Conservation

I hesitate to post this on my blog because I do not have any new information.  On the other hand, I continue to hear lots of questions and a lot of misinformation about our sandhill lakes. . . . Yes, the winter of 2022-2023 was a hard one and we saw widespread winterkill on sandhill lakes.  We saw winterkill on lakes that have not had an event like that in a long, long time.  So, yes, there are some lakes …

You’re not into ice fishing, are you? I though so. I bet you wish there were some open-water fishing options? Guess what? You’re in luck, there are! Open-water fishing options exist in Nebraska during this – the coldest part of the year. These involve trout, coolwater streams and even an opportunity to work on completing your Trout Slam challenge. So, check conditions, pack the snacks and drinks, grab the neoprene waders and gloves, rig the rod and put gas in …

Been a while since I posted any fishing commercials for my Friday blog post.  Got one today: Do not care if it is a Scheel’s commercial or not.  “It’s time to walk on water”! YES! Hope you get to do some walking this weekend!  And maybe even a little heavy lifting!

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 …

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 …

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 …

One young woman’s journey to becoming a hunter By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley Harleigh Lisius wasn’t born into a hunting family, but she always knew she wanted to do it. The daughter of a fourth-generation farmer, the 23-year-old grew up among cattle, corn and beans near Juniata and spent countless hours playing in the shelterbelt on the farm, fishing her grandparents’ pond or camping. Every Thanksgiving, highly-anticipated visits from her aunt and uncle brought exciting tales of the couple’s lives as wildlife …

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 …

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 …

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 …