How To

Not going to be in the office much the next few days.  Not going to be on the key-board.  So, on my way out the door. . . Merry Christmas! I would much rather wish you happy holidays from a bucket on the ice instead of sitting behind my desk.  Hopefully, that will be the case! I do have one gift that some of you have been looking for. . . . The “hard copy” of the 2020 Fishing Forecast …

No, not that Ralphie, not the one in the pink bunny suit.  Yes, I know ’tis the season. This “Ralphie” That is my co-worker here at the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Ralph Wall.  Ralph has been our radio and TV guy for many years, about 24 of them.  He is retiring at the end of the year.  Ralph has worked for our agency since we had our own TV show on Nebraska public TV.  Many of you will know …

I will fish every month, every year, somewhere in Nebraska for some species of fish.  However, I will confess that there are certain times of the year when I am a lot more serious about my fishing. You might be surprised to know that spring is not my favorite time to be on the water.  There are a lot better times when the weather is more consistent, the fish are less interested in reproduction and more interested in feeding, and …

Quick news item today; there are some more trout stockings we try to get  in just before freeze up.  Here is the news release: More trout stockings for Lincoln, Omaha, Mahoney SP LINCOLN, Neb. – Rainbow trout will be stocked in Lincoln, Omaha and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park waters this month to provide excellent fishing opportunities this winter. Trout are scheduled to be stocked at Lincoln’s Holmes Lake and Bowling Lake (south pond) and Mahoney’s CenturyLink Lake on Dec. …

Found this meme on Respect the Fish FaceBook page.  I like it.  What’s not to like about a Patrick F. McManus quote? Besides that, I resemble that remark! Am I crazy?  Yep, crazy like a fox! It is “Friday the 13th”.  There was a full moon this week, AND I saw a black squirrel in my backyard this morning. What does it all mean? Hopefully, it means ice, SOON! Have a great weekend!

Starting to hear a few reports of folks venturing onto the ice in parts of Nebraska.  As I warned a few weeks ago, now it is time for my obligatory blog about ice safety. I pretty much will never tell you that the ice is safe, “no problem, go fish”.  Sure, there are times in the middle of the winter when we have plenty of ice, but even then I am not going to tell you it is safe.  You …

A few weeks ago I posted a few photos of fish our field biologists have sampled around the state this fall.  I have all the data now and am putting together next year’s Fishing Forecast.  Wait for it, it is coming, should be sometime shortly after the first of the year. Until then, let me tease you with some more photos of fish that were sampled, and released.  These from eastern Nebraska: OK, for the sake of accuracy, this one …

I have received an early Christmas gift from lovely wife of many years – Polly Wagner. What is it? Well, it is a brand-new, in-line .50 caliber muzzleloading rifle that is fully scoped for deer hunting. Thank you so much, Polly! I am thrilled, to say the least! For the record, by and large, the federal government doesn’t classify muzzleloaders as firearms and an ATFE Form 4473 (background check) isn’t required. So, a person can purchase a muzzleloading rifle for …

Maybe you have your Christmas shopping all wrapped up already (pun intended).  But, I am betting like me, most of you are still wondering what to buy.  Good thing we still have time! I am not going to post links to this fishing tackle company or that store.  I imagine you are getting plenty of those in your “in box” already.  However, in my “in box” today, I did find that the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, TakeMeFishing.org, has a …

If you have been following my blog for any time, you know I often make a trip “out west” over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Those trips include a lot of feasting and family time, but usually some hunting and late fall fishing too!  This year was no exception, time to give you a quick report. I like to chase a few pheasants over the Thanksgiving weekend.  No, my hunting partners and I usually do not shoot a lot.  We do at …