How To

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 …

There are three main types of turkey calls: box, pan, and diaphragm. Turkey hunters should be proficient with the following three main turkey calls to maximize their chances of success. Let’s take a look at each type: Box Boxes are the easiest to master. Simply run the paddle-like lid across the lip of the box’s rectangular sound chamber.  Traditionally, chalk is applied to the lid’s underside to create the friction that produces turkey sounds, although some newer models use a …

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.  …

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 …

They are not “sky carp,” “lutefisk with feathers,” “an over-cooked catcher’s mitt,” or trash birds.  Your blogger displays snow geese harvested during a recent Light Goose Conservation Order hunt in south-central Nebraska. Photo by Ty Stromquist of Norfolk, NE. They are classified as light geese — snow and Ross’s geese to be exact, and they are to be respected and revered like any other natural resource! In fact, they are a worthy adversary of hunters and actually great to eat! Snow and Ross’s geese, …

Few things peeve me more than dull knives. As someone who spends a lot of time breaking down game animals and cooking them, having the right tools to complete the job is critical; my food is already dead, and the last thing I want to do is fight with it again in the kitchen. So over the last few years, I’ve put together a collection of knives that I enjoy using most: knives that will take me from field to …

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 …

Started a new workout the other day. . . . https://www.facebook.com/pescadoresdeplantaooficial/videos/1750834808270238/ For some reason I keep getting funny looks from people.  But, I have to admit I am not getting as many from the ladies in Yoga pants as I was when I started.  You would think they never saw a guy in chest waders before! GO FISH! And, Big fish matter. EDITOR’S NOTE:  The video ain’t actually me, but it has been making the rounds on the inter-webs lately.  …

I have been blessed to have opportunities to fish with some really good anglers.  Had another couple days on the ice deep in the Nebraska sandhills doing that again this winter. It all started when a buddy let me know he had a legendary ice angler coming down to spend some time chasing big Nebraska bluegills.  He invited me to come out and fish with them.  It took some shuffling of my schedule, but I jumped at the chance.  Who …

I am always touting the diversity of fishing opportunities Nebraska has to offer; I believe that is one of the unique things we do offer anglers in the state.  That certainly includes cold-water fisheries that are capable of supporting trout year-round.  No, I am not talking about the urban and parks waters where we stock put & take trout in the fall, winter and early spring, I am talking about some of the prettiest places in the state where we …