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Conservation

Release Big Catfish Unharmed

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 …

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Spalding Fish Bypass

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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 …

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And Now, Even Our Crayfish are Drunk!

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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 …

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Panfish Patrol

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You all know that big fish turn my crank!  The biggest, baddest predator fish swimming in a body of water, “GET ON MY LINE”!  I spend A LOT of time on the water each year trying to do just that.  The thing is when pursuing those biggest, baddest, top-of-the-food-chain, apex predators, there never are a lot of them and there are a lot of hours of effort for each one hooked.  Yep, sometimes a lot of hard fishing in miserable …

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The Dire Need for More Milkweed

Seen many milkweeds lately? I didn’t think so. They continue to disappear at a disturbing rate. But, who cares? What’s the big deal? They’re just milkweeds anyway, right? Monarch butterflies, which migrate through Nebraska, cannot survive without the milkweed. Their larvae, caterpillars, will only feed on it. Female monarchs need it to lay their eggs. According to National Geographic, the trouble is not only in Mexico with deforestation, but fewer and fewer monarch butterflies are crossing North America to winter into Mexico, and the …

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Twin Lakes Improvements

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Twin Lakes south of Bassett have been a couple of very productive and popular sandhill lakes over the years.  I just want to point out that there are some improvements coming to those fisheries! Boat ramp improvements planned at Twin Lakes WMA LINCOLN, Neb. – Angler access improvements are planned this summer at Twin Lakes Wildlife Management Area in north-central Nebraska. New boat ramp facilities will be built at both north and south Twin lakes. South Twin will have an …

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Wild Child

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Lately, I have been seeing this commercial on TV a lot. I love it! “This is my participation trophy”! It is summer, it is the weekend, you know what I am going to say, “Grab the kids and GO FISH”!  You will never regret one second of the time you spend together on the water, and you never know what you might catch, what memories you will make!

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Gov. Ricketts proclaims June 19-25 Nebraska Pollinator Week

LINCOLN, Neb. – Gov. Pete Ricketts has proclaimed that June 19-25 is Nebraska Pollinator Week. This special designation reminds Nebraskans of the importance of pollination to ecosystems, businesses, and people’s lives, while acknowledging the creatures that pollinate. In Nebraska, pollination from the animal kingdom can be credited to species of hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, bees, beetles and flies. Lt. Gov. Mike Foley presented the signed proclamation to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologist Melissa Panella on June 7 in a ceremony …

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What Lurks Beneath, June 2017

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Once again I want to give you an update on the sampling activities of our Game & Parks Commission fisheries biologists and give you an idea of some of the fish they are seeing out there! You know my usual disclaimer, when fisheries biologists are sampling fish we do NOT necessarily go out and just try to collect the biggest fish.  Anglers as a group will see more big fish, and often the biggest fish because anglers target big fish. …

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Fisheries Biologists on Horses???!!!

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This blog post is going to be a real easy one for me, I am simply going to tell you to follow a link and read another blog post done by one of my Game & Parks Commission co-workers.  Recently, Justin Haag was able to tag along with a couple of our fisheries biologists in western Nebraska while they horse-backed into one of our most remote, and unique, fisheries to do some sampling.  Justin blogged about it here, Fisheries Work …

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