By Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Summer is a busy time on Nebraska waters. Those waters truly are multiple-use resources. A weekend on most of our waters, especially any of our larger waterbodies will prove that is true. There will be jet-skiers, power boaters, partiers, tubers, water-skiers, sun-bathers, kayaks, paddleboards, anglers, and a couple of kids paddling around in a rubber raft.
Admittedly, all of the activity can be discouraging for those of us trying to scratch a fish or two. Yes, I will admit my time on the water trying to catch fish wanes a bit in the summer. If I do fish, I am very likely to do it at times when the chaos is minimal.
However, I wonder if all the activity is more annoying to the fisherman than it is to the fish?????
Oh believe me, I can tell you more than one story of a jet-ski blowing through a feeding frenzy of wipers. That bite was over and unkind words mumbled under my breath. (Had I thought they could hear me, they might not have been mumbled under my breath.) Have had more than one other angler unknowingly motor in and spook fish. Unfortunately, it happens.
On the other hand, there have been times when fish were caught right in the middle of boat traffic and activity. In fact, on days when the wind does not blow, I would rather have a constant chop from boat traffic than flat calm.
Not only will the fish acclimate to the boat traffic and activity, predator fish will use it to their advantage! They can find and feed on disoriented or even crippled baitfish right where boats have been motoring through. Try trolling a bait right in your prop wash some time.
Other examples come to mind: I have trolled out of a bay with the busiest boat ramp on the reservoir and immediately hooked up with a nice walleye, in the middle of the afternoon! Another time had to quit casting for a sailboat to motor in front of me on its way back towards the ramp. Paused, waited until the boat passed, cast into the wake, cranked the bait down, paused, THUMP. Fish on! Another nice walleye.
Get some peace and quiet if at all possible. However, if it is the weekend and you have to fish in the middle of all the activity, make the best of it. Might be better than you expected.
