open water fishing

Short, simple blog post today.  Once again, just spreading the word on some news items: Watercraft access limited, swimming beach closed at Summit Lake LINCOLN, Neb. – A planned water-level drawdown of Summit Lake is underway, prompting the closure of the swimming beach and creating limited access for watercraft launching. A sediment basin maintenance project prompted the need to lower water levels at the Burt County reservoir. Water levels will be kept 6-8 feet below normal pool levels during construction, …

I have been watching the Head to Head Fishing Pro Walleye Series on Lake McConaughy all week.  Two techniques have accounted for most fish.  Both techniques are somewhat uniquely Nebraskan.  In fact it could be argued that they have been perfected if not developed in Nebraska.  Trolling has been one of the winning techniques, including trolling leadcore with big, heavy spinnerbaits–definitely a Nebraska technique.  The other winning presentation has been vertical jigging with slab spoons, “slabbing”–another technique more popular in …

Yes, it has been hot, and yes, my motivation to fish lags under those conditions.  That does not mean I have quit! I have been “around” a bit, spent some time on several different waters.  What I have found has been typical for late summer. . . . First, was some bass fishing.  I should have taken some pictures of the water I was fishing.  It was absolutely choked with aquatic vegetation.  They were not weeds.  “Weeds” are unwanted plants.  …

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – West Cozad Interstate 80 Lake will be chemically renovated within the next week but is weather dependent. The rotenone treatment is aimed to eliminate common carp, gizzard shad and other undesirable fish species, which are detrimental to aquatic habitat, water quality and sport fish populations. Dry conditions are advisable for chemical applications. Recreational access within the treatment area is prohibited while rotenone is being applied. In preparation for the treatment, biologists have been salvaging game fish …

I remembered late this morning that Head To Head Fishing Pro Walleye Series is fishing Lake McConaughy this week.  Their anglers will be there all week, and you can watch the competition LIVE!  Follow the link on their webpage or pick it up on their FaceBook Page. Fishing this first day was tough, the lake was flat calm.  That does not happen often on McConaughy. The most fish anyone caught this morning was four, and there were several anglers that …

Several of you have asked about last week’s renovation project at Hackberry Lake on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge.  I was there, helped a little bit, took some pictures. . . . First of all, some context:  If you are not aware of the work being done on the Valentine Refuge, it has been cussed and discussed over and over.  Please go back and read this, Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Update.  If you are unfamiliar with rotenone renovations in …

Another one of my news blogs today. . . . Spreading the word on a news release: Summit Lake sediment basin reclamation set to begin LINCOLN, Neb. – Summit Lake is being drawn down this week for a sediment basin reclamation project at the Burt County reservoir. Reclamation of the sediment basins on the south and west arms of the lake will begin during the fall. The south boat ramp will be modified to allow boat access during construction, which …

Time for a state record update.  It is the time of year that the spear-fishing and bow-fishing records come in. White Sucker The first one actually came across my desk a few months ago.  Brionna Schafer of Alliance was bow-fishing when she arrowed a 6 pound 6 ounce white sucker back in April.  She found her fish swimming in Box Butte Reservoir. That was a big sucker!  It beat the old bow-fishing state record by just a little over a …

What did the fish say when it ran into the concrete wall? Dam. I will let that sink in for a minute for some of you.  For the rest, let me talk about fish barriers.  You know, things like dams. There are thousands of barriers to fish movements on Nebraska rivers and streams.  Some of those barriers are natural, waterfalls or chutes.  Most are man-made and include a variety of major dams and smaller diversion structures.  Some are as small …

I have long been a proponent of fishing for a variety of fish species.  By targeting different species of fish, you can stay on top of a variety of “hot bites” for the maximum length of time.  If the walleyes do not want to bite, but the crappies are jumping in the boat, well, why wouldn’t you fish for crappies?????  By fishing for a variety of species, the learning and the excitement, never ceases. But, there is something else I …