Nebraskaland Magazine

Have a learning opportunity I want to publicize: Ponca SP hosting beginner fly-fishing, fly-tying class Anglers can learn the basics of fly-fishing and fly-tying at a workshop April 27 at Ponca State Park. This workshop, hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and taught by members of the Cornhusker Fly Fishers Club, will prepare participants to catch trout and panfish this spring. The event will take place 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Education Center. The cost is $25 per …

Sometimes you just need to pull over, put it in park, and de-stress for a little bit.  Of course the best way to do that is by spending time on the water.  Regrettably, some days a person cannot do that. On days like that, when the next best thing will have to do, why not just take some time to watch some trout rising?! The great thing about that video is that it is over an hour long!  Take as …

Egg shape, color and size are remarkable adaptations for successful reproduction.  By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist Eggs are fascinating biological structures that serve as the cornerstone of reproduction for numerous species across the animal kingdom. From the familiar chicken egg to the exotic eggs of reptiles and insects, the world of animal eggs is as diverse as the species that lay them. In this article, we explore the various types of eggs laid by different species and uncover the …

The morel mushroom hunting season is literally upon us. We’re on the cusp of it along river bottoms in eastern Nebraska. A few morels have been found. The Nebraska Morels Facebook Page indicates that some morels are also being found. This is the beginning of the morel mushroom harvest season in Nebraska! So how do we really know when morels will emerge? Among the primary indicators of morels emerging are dandelion flowers, garlic mustard seedlings, tree buds, plum blossoms, and …

I have posted a series of blogs on hybrid fish.  Hopefully, those have increased awareness of these fish in our waters and provided some tips on fish identification.  Want to return to that series today. . . . First, let me define some terms.  If you looked at the title, I used a pointy-headed term, the family name for the pike family, esocids.  Members of the pike family found in Nebraska would be grass pickerel (specifically a subspecies of redfin …

What’s your go-to excuse after missing an easy shot? The Hunt Nebraska Crew discusses the best excuses for missing your target. Hunt Nebraska · Missed Shot Excuses Hunt Nebraska is the official page to share insight into Nebraska’s hunting and shooting sports community. Follow us to join other like-minded hunting and shooting sports enthusiasts to share stories, skills, tips and techniques about hunting in Nebraska. Follow Hunt Nebraska on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/HuntNebraskaNGPC.

You have just read the title to this blog and you’re thinking ‘Whoa! What? Wagner is way off base with this one!’ PL-EASE … Allow me, the avid forager, to explain. Now that spring has sprung and while you wait for your morel mushrooms to emerge, some of the more prolific, more accessible wild edible foods are making their initial appearances … in your yard! No kidding! This is the time of year when when edible wild plants emerge and …

Want to mention a couple of things today, both of them related to walleyes. . . . First of all, we are in the middle of our annual walleye egg collections.  If you have been on Sherman or Merritt reservoirs, you likely have, or will see our crews, and nets.  If you want some more idea of what they are doing, may I suggest an old blog post, Walleye Spawn. If you see the nets in the water, please avoid …

By Gerry Steinauer, Botanist Like other nature photographers, I often return to a prairie or woodland for another round of photographs. Sometimes it is because Mother Nature does not cooperate — the light is bad or it is too windy to take close-up photos. Other times, the subjects do not cooperate. They won’t sit still, or I’m unable to creep close enough. Lastly, I occasionally do something that is mechanically boneheaded with my camera that results in poor photos or …

Stumbled onto a fish story I enjoyed reading.  If you have some time this weekend, you might like to read it too: Muskie Stealing Preacher Unfortunately, people can get crazy when it comes to catching fish, especially big fish. Muskies on set lines???!!!  Like I said, some people get crazy. If you need an excuse to read the story, make sure you see the photo of the fish mount at the end.  What a beaut!  Ha. Just another example of …