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Fall has been “on” for several weeks now.  If you have been reading my blog for a while you know that means I have been fishing, hard.  I probably fish as hard or harder in the fall than I do any other time of year, especially any other time of open-water fishing. What does that mean?  Does it mean I am on the water sunrise to sunset, three, four, or five days a week?  I wish, but not hardly. Don’t …

Again, I know this news will not be of interest to many, but there have been questions going around, and I want to get this out: Fishing salvage allowed at Standing Bear Lake ahead of improvement project Standing Bear Lake will be drawn down this winter to make way for boat ramp repairs, access and habitat improvements, and fisheries renovation at the Omaha water body. Public fish salvage will be allowed. From Oct. 29, 2022, to March 31, 2023, anglers …

Seems like most of my blog posts this fall have been news items.  I know most of them do not impact a lot of anglers or other users.  But, if you are one who it will impact, you will want to know.  And, I know these things often “fall through the cracks”.  So, in no particular order: Olive Creek areas remains open after wildfire Olive Creek State Recreation Area and Olive Creek Wildlife Management Area in southwestern Lancaster County will …

By Todd Mills Thumbing through one of my favorite waterfowl magazines, I stumbled into the new gear section. It was impossible to turn the page without seeing something I could use. It made me wonder how we did it before all this new gear was available. Long before all the technology and gadgets were invented and used by kids today, we entertained ourselves with things that cost less money. My family lived in a house the size of my current …

Some of you hard cores are going to be on the water for a while yet, but some are thinking of getting ready for winter.  As more put their boats, docks and lifts away for the winter, make sure to remember this: Check boats, lifts, and docks for invasive aquatic hitchhikers as weather cools Nebraskans are urged to check boats, boat lifts and docks for invasive species when removing them from water bodies for the winter. Aquatic hitchhikers like zebra …

They strike often. They fight hard. They are easy to clean and cook. They are wonderful to eat and have tremendous health benefits! THEY are stocked rainbow trout in Nebraska waters. A hooked, pan-sized, stocked rainbow trout puts up a fight as it nears the shoreline of the Nebraska state recreation area lake. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. A major asset along with many of its excellent qualities as a cold-water game fish is the fact that …

Got a message from an angler a week ago who had some questions I could answer.  I get a lot of those.  He mentioned that he had caught a big tiger trout.  That piqued my interest, so I asked how big?  He answered and sent a photo. I took one look at the photo and knew I had seen that fish before!  (I get around, I know a lot of fish!) Check out the markings!  Same exact fish!  I had …

I have not mentioned this in a blog post in quite some time.  Want to get the word out: Game and Parks will certify youth fishing instructors Oct. 23 in Lincoln The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will certify youth fishing instructors at a workshop Oct. 23 in Lincoln. Instructors are part of the Youth Fishing Program, a statewide team of volunteers and Game and Parks staff who host educational fishing events. The workshop will take place from 3-6 p.m. …

I hesitate to post this because after Oct. 15 the road to the boat ramp and around the reservoir is closed.  In addition, the latest word I heard this morning is there is still nothing happening yet.  But, we keep hearing that it is coming: Burchard Lake road improvement project to begin Oct. 17 A road repair project at Burchard Lake Wildlife Management Area in Pawnee County is scheduled to begin Oct. 17. Access to roads, the campground and boat ramp …

Someone once said: “Deer hunting is a lot about nothing.” “Nothing,” seriously? In my view, that statement is so far from the truth. It is the time of year for archery deer hunters and soon, firearm deer hunters, to be on their stands or in their blinds all day long, up to 12 hours … alone. During part of a day off, Nebraska Conservation Officer Rich Berggren of Waterloo allows a photo to be taken before he enters his firearm …