Conservation

Been a while since I gave an update on state record fish.  We usually do not see a lot of state record activity during the fall, but we have seen some this year.  Let’s go back to late August for the first one I want to tell you about: Surface Spearing Matthew Wiederholt of Phillips speared a silver carp on the Platte River in Hamilton County on August 29th.  His fish weighed 10 pounds 7 ounces, and was 31 1/4 …

I fish twelve months out of every year; open-water or on ice I will be fishing.  However, when we get this late into the fall/early winter I am kind of passing time waiting for ice.  Once the calendar turns to December, ice cannot come soon enough. I am still fishing open water while I am waiting, but the water is darned cold now.  That makes things challenging.  Fortunately, trout are cold-water fish, and fortunately, we have some great trout fishing …

I just caught wind of this last week.  Of course as with everything this crazy year, you gotta go virtual this year.  So, check it out, International Fly Fishing Film Festival, Virtual Screening: Lincoln, NE If you need some convincing, go here and watch some trailers. I love the films, they will make you laugh, make you cringe (when a fish is lost), maybe even shed a tear.  If nothing else, they are great “pump up” videos! I wish I …

Our “Take ’em Fishing” promotion 2020 has come to a close.  By any standards, even with the pandemic, maybe because of the pandemic, it was a huge success.  We had over 6,000 entries this year.  A lot of folks re-discovered fishing if not experienced it for the first time.  Here are some of the best stories: The importance of all of this is getting new folks introduced to fishing.  Someone took you, someone taught you, and we all need to …

I bristle when someone refers to Nebraska as a “mid-western” state. We are not “mid-western”.  We are Great Plains. Mid-western states are to the east of us.  Frankly, I have not seen much in most of them with which I would like to associate. Things are different once you get west of the Missouri.  Things are different once you advance west across Nebraska–the land, the sky, the sunrises and sunsets, the people. I was reminded about this again last week.  …

Yes, I know it is December.  Yes, Christmas is only three weeks away.  But, I also know with some warm afternoons, and some are in the forecast, there will still be some folks wanting to launch boats to fish and hunt.  So, I want to get the word out with this news release: Lake McConaughy SRA boating access improvement to begin LINCOLN, Neb. — The Martin Bay boat ramp at Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area will temporarily close to public …

This year just keeps getting better.  Saw this reported today on In-Fisherman’s FaceBook page: At In-Fisherman, we pause to offer our condolences to the family of In-Fisherman co-founder Ron Lindner. Lindner passed away on Monday at the age of 86. Lindner is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dolores, and their seven children and numerous grandchildren. The brother tandem of Ron and Al Lindner were the masterminds behind the creation of the In-Fisherman Communications Network, which launched in 1975. …

The Not So Plain Plains Onion Of our state’s six species of native onion, the Plains onion, though small in stature, has the largest, and in my opinion, most elegant flowers. Unlike the other onions, its flowers are scented, a sweet fragrance reminiscent of hyacinths or cloves. Unfortunately, hidden among the prairie grasses, this uncommon little onion is rarely seen, except when exposed by its colorful May blooms. Rose-colored Petals Aptly named, the Plains onion (Allium perdulce) grows throughout the …

“Other than family and close friends, this is what I love and had made me who I am.” – Scott Smathers, Nebraska Sportsmen’s Foundation When Scott Smathers’ social post came in front of me, it resonated. He’d shared a hunting poem that has been circulating on Facebook since at least 2018, but the original author has not been tagged in those shares. However, the author’s words are worth reading and sharing, and that’s why I share them below.  Because this …

Going to be “outta the office” for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Nope, not going to be the usual holiday.  Nothing else has been “normal” this year, why would it be any different for Thanksgiving? However, one thing has NOT changed, and that is we have A LOT for which to be thankful!  Freedom, this beautiful state we call home, time spent outdoors, friends and family, health, food on the table, a roof over our heads.  Maybe we should all appreciate those …