How To

Our recent 80 and 90 degree days might lead you to think otherwise but September 22nd was the first official day of the fall season! Summer, you will be missed but I am more than ready for the cooler weather and festivities that accompany this time of year. For me fall is about spending as much time outside before hunkering down for winter. The crisp air and changing foliage make for perfect camping and hiking trips. Saturdays are spent with …

Our FaceBook Live broadcasts have gone well, so we are going to do another one!   Tune in to our Game & Parks FaceBook page at 12:00 central time, tomorrow, Friday, September 22, and I will answer fish and fishing questions as fast as I can for thirty minutes, and then follow-up with some more on-line after that. Naturally, fall fishing will be the focus of this “broadcast”, but if you have other fish or fishing questions to ask, do not hesitate!

Catchable-size rainbow trout are coming to a water near you! Rainbow trout stockings scheduled this fall LINCOLN, Neb. – Catchable-size rainbow trout are being stocked in city ponds and lakes across the state by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. These stockings will enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter. 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 …

The first step in any journey can sometimes be the toughest one to take.  Hunting is no different. If you weren’t born into it or simply just taken along by family or a friend- Where do you begin? There is a growing trend nowadays in adults wanting to try hunting, too.  Some of us are interested in spending more time outdoors, others are drawn by the ability to secure local foods for our needs, and still others are simply getting …

The lakes on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge have been some of the most unique and best fisheries in Nebraska for a long, long time.  Several generations of Nebraskans have stories of pulling big beautiful panfish, pike, and largemouth bass through ice holes drilled on those Valentine Refuge lakes.  The open-water fishing has provided just as many memories. In conjunction with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service which owns and operates the refuge, the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission through …

Heading over tomorrow morning to team up with my buddy Greg Wagner on his weekly radio show, Great Outdoors Show, on 1620 The Zone in Omaha.  We will be on-air starting at 9:00 a.m. Central Time.  You can listen to us for an hour and still have time for pre-game before the Huskers kick it off. We will talk all things fishing, especially fall fishing, and knowing Greg, whatever else comes up.  Even if you are not close enough to …

A couple of news items I want to call attention to today.  These will affect anglers in a couple areas of Nebraska, so even though the news releases have been published already, I want to mention them in my blog too. Merritt Reservoir Merritt Reservoir’s Main Landing temporarily closed September 8, 2017 LINCOLN, Neb. – The construction of a new boat-launch facility at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area’s Main Landing has begun. The Main Landing area will be closed temporarily. …

It is Friday, thank goodness.  I am not in a mood to post anything too heavy on my blog today, so let me tell you a little bit more about myself. . . . In my opinion, the old Muppet Show was some of the best TV ever!  As a matter of fact, I have the DVD sets of most of those old shows; still get ’em out watch them, and yes, I still laugh! A lot of Muppet characters …

I again have a few state record applications to clear off my desk; this is the time of year when they are mostly spear-fishing and bow-fishing records.  Let’s go underwater to start: Underwater Spearfishing Three applications for state record fish taken by underwater spearfishing are in the stack.  All of those fish were taken in July, let me start with the first taken on July 6. . . . Dylan Trauernicht of Gering was doing some diving on a private …

I know, I know. There is nothing like spring wild turkey hunting in Nebraska, and the fall hunting season for wild turkeys, well, it just doesn’t rise to that level. Or, does it? Hmm. I don’t think you can call yourself a true turkey hunter until you have willingly and eagerly accepted the fun challenge and vivid excitement of hunting North America’s largest upland game bird during the fall season in Nebraska. Hunters who have never experienced fall hunting are …