Tag Archives: aquatic ecology

This news release went out recently: Mayflies a natural phenomenon that passes quickly at Lewis and Clark Lake They’re almost here. The annual emergence of mayflies at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area near Crofton means the insect soon will be plentiful near and around the lake as they swarm to lights from the marina, cabins, facilities and campers. Nebraska Game and Parks asks for patience during the aquatic insect’s short-lived emergence period, which typically occurs in July or August …

I hear the comments every winter, usually in relation to some waterbody or another producing BIG yellow perch.  The narrative usually goes like this, “The perch there grow so large because of all the freshwater shrimp they eat.”  Many times, the comments refer to someplace other than Nebraska, often someplace to the north of Nebraska.  Of course, the belief is the presence of these “freshwater shrimp” is obviously why the fishing is so much better “up there”. Time for a …

If you blog about the outdoors, fish and fishing, subject matter is seasonal.  Same time every year the same subjects are relevant and I will probably blog about them in some form.  I hope people do not mind “re-runs”, but I am betting most will not remember, and there are a bunch of new readers.  I re-ran one last week, got another here. . . . As soon as we have some nice weather this time of year, everyone wants …

Last week I wrote a blog about all of the high water and flooding we have seen in the state this year and the many impacts that will have on our aquatic resources and fish populations (Water, water everywhere).  I am not going to re-hash that blog here, you can read it if you want to know the many negative, and positive benefits we will realize from all the water we have had this year. No, in this blog post …

Gonna start this blog with a news release, like I often do, but then there is more to the story. . . . Major fish die-off investigated at Olive Creek Lake August 17, 2018 LINCOLN, Neb. – Low oxygen levels have caused a major die-off of fish at Olive Creek Lake, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The remaining fish population is suspected to be small. The die-off was reported by the public and investigated by Game and …

I started to write this blog a few weeks ago, actually did not start writing, I simply copy and pasted a really cool video I found posted on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.lusk.7/videos/1933984829965711/ When I watched the first part of the video, I appreciated the cool footage of a mayfly nymph that is common in our waters, likely a burrowing mayfly of the genus Hexagenia.  The video is cool because you can see the gill filaments and the undulating swimming motion of that …

Once in awhile I still get to play a part as a fisheries biologist when folks ask me to assist in the identification of “mystery” fish they have caught.  On rarer occasions I am asked to help identify even more obscure aquatic critters.  One of those occasions happened a few weeks ago when I took a phone call from a gentleman.  I had met this gentleman recently in person when he brought in a state record fish for certification.  I …

A couple weeks ago I had a little fun with a story I read about researchers getting crayfish drunk, And Now Even Our Crayfish Are Drunk!  Sometimes I wonder if anyone appreciates my pointy-headed sense of humor?  Previously in my blog, I have warned that fish biologist types tend to be a little warped. Hey, I resemble that remark! Then I got to thinking, there is some serious crayfish biology I can tell you about, should tell you about . …

We are in the middle of the summer and have already had some stretches of hot weather in Nebraska.  No doubt there is more of that in the forecast.  Believe me, I am not in a hurry to get out and fish hard during the heat and humidity, especially during the middle of the day.  But, I ain’t about to quit fishing either.  So, what is an angler to do?  How can we scratch some fish even during these “dog …

We were sitting around the break table the other day having a deep discussion.  Why do folks like scary movies?  “Haunted houses” at Halloween?  Why do they like to be terrified?  I believe it is the adrenaline rush you get from a good scaring.  And, when sitting around watching a scary movie, besides being frightened, what other emotions do you express?  I know in my family we laugh, maybe a nervous laughter, maybe laugh at each other being scared, but …