How To

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn all aspects of bow fishing at a clinic July 29-30 at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. Participants will learn basic bow fishing skills, including knowledge of archery equipment and fish identification. The free event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at CenturyLink Lake. A park entry permit is required.

A couple weeks ago I had a little fun with a story I read about researchers getting crayfish drunk, And Now Even Our Crayfish Are Drunk!  Sometimes I wonder if anyone appreciates my pointy-headed sense of humor?  Previously in my blog, I have warned that fish biologist types tend to be a little warped. Hey, I resemble that remark! Then I got to thinking, there is some serious crayfish biology I can tell you about, should tell you about . …

Happens every year about this time, I hear reports of folks catching “blue” catfish, here, there, lots of different waters.  Problem is, they really ain’t blue catfish.  They are just big ole male channel catfish getting ready to spawn.  So, if you will bear with me playing the role of pointy-headed fish biologist, again, for a bit, let me give a little lesson in fish identification. . . . We have three large catfish species in Nebraska waters, channel, blue …

I want to call attention to some news from the past week.  Let me repeat the news release here: Low water levels at Ice House Pond on Fort Robinson State Park CRAWFORD, Neb. – A broken dam board in the outlet structure at the lower Ice House Pond on Fort Robinson State Park caused the water level to drop about 10 feet during the weekend. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has been in the process of designing aquatic habitat …

Heading north again to meet with my friends in the Siouxland Fly Fishing Club.  They meet every month at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center on the edge of Sioux City.  If I remember right, they get together to do a little fly-tying at 9:00 a.m., meeting starts at 10:00, and I will start rambling some time shortly after that.  This time I have a program on the role of fish stocking in fisheries management to share with them. Once again …

I do not think I am that old, but I suppose I am old enough that this old dog has new tricks, new technology, to learn about.  I was forced to upgrade to a “smart” phone a few weeks ago, still learning how to use that.  Thank goodness I have kids that can teach me! Gonna branch out and try something else new tomorrow.  I am going live on FaceBook! Yep, tomorrow, June 22, 12:00 noon, central time, FaceBook Live …

Why do some people get perplexed when they see someone release a massive, master angler-sized catfish? After all, catfish, even the larger ones, sure taste good, don’t they? So why is it every time we see an angler report or a social media post mention or show a picture of a large catfish they have put back in the water, a spirited discussion most likely ensues over what should or should have not been done with that whopper? So how …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A Becoming an Outdoors-Family Dutch oven cooking workshop is scheduled for June 29 at Louisville State Recreation Area in Cass County. Learn all about preparing tasty outdoor meals in a Dutch oven. The event is from 6-8:30 p.m. at Lake 2’s Meisinger Picnic Shelter. All equipment will be provided. The fee is $10. A park entry permit is required. To register or get more information, contact Christy Christiansen at 402-471-5547 or christy.christiansen@nebraska.gov.

I always say that every body of water in Nebraska is a vital resource and is important to Nebraska anglers.  Most of our rivers and streams are warm-water, prairie rivers and streams; they may not have trout and salmon swimming up and down them, but they do have a variety of fish species and are important resources.  Surprisingly, fish in some of those warm-water rivers and streams have some of the same challenges that folks are more commonly aware of …

A few weeks ago I stumbled across this headline:  “Sociable crayfish get drunk more easily than loners”.  OK. . . . WAIT, WHOA, Say what????? Drunk crayfish? No, seriously, you can read all about it HERE. Apparently, some very pointy-headed scientists have been studying the nervous systems of crayfish and how they react to various stimuli.  Some of those reactions vary depending on the social status of the crayfish, friendly or curmudgeon.  You can read the article if you really …