You may recall a couple of my previous blog posts about hybrid fish, Hybrids, Hybrids, More Sunfish. My intent with those posts was to call attention to some of the interesting fish you likely will encounter in Nebraska waters. In addition I hoped to point out some tips on fish identification. You may have noticed the “theme” in those previous blog posts being hybrids of the sunfish family, Centrarchidae. More specifically I blogged about hybrids within the genus Lepomis which …
Read More »Nuts!?
Nature’s fantastic color show is emerging in the west and north. To me, that means the forest floor will soon be saturated with autumn leaf matter as well as something else — nuts! Freshly fallen black walnuts on the forest floor along a creek bottom in southeastern Nebraska woodlands. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. One of the reasons to take a long walk in the woods during autumn is to gather some delicious, nutritious, wild or homegrown …
Read More »More Cutts
I know some of you are still working on your Trout Slam, and I know this will be of interest to you: The latest batch of cutthroat trout raised in our Nebraska State Fish Hatcheries have been stocked recently. They were all “catchable” size, 10 inches and maybe a little larger. Here are the locations and numbers: Fall is a great time to get after some trout. GO FISH!
Read More »It’s Fall, and It’s On!
Calendar says it is mid-September. The past few evenings have said autumn is definitely here! Actually, depending on the fish you pursue and the amount of time you spend on the water, the seasons started to transition from summer to fall weeks ago already. You also know that our seasons repeat themselves, year after year. As a result, I return to the same topics in my blog every year. So, I am going to dust off an old blog post, …
Read More »3 Fall Mushrooms to Harvest
Double, double toil and trouble … It’s the Halloween season and a witch’s brew is not complete without a moist, edible fall mushroom or two, right? Just kidding. But, guess what? We have an array of fall fungi in Nebraska perfect for your dinner plate. The greatest variety of mushrooms is usually found from about mid September through mid November, depending on weather and conditions. I realize it has been dry in places around the state, but any welcome rains …
Read More »Standing Bear Update
Many of you will remember that we started an angler access and renovation project on Standing Bear Reservoir this spring (Standing Bear Renovation). Beside the renovation of the fish community, this concept map describes the work being done: Weather has been relatively favorable this summer, dirt has been moving and progress is being made. Got a few photos to show. These are some of the angler access improvements along the north shoreline: Here is a big picture view from the …
Read More »Algae Mats? EEEEWWWW!??????
A few weeks ago I published a blog entitled Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Boat. I wanted to point out that a person does NOT have to have a boat to catch fish, a lot of fish, big fish. I also wanted to emphasize that good fishing waters are good whether you have a boat or not–find a way! As an example, I mentioned that shallow water cover often holds fish, even during the summer. Sometimes you just have to find …
Read More »Water Level Updates, September 2023
I know, I know, Labor Day weekend is over. However, some of you will be on the water fishing yet this fall and if you are you might need to know these things: Boat ramp access limited at Sherman, Calamus Seasonal irrigation drawdowns at some north central reservoirs have caused boat ramp closures at two Nebraska Game and Parks state recreation areas. At Calamus Reservoir SRA, the Valley View Flat boat ramp is closed. Boaters can still use Homestead Knolls, …
Read More »Venture Outdoors for an Autumn Adventure in Nebraska
The calendar indicates that it is not fall yet. The meteorological fall has begun though. And I believe that after Labor Day, the fall season starts. What do you think? For me, unquestionably, fall in Nebraska is one of the best times of the year to spend outdoors. Truth be known, it is my favorite season! The days are definitely getting shorter, the air is getting a bit crisper, the crop harvest will soon start, and before long the leaves …
Read More »Labor Day 2023
Quick blog post before, like many of you, being out the door for the long Labor Day weekend! This is traditionally the holiday at the end of summer, and that is the way most of us will celebrate it. However, I guess it has something to do with “labor”? Which brings some thoughts to mind. . . . It is about time we got a break from work! It is just something we have to do between fishing trips. So …
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