open water fishing

One thing you learn as a fisheries manager is that there are a lot of things out of your control.  Take, for example, water levels, either due to “Mother Nature”, power and irrigation districts, or other entities, we have no control over water levels in many Nebraska fisheries. In recent years, we have completed some rehabilitation work at Twin Lakes in the Nebraska sandhills.  Access improvements to both north and south Twin lakes were an important part of that project.  …

I found this YouTube channel called “RetroBassin“.  There is some interesting “stuff” there and a person can even learn a thing or three. This one was kind of fun: Yeah, I know, that video is 18 minutes long.  But, I am betting a bunch of you watched all of it because you remember a bunch of those baits. Some of the were actually good baits, not just gimmicks.  They caught fish! No, I do not have a bunch of Banjo …

It is mid-summer, it is hot, and that means primetime for bluegreen algae blooms.  There is a lot of hysteria and misunderstanding about our waters and algae blooms.  I originally wrote this blog over ten years ago.  Let me dust it off, update some things and hopefully clear up some misconceptions. . . . Bluegreen algae have become a phobia for some folks.  If you are one of those, you better sit down because there is not a body of …

I watched closely as the guy excitedly reeled in the fish he had hooked from a local sandpit lake in eastern Nebraska. Upon landing it, I heard him dismally say: “Oh man, it’s a damn drum, that’s a trash fish, I gotta throw this back.” At this point, I walked over to the man and casually said: “Hey, that’s a nice freshwater drum you’ve caught. Did you know those are good eating if you prepare them right?” “Are you kidding …

Heading out the door for the 4th of July holiday.  I do not know about you and yours, but this is one of our favorite holidays!  Pretty much every year we celebrate our freedom with “pomp and parade, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations”.  Just like ole John said we should! I promise, I will try to find some time to get on the water too! Hope you have a great holiday.  Be careful, but remember, “It’s not …

Hunters, anglers and trappers have been and continue to be the original conservationists!  How? By buying permits, hunting and fishing gear! Thank you for your support.  Our resources thank you. While you are at it, you better pick up a couple more crankbaits in at least a couple more colors! Fishing is worth any amount of effort and any amount of expense to people who live it, because in the end you get such a large number of dreams per …

I cleaned some “stuff” off the dresser at home.  Found some newspaper clippings I wanted to keep.  While I was filing them away at the office these old clippings fell out: Those would be my maternal grandparents.  The clippings were from the Atkinson Graphic.  I love looking back at those old pictures; love remembering times spent fishing with my grandparents.  I am betting I know the exact farm pond Gramps caught the bass from.  Wonder if he caught it on …

We are quickly advancing towards July.  Natural prey is going to be peaking in Nebraska waters in the next few weeks, and the bite is naturally going to slow.  Happens every summer. In spite of that, I have heard some great reports from a lot of Nebraska reservoirs.  There is still time to get in on it. I have stated before that probably more walleyes have been caught from Nebraska reservoirs on bottom bouncers and spinner rigs than all other …

I will tell you that the days of building big reservoirs are likely long past.  However, some relatively small reservoirs will continue to be built in Nebraska.  Most of them built by Natural Resource Districts (NRDs).  In most cases these projects are in urban areas to provide flood control and perhaps some recreation.  Fortunately, we, the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission Fisheries Division often are involved in the design and construction of these reservoirs.  Our assistance is provided for water …

It bothers me to no end that people have such cavalier excuses regarding why they don’t want to wear life jackets on the water in a boat. In my 44 years at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, I have seen my share of boating tragedies. I have seen the victims of boating fatalities who were not wearing their life jackets. You never, ever forget them. Often the victims died right in front of close family members and good friends …