Conservation

Commission biologist Randy Stutheit’s experience evaluating duck wings over the years has helped formulate waterfowl regulations across central U.S. Quickly studying a duck’s wing, Randy Stutheit plays a role in determining waterfowl regulations and seasons in states throughout the central portion of the country. But he’s been doing it awhile — 35 years — and that experience means a lot in the Central Flyway, which stretches from Canada to Mexico. Stutheit, a longtime wildlife biologist with the Nebraska Game and …

The Wildlife Conservation Fund The Nebraska state income tax form isn’t known for its wildlife illustrations. Yet, tucked on the second page is a small illustration of a peregrine falcon, along with a space to donate to the Wildlife Conservation Fund. These tax-deductible donations play a vital role in conserving Nebraska’s wildlife, said Melissa Panella, Nebraska Game and Parks’ wildlife diversity program manager. They form the Wildlife Conservation Fund, which is “one of the primary means that Game and Parks …

It’s hot. I will always tell you that you cannot catch anything sitting at home on the couch.  However, when it gets this hot, I have to admit my motivation to go fishing wanes a bit.  I might still “wet a line”, but I will be selective about the times and places to do it.  On the other hand, getting into the water sound like a great idea right now. Let’s go there. . . into the water.  I can …

I try to “lighten up” with my Friday blog posts.  There were a couple of things I had in mind for today, but I changed my mind. . . . I love fish pictures, never get tired of fish pictures.  So what could be better than looking over a bunch of fish pictures? We are in our third year of our Take ‘Em Fishing challenge.  Right now there are 24 pages of fish pictures that have been entered for Take …

There have not been a lot of Trout Slam entries coming in, but there have been a few.  Time to give an update and get certificates mailed out. . . . In case you forgot, the Trout Slam is an angler recognition program we initiated a couple of years ago.  We started it to highlight our cold-water fisheries around the state.  Those are some beautiful places, and there are beautiful trout in those waters.  All a person has to do …

I want to point out some fisheries research work currently being done on the Missouri River in northeast Nebraska.  The easiest way for me to do that is to “copy and paste” a page from our July 2021 Nebraskaland Magazine: As the article says, if you happen to catch one of these tagged fish, we would like to know about it.  If you do not have any other contact information, you can always let me know about it, daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov. The …

There is no doubt “the” topic of the week has been the fish die-off at Lake McConaughy.  Here is our official statement from yesterday: LINCOLN, Neb. – The cause of a fish die-off at Lake McConaughy, Nebraska’s largest reservoir, remains inconclusive. Fisheries biologists from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission are investigating a die-off, in which approximately 1,000 dead fish were discovered on the west half of the reservoir. Adult white bass comprised 99% of those fish. Point-source pollution – …

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, this is the third year of our “Take ‘Em Fishing” promotion.  In previous blogs, I have mentioned the benefits to finding someone and passing your love of hunting and fishing on to them (e.g. Take ‘Em, Passing It On).  I have emphasized the importance of family in establishing those traditions. This time, let me just point out the obvious! Find someone new or someone who has not fished in a while, take ’em …

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 …