Conservation

A week ago I posted a somewhat traditional New Year’s blog (Happy New Year, 2024).  You know, I included the customary, happy new year, make some resolutions, blah, blah, blah. Actually, many of you know, my new year starts each year the first time I walk on the ice, drill some holes and pull some fish through those holes!  Admittedly, that can be a bit of a moving target.  “New Year” came at around the Thanksgiving holiday last year.  Most …

(EDITORS NOTE:  I am hearing a few whispers about folks starting to venture on the ice, in Nebraska.  For most of us, we are NOT there yet, but hopefully we are getting close enough for me to do my annual reminder about ice safety.  Do not need to re-write that post, am simply going to dust off a previous one and run it again. . . . ) Believe it or not, I know there have been some folks on …

Forty-five years is very long time for anything, isn’t it? Forty-five years is an exceptionally long time for working at the same organization. Think about it — four-and-a-half decades. WOW! This year, 2024, marks the beginning of my 45th year at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. My career spans a few different divisions within the agency – Fisheries, Parks and Information and Education (now Communications). I will be 62 years of age this year and I started working at …

Friday blog post right ahead of a holiday weekend again this weekend.  Going to keep it short and light-hearted. Have never been a big observer of New Year’s resolutions.  I always figured that if you needed to do something the old Nike motto was appropriate:  “Just Do It”.  No sense in making resolutions or promises that you might or might not keep. However, the end of a year and beginning of a new one is a natural time of reflection.  …

Going to return to the subject of hybrid fish again today.  I already have blogged about several hybrids of the sunfish family, Lepomid sunfishes, and crappies.  Going to move on to another family of fish, the perch family, and a common hybrid. There is no doubt that walleye are one of the most popular sportfish in this part of the country.  Surveys of Nebraska anglers have consistently shown that walleyes are the fish they most prefer.  Walleyes are a fine …

The holiday season is upon us and the arrival of 2024 is just around the bend. The holiday period with the new year beckoning gives us a segue to pause and reset, recharge and re-focus our energies. In all sincerity, this season coupled with the new year allows us to curb our bad habits, improve ourselves, change our outlook on life to a positive one and see how we can make a difference. As avid outdoors-persons, this time of year …

Trumpeter swans are one of North America’s greatest conservation success stories. By Olivia DaRugna, Wildlife Diversity Biologist Trumpeter swans are among the largest and heaviest of native waterfowl in North America, weighing about 25 pounds and standing close to 4 feet. Their large size makes getting airborne quite the achievement. Similar to an airplane, swans need a large, open space where they can gain enough speed, running to take flight using their long wings and shallow, rapid wingbeats to slowly …

Have not given an update on Trout Slam recipients since this spring.  Admittedly, a big reason I have not done that is because there were very few entries most of this year.  Then we stocked cutthroat trout again this fall, and the entries started pouring in! Entries have slowed down again now, so let me summarize what we have had come in. . . . Trout Slam certificates and pins will be in the mail for 28 Trout Slams that …

I know the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery bicentennial celebration was several years ago now.  Makes no difference, my family and I still enjoy dropping in on the Lewis & Clark Visitor Center.  That beautiful facility overlooks the Missouri River just outside Nebraska City. We spent an afternoon there again recently with family that was in town.  We did not frequent the hiking trails nor any of the outdoor exhibits this trip.  There was plenty to see and learn …

I know many of you look for this publication every year.  If you don’t, you should. Drum roll, please. . . . We will have the “hard copies” available in all the usual places as soon as possible.  Probably shortly after the start of the new year. But, now you know where the fish are at.  I cannot guarantee they will bite.  That is up to you. GO FISH!