Barbs and Backlashes

I know, I know, Labor Day weekend is over.  However, some of you will be on the water fishing yet this fall and if you are you might need to know these things: Boat ramp access limited at Sherman, Calamus Seasonal irrigation drawdowns at some north central reservoirs have caused boat ramp closures at two Nebraska Game and Parks state recreation areas. At Calamus Reservoir SRA, the Valley View Flat boat ramp is closed. Boaters can still use Homestead Knolls, …

Quick blog post before, like many of you, being out the door for the long Labor Day weekend!  This is traditionally the holiday at the end of summer, and that is the way most of us will celebrate it.  However, I guess it has something to do with “labor”?  Which brings some thoughts to mind. . . . It is about time we got a break from work! It is just something we have to do between fishing trips. So …

Lake Ogallala fishery to be renovated this fall The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has announced plans for a fall renovation of the Lake Ogallala fishery. Deteriorated aquatic habitat conditions and declining sportfish populations have prompted this renovation. To ensure safety, some temporary closures will be implemented. In late September, the lake water levels will be lowered and an approved fish toxicant will be applied to eliminate the existing fish population. The Lake Ogallala East and West campgrounds will be …

Want to highlight a couple of brief news updates in my blog today.  First, this one on the Public Lands Atlas: 2023-2024 Public Access Atlas now available There are more than a million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout Nebraska. The recently published 2023-2024 Public Access Atlas identifies and consolidates these public access resources for the benefit of Nebraska’s hunters, trappers and anglers. Printed copies of this year’s atlas are available at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission headquarters and soon …

This post has nothing to do with Nebraska, or fishing in Nebraska. It does have everything to do with fishing, and is a great story.  Give it a read! https://www.thecoastlandtimes.com/2022/10/04/man-reunited-with-rod-and-reel-50-years-after-outer-banks-fishing-trip-took-a-turn-for-the-worse/ If you have fished for a while, you might have a story or two about lost fishing rods.  Off the top of my head, a couple come to mind, funny, both from ice-fishing.  One of them, Grove Lake never did return.  The other, we could see the buoyant handle of …

Have heard or seen comments from several anglers recently surprised at catching catfish, some of them big catfish, on artificial lures!  That really is not unusual.  In fact, catfish are more predators than they are scavengers! Before I go any further, let me define some terms:  Nebraska is home to three species of large catfish, channel, flathead and blue.  Two of those species, blue and flathead catfish are especially predatory.  By far the best bait for flatheads is a lively …

Got a couple of access updates I want to spread around.  First, this news release was published recently: Boaters beware: Low water levels at Elwood Reservoir Water levels at Elwood Reservoir in Gosper County are dropping rapidly, affecting boating access to the water body. Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District is reducing reservoir water levels so repairs can be made along the dam and pump station areas. As water levels drop, sediment at the bottom of the boat ramp …

I already shared this on my FaceBook page this week.  Am also going to put it in a blog post and make some additional comments. . . . Saw this on the Tall Tales of Roger Welsch FaceBook page.  Thought it was right on! In the parts of Nebraska where I grew up, everyone did the finger wave.  Growing older I ended up spending more time in more urban areas and I noticed a lot less of the “waving”.  Why …

I hear the questions and comments all the time:  “Where is a good place to fish from shore?”  “Where can I catch __________ (fill in blank with favorite fish), without a boat?” I realize that in some cases those asking the question are looking for ease of access, perhaps someplace to take the kids and grandparents fishing.  However, my usual response, at least to myself, is don’t make no difference if you have a boat or not.  A good place …

This booklet is not new, it has been out for a while.  However, in the process we had a web page upgrade and links were updated.  So, I am going to mention this now, it is not new, but you might not have seen it yet. . . . We updated our I-80 lakes booklet.  This booklet includes the interstate lakes of course, and also a few other waters close to the I-80 corridor.  The idea is this is your …