Conservation

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 …

If I miss a fish, first thing I do is look at the hook.  At times the size may need to be adjusted, but always you have to make sure it is sharp! I found this on the interwebs.  It will help you get it right! https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYg-rOAJm-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link You can tell when I have been sharpening hooks, my thumbs and thumbnails look like pin cushions. Have a great weekend!  FISH ON!

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 …

I have had this video for a while.  Love the kid, love the fish, love the reaction.  That right there is what it is all about! https://www.facebook.com/Cabelas/videos/927973147723181/ Once again, you have plenty of time to participate in our Take ‘Em Fishing Challenge.  As if you need any other reason to find a kid, someone new, and take ’em fishing. Do it.  Do it this weekend.  Your lives will be better for it!

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 …

You have heard of “dad jokes”; in fact you probably have a few. I was reviewing some tunes the other day and realized I also have a repertoire of “dad songs”.  You know what I am talking about.  Your kids roll their eyes too. On long road trips I would occasionally pop the ole cassette tape in and play this one:  (It was a cassette, not an 8-track).  (Oh yes, I am serious, I have a cassette with this song …

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 …

Got another news item today.  You may have seen the news release already.  If you have, ignore me.  If not, well, that is exactly why I am spreading this around: Hackberry Lake to be chemically renovated Aug. 9 LINCOLN, Neb. – Hackberry Lake on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge will be chemically renovated the week of Aug. 9 as part of the ongoing Aquatic Habitat Project on the refuge. The rotenone treatment is aimed to eliminate common carp, an undesirable …