You all know I love ice-fishing.  While folks shuffle around all bundled-up, grumbling about how cold it is, I am grinning from ear-to-ear because it means we’ve got ice and I will be ice-fishing for the next few weeks!  WOO HOO! However, I have to admit that there is one thing about ice-fishing that makes me cringe every winter–the “catch all they can, and can all they catch” attitude that too many ice anglers tend to have.  Fish are nutritious …

I wandered back into the office today; it was hard knowing we have ice and I should be fishing!!!!! However, one thing I need to do is tell you about our upcoming ice-fishing clinics.  Yes, it looks like we have ice and these clinics will go as scheduled! I promise, I will be off the ice long enough to be present at the classroom clinic in Kearney on Saturday night.  Believe what the “show bill” says, some of Nebraska’s best …

If you have been reading my blog for any time, you know I am whacked.  That is true in many ways, one of which is my celebration of “New Year’s”.  You see, I pay no attention to what some calendar says or when astrological New Year’s occurs, meterological New Year’s, Dick Clark’s New Year’s, whatever.  No, New Year’s Day occurs the first day I walk on the ice to ice fish each year.  Now that is a day worth celebrating! …

A couple of months ago I called attention to a Jason Mitchell Outdoors ice-fishing episode that was filmed in Nebraska, Ice Fishing Nebraska on Jason Mitchell Outdoors! I was privileged to be present for much of the taping last winter, so I knew there was more to come.  Here it is! As mentioned in the video, we had the full spectrum of weather conditions while filming, “There is No Place Like Nebraska”!  Part of the time the wind blew so …

Finally!  The holiday season is upon us!  I hope you are ready, I know I am! Even the big guy in the red suit is ready! Just make sure you do not push it too soon, “Safety First”! And of course, in the spirit of the season, never forget to think of others first! Hope you and yours have a safe, merry and blessed Christmas! See you on the ice!

One thing I will tell you blogging about outdoors “stuff” is it is seasonal and as the seasons repeat so do I.  Finally, I have enough confidence in the weather forecast to believe we have some ice-fishing just around the corner!  It’s about time!  So, you know what that means–my annual blog about ice safety, especially safety on first ice. Water temperatures across Nebraska have cooled to the point where we are ready to make ice.  Duh.  What I mean …

Mid week last week I started seeing some sad news on the interwebs; Bob Propst passed away.  Bob was a Nebraska native and member of the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, without a doubt one of the very best Nebraska anglers, ever! Unfortunately, some folks may not realize who Bob Propst was so let me suggest you do some reading.  My buddy Larry Porter wrote a story that was published in the Omaha World-Herald late last week, Legendary walleye …

I have a warped sense of humor, it is in the blood, comes from both sides of my family.  Found this Christmas commercial on the inter-webs, kinda like it: The deer’s name is “Steve”! Wonder where I could get that sweater? Now let me switch from the warped to the sentimental. . . . I have at least a couple of Patrick F. McManus books on my shelves at home (By the way, if any of you are still looking …

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. …

As I often do on my blog, let me start with the news release: Aquatic Habitat Project at Valentine NWR begins second phase LINCOLN, Neb. – In preparation for a rotenone treatment in 2018, length limits on largemouth bass and northern pike at Pelican Lake will be rescinded Dec. 1 through Aug. 1, 2018. This action begins the second phase of the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge Aquatic Habitat Project. Pelican Lake anglers may harvest these bass and pike by rod …