Tag Archives: channel catfish

A couple of weeks ago one of my many fishing contacts suggested that there are a lot of misconceptions about the spawn period for our big three catfish species, blue, channel and flathead.  He thought that might be a good topic for a blog post and I agree with him! Our large catfish species in Nebraska are definitely warm-water fish.  In fact, they are some of the slowest-growing fish in our waters because they are warm-water fish, and we are …

I have been around, been back and forth at least half-way across the state a couple of times in the past couple of weeks.  As always, the fishing gear went with me, dried a few off along the way. . . . Got a call a year ago from an Oregon State baseball fan.  His team was in the CWS and he was going to be traveling across our great state, wanted to do some fishing along the way.  I …

Judging from the messages, e-mails, phone calls, and just general “chatter” I have heard this morning, I can tell you the channel cats are getting close to spawning.  Why do I say that?  Because every year about this time there are a bunch of mistaken identifications of “funny-looking” catfish.  Simply put, male channel cats get fat heads and darker colors during the spawn, and some folks not used to seeing that mistakenly believe those fish are “blue cats”.  So, if …

I did not spend a lot of time on the water over the Memorial Day weekend, but that was alright.  We spent a lot of time with family.  Never fear, I did spend some time on the water; would have spent more if it were not for a nasty storm that blew up one evening.  From that little bit of time on the water, I can tell you one thing:  Right now the channel catfish are en fuego. Fishing reports …

Found a news release I want to share with you, last fall at the end of the summer irrigation drawdown, there were some boat ramp improvements done at Davis Creek Reservoir: LLNRD announces better access at Davis Creek New outdoor opportunities are coming to Davis Creek Recreation Area, located south of North Loup inValley County, thanks to an on-going partnership between theLower Loup Natural Resources District and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Lower Loup NRD has obtained funding through the …

If you have lived in the great state of Nebraska for any length of time, you know that spring is a frustrating time.  It comes in “fits and starts”.  I laugh at the wild swings in weather, and the wild swings in the mental health of those hoping for warm, sunny days.  Ha.  We are going to live with this schizophrenia for several weeks yet, might as well make the most of it! For example, in this past week I …

We are well into December now and I am starting to get impatient for fishable ice!  Does not look like that is coming in the next few days, but am hearing some talk about colder weather maybe a couple weeks from now.  I sure hope so!  Regardless, my open-water fishing for this year is winding down; I may still make a trip or two more depending on weather conditions, but right now I would rather be walking on the water. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is giving young anglers in southeastern Nebraska an opportunity to catch some larger channel catfish. Game and Parks later this week is stocking approximately 25 cats at Platte River State Park’s Jenny Newman Pond near Louisville and 200 fish at Bowling Lake in Lincoln. The fish range from 2 to 9 pounds in weight. “There are very limited numbers of fish this large that can be produced in Nebraska state fish …

Happens every year about this time, I hear reports of folks catching “blue” catfish, here, there, lots of different waters.  Problem is, they really ain’t blue catfish.  They are just big ole male channel catfish getting ready to spawn.  So, if you will bear with me playing the role of pointy-headed fish biologist, again, for a bit, let me give a little lesson in fish identification. . . . We have three large catfish species in Nebraska waters, channel, blue …

I suppose it is not really fair to blog about ice fishing when most waters in Nebraska are pretty much liquid now.  However, even as I write this there might be a place or two in the state where you can still get on the ice and catch some fish. . . just make sure you are very, VERY, careful. Ice Safety Tool Having said that, let me say that I will be on the ice as soon as possible …