Conservation

Our fisheries field biologists are busy in the fall.  That is the time that we do most of our fish population sampling on waters across the state.  I say all the time that the data we gain from that population sampling is worth its weight in crankbaits.  Simply put, this is how we monitor the health of our fisheries and evaluate our fisheries management strategies.  A really nice secondary benefit is summarizing that data to produce the annual Fishing Forecast. …

Quick blog post here on Halloween.  Do not know about you, but while trick-or-treating, I will be looking for this place! If you see someone who looks like Red Green, that will be me. Don’t worry.  I will only take one. Happy Halloween from the mink with evil eyes!

It has been a while since I have done a state record update.  I usually do an update about this time of year, and usually I have some spearfishing and bowfishing records to report.  This time I only have one. . . Daniel Nelson of Ogallala took a 1 pound 12 ounce redear sunfish by underwater spearfishing back in June.  That fish was taken from a private pond in Keith County. Congratulations, Daniel, your state record certificate will be coming …

Many of you were aware of and participated in our Take ‘Em Fishing challenge this past year.  Obviously, this was another way to encourage more folks, new folks, to discover angling and get hooked on it (pun intended).  Recruitment of new anglers is important for the sake of the sport and for the sake of our fisheries resources! I have also always been a proponent of fishing organizations as a great way for anglers to meet other anglers and learn …

Many times I have blogged about some serious behavioral issues in our aquatic biota, stoned fish, and crayfish that are getting drunk because they are anxious.  Recently, I have been made aware that our aquatic critters may not have behavior issues as much as they have personality disorders: Mighty 4-inch crayfish can be bold or shy These revelations from research leave so many questions swirling in my head:  First, why did I do the boring research I did back when …

I have been blogging for a number of years now.  Many topics come around seasonally year after year, and I am always reluctant to offer up “re-runs”.  Then again, one way to learn something is through repetition. . . . So, I am going to return to a topic I mention pretty much every autumn, but maybe use a different approach this time. . . . I have often said that I am a believer in big baits for big …

Thanks to research in the Pine Ridge, we are gaining knowledge about one of Nebraska’s most criticized, treasured and, of course, misunderstood repatriates – the cougar. Referred to as mountain lion, cougar and several other names, Puma concolor has become one of the most discussed wildlife species in the state. For all of that talking, though, it seems there is always a need to dispel a few myths and provide accurate information to the public regarding the species. Historical accounts …

There was a meeting of the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission last week in Omaha.  Here is the fish part of the news release that dropped after that meeting: Commission adopts changes to sport fishing orders LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission amended sport fishing orders at its meeting Oct. 18 in Omaha. The amendments, which pertain to daily bag limits, possession limits, length limits and open areas and take effect Jan. 1, 2020, are: — The …

By now you may have seen pictures and information on FaceBook about the recent salvage of fish from the spillway below Harlan County Dam.  Yes, I am going to repeat some of that here to spread it around even more, and offer some comments as well. . . . Water is drained from the spillway below Harlan County dam once every twenty years or so.  That draining is necessary for inspection and repairs.  When that water is drained, fish present …

Yes, I have blogged about this before just recently, but the second of these workshops is coming up and we want to get the word out again: Become a certified youth fishing instructor this fall LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will certify youth fishing instructors in Lincoln and North Platte this fall. Workshop participants will receive training and tools to conduct youth fishing clinics. These volunteers will have access to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission loaner …