Several small news items I want to call attention to today.  These are not necessarily a big deal, but they do involve fisheries resources and fishing access.  So, many of you will want to know.  Let me just copy and paste the news releases here: This one likely will be true only for today: Calamus’ Buckshot Bay ramp to temporarily close July 13 LINCOLN, Neb. – The Buckshot Bay boat ramp at Calamus State Recreation Area near Burwell will be …