Conservation

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: Delanie Bruce, Education Manager, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies & Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area and Chadron State Park saw a lot of birds this fall migration season. Over the seven-week period, Aug. 24-Oct. 15, 2022, staff banded nearly 700 song birds between the two stations: 165 birds at Chadron and 527 birds at Wildcat Hills. Bird banding is the process of capturing wild birds and placing a uniquely numbered band around one leg …

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 …

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. …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has been awarded a competitive grant to work with conservation organizations and private landowners to conserve wetlands on two parcels of land in south-central Nebraska. Conservation efforts will benefit the endangered whooping crane and the threatened eastern black rail, as well as common bird and wetland species. The two properties will remain privately owned and will remain in agricultural production, as nonprofit organizations work with the landowners to conserve habitat. The Nebraska Crane Trust …

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 …

A History of a Unique Fishery By Kirk Steffensen, Missouri River Program Manager Paddlefish are a group of ancient fish species with fossilized records dating back approximately 125 million years. They are one of the largest and longest-living freshwater fish species in the world, with a lifespan of 30-plus years, and are easily recognizable by their elongated rostrums — beaklike snout — and lack of scales. Filter feeders, paddlefish swim with their large mouths open and filter the microscopic plankton, …

We just finished our fourth year of the Take ‘Em Fishing challenge.  That means it was time to hand out some prizes! Four anglers win grand prizes in Take ’em Fishing challenge There is nothing quite like a fishing trip with family or friends, especially if a newcomer is involved. Nebraska’s Take ’em Fishing program celebrates that and rewards those who make the effort to bring fishing into someone’s life. At the conclusion of Take ’em Fishing’s fourth year, grand …

This news item will not affect many, but I want to spread the word anyway: Yankee Hill WMA access road project has begun A project to move the west entrance to Yankee Hill Wildlife Management Area along Southwest 56th Street in Lancaster County has begun. The entrance to the road that leads to the boat ramp will be moved slightly north from its current location. It will connect with the old access road further inside the WMA. Access to the …