Nebraskaland Magazine
Summer is winding down, I know most kids are back in school already, but Labor Day weekend lies ahead of us and there is still plenty of time to take the kids fishing!
Take the kids bullhead fishing before summer is over
It is not too late to take the kids bullhead fishing this summer. Many anglers started their fishing careers at a young age catching fish like “sunnies” and bullheads, and now another generation of Nebraska anglers will have the opportunity to discover the fun of catching bullheads. Black bullheads raised at the Valentine State Fish Hatchery will be stocked at three heavily-used state recreation areas (SRA’s) just in time for the Labor Day weekend. Bullheads being stocked will be large enough to be caught right away, 7-10 inches long. Anglers will want to try their luck at Louisville Lake 2A where 672 bullheads will be stocked. Fremont Lake 3 will receive 1,435 bullheads, Two Rivers Lake 7, 666, and Two Rivers Lake 6 (the “carp lake”) will receive 1,604 bullheads.
Bullheads are a fish that are almost always willing to bite and are great for introducing kids and beginning anglers to the joys of fishing. Before this summer is over, families should take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time together fishing for bullheads at these state recreation area waters. A rod and reel, some hooks, weights, maybe a bobber and a few nightcrawlers or garden worms are all the equipment needed to catch bullheads. Anglers should keep in mind that the daily bag limit is 5 bullheads per person at Louisville, Fremont and Two Rivers SRA’s.
Now before you turn your nose up at bullheads, remember that many of us started our fishing career catching whatever would bite–small sunfish, maybe some creek chubs, and yes, even bullheads! We are not trying to turn every fishery in Nebraska into a bullhead factory, but we do have some anglers who want to catch bullheads.
There are a lot of misconceptions about bullheads, “I don’t get no respect” . We stock a handful of heavily-used recreation area pits with bullheads because we want to provide some easy fishing for beginning anglers, especially kids. Bullheads are usually more than willing to bite, and catching fish is always fun.
That is really what it is about, catching fish and having fun–Bullheads are fun!
