Got a different blog post today. One of the things I do in my position as Fisheries Outreach Program Manager for the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission is take care of a number of media requests concerning fish and fishing in Nebraska. With the cold weather and finally some safe ice this winter, I have had a few inquiries from TV reporters recently. I thought this story went very well: Safety as Priority as Ice Fishing Begins There is a …
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We have long had a searchable fish stocking database on our Nebraska Game & Parks Commission webpage. I know this is not news to many of you. That database is one of the most used features on our commission webpage. Then, why bring it up now? Well, there have been some changes to better incorporate the stocking database into the rest of our webpages. Searching the database is fairly straightforward and simple. Follow the link above, or below, take a …
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It’s winter. The daylight is short. The nights are long and dreary. Air temperatures outside are cold, downright frigid at times. Most likely, there’s some snow cover. We are all spending more a lot of time indoors this season, aren’t we? It is that time of year when we get that cooped-up, restless, nothing-to-do feeling that is referred to as “cabin fever.” Stuck inside, too many of us get weary and lethargic and spend long, endless hours watching TV re-runs, …
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I have been ice fishing for a long time. In fact, I have been on the ice so long that I can tell you of times when we had no battery-powered augers, no depth finders, no ice suits, no flip over shelters. In addition, back in the day, the selection of ice tackle was very limited. For panfish, everyone fished with a “teardrop”. That teardrop-shaped jig was tipped with some kind of bait, usually a wax worm, but maybe a …
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Not a big topic to post on today, but I have had several little things come to mind. . . . Happy New Year! Yes! Finally! I celebrated New Years 2024 on January 11! Yes, that means I have been on the ice! However, the conditions were brutal, windy, cold, snowing. I did not fish long and everything was a little more difficult when conditions were like that. However, you bet I caught fish! Dried off several small bass, largemouth …
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Frigid winter weather has descended on Nebraska, and ice fishing is taking center stage in the outdoor community. In casual conversations, whenever the topic of ice fishing is brought up, and I’m visiting with folks who don’t ice fish, predictably many questions arise. The most common one: “Why do you even go ice fishing, it’s not safe, is it? Then, there are these: “It looks so cold, why on earth would any reasonable person consider going fishing sitting on a big ice cube?” …
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I have been lamenting the fact that our ice fishing season is late coming this year. Good news is things are looking better! Of course you know that means everyone else will be complaining about the cold weather. It is January, it is supposed to be cold! I am really pumped this year. Got a bigger auger! Yes, I did need it! Hope you get on the ice soon. Just make sure it is safe! And hope you need a …
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A few weeks ago I gave a little rundown on the fish caught during my several months of fall fishing (On the Water, Fall 2023). Not knowing what our Nebraska weather might be, I have hinted since then that my open-water fishing for the year may not be done. Oh, you know I would much rather be on the ice by sometime in December, but if life gives you lemons. . . . I kept fishing open-water in December. In …
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Quick blog post today. Just want to point out that the 2024 Fishing Guide can be seen online. Yes, there was a news release that went out at the end of December about fishing regulation changes for 2024 (Be Aware of Fishing Regulation Changes for 2024). That news release ONLY highlighted changes for the coming year. That has caused some confusion. If you look up the complete rules and regulations in the Fishing Guide, those changes should make sense. The …
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Wait, what? Foraging for Edible Wild Plants (or Parts Thereof) in Winter, seriously? Yup! Trust me. Don’t stop reading. Stay with me here. Gathering wild foods in Nebraska IS NOT … I repeat IS NOT just a spring, summer or fall outdoor activity, it can be done in winter even with snow cover. I learned this from my grandfather, Frank Hintz. And I have done it successfully. Remember, if I can do it, you can do it! Plus foraging this …
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