Tag Archives: predator/prey

The fall bite is on, the best open-water fishing of the year is upon us!  It is also the best time of year to use big baits for big fish.  Don’t believe me? OK, now I must post the disclaimers because I learned a long time ago that some people take things they see on the internet way too seriously, and some people do not have much of a sense of humor. . . . That is a picture one …

I set you up last Friday by posting a video that showed Wels Catfish in Europe snatching pigeons off of river sandbars, and I postulated that our beautifully ugly Flathead Catfish might do the same thing (It’s A Fish Eat Pigeon World). This Friday, the birds turn the tables! I am NOT a bird biologist, and I am not sure where that video was taken.  I do know that is some type of small Heron, I am pretty sure a Green …

I have been “out and about” on a couple of trips in the past few weeks.  Those trips were for events where my attendance was requested.  Pretty much everywhere I go, all the time, the fishing gear goes with me and I work in at least a little time for myself on the water.  Yes, that is my job too, but it is also who I am!  It has always been that way. In an earlier blog post I mentioned how …

I have tried to post something “lighthearted” the past couple of weeks for my Friday, weekend, blog post.  Let me take it a completely different direction today, more along the lines of a horror story! If you have been reading my blog for any time you know as a fisheries biologist and life-long fisherman, predator/prey relationships fascinate me.  I often say it is a “fish eat fish” world.  Well, sometimes fish eat a whole lot more! That video clip comes …

I try to keep my Friday blog posts a little light-hearted and once in awhile maybe even funny.  However, I realize my sense of humor is a little warped.  It always amazes me that sometimes even those casual, weekend blog posts draw negativity. Well this one will probably draw some “fire” too.  I likely will be accused of being old-fashioned and “out of touch” with modern technology. . . . My wife and I went for a walk the other …

We are in the middle of the summer and have already had some stretches of hot weather in Nebraska.  No doubt there is more of that in the forecast.  Believe me, I am not in a hurry to get out and fish hard during the heat and humidity, especially during the middle of the day.  But, I ain’t about to quit fishing either.  So, what is an angler to do?  How can we scratch some fish even during these “dog …

I will never tell you that fish are smart.  The biggest trophy you have ever caught in Nebraska has a brain about the size as the end of your finger.  I am afraid those of you who arrive home and announce that the fish “out-smarted” you after a catch-less day are setting the bar very low for yourself.  Yes, guys, I am talking to you. However, I will tell you that all wild critters have an incredible instinct to survive and …

A couple of weeks ago I shared a story with you about a largemouth bass caught recently by the son of one of my co-workers, It Is a Fish Eat Rat World.  That fish had consumed a kangaroo rat not long before being caught.  Recently, there has been another picture making the rounds on the internet, I was pointed to it on the Ice Team FaceBook page. This time the fish was another top-of-the-food-chain, apex predator, and one of my favorite fish, …

It is Friday, quick blog post today, returning to one of my favorite subjects–predator/prey interactions! A co-worker sent me some photos this week of a largemouth bass his son caught recently.  Take a close look at this first photo and see if you can guess what that bass recently ate, look deep in the throat: Cannot tell?  Here is more of a clue: If you have not been “grossed out” yet, this will give it away: You may think that …

I was browsing the Omaha World Herald yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to see a full-color picture of an ice angler holding a nice northern pike.  What was really surprising about this was that this picture and the accompanying story were not in the outdoor section or even sports section of the newspaper.  They were on the back page of the front section!  Here is the story, Report details killing tendencies of nature’s most lethal predator. As you can imagine, …