Outdoor notes: Rainbow trout stockings in March to enhance fishing opportunities
LINCOLN, Neb. – Rainbow trout are being stocked in city ponds and lakes across the state in March to enhance fishing opportunities this spring, especially in urban areas.
Trout fishing is a great way to introduce children to fishing because simple and inexpensive equipment may be used.
“Rainbow trout are especially good for beginners because they will bite readily on anything, including corn, wadded up pieces of bread or worms, and are easy and safe to handle,” said Larry Pape, aquatic education specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Remember to take a long a towel to help hold onto them because they are wiggly and slick, and a cooler to keep some for dinner.”
For resources to help beginners or even experienced anglers, visit outdoornebraska.gov/howtofish.
The stocked trout are approximately 10 inches in length. The following is Game and Parks’ tentative trout stocking schedule, including quantities:
Week of March 8 – Bridgeport State Recreation Area northwest pit, 1,400; Terry’s Pit, Terrytown, 1,500; Riverside Park Pond, Scottsbluff, 900; North Morrill pit, 2,250; Middle Morrill pit, 450; Two Rivers SRA trout lake (Lake No. 5), Venice, 13,000
Week of March 15 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 4,000; Ponca State Park pond, 900; CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 2,000; Heartwell Park, Hastings, 450; Suck’s Lake, Grand Island, 650
Halleck Park Lake, Papillion, 1,200; Louisville State Recreation Area Lake 1A, 600; Weeping Water Pond, 1,500; David City Park Pond, 600; Aubles Pond, Ord, 750; Gracie Creek, Burwell, 1,000
Fremont SRA No. 2, 4,000; Steinhart Park east pond, Nebraska City, 800; Humboldt City Park Lake, 350; Optimist Lake, Auburn, 800; Stanton Lake, Falls City, 200
Pawnee City Park Lake, 300; Holdrege City Park Lake, 1,000; Windmill SRA No. 2, Gibbon, 600; Curtis Golf Course pond, 150; Oxford City Lake, 150
TaHaZouka Park Lake, Norfolk, 1,500; Pawnee Park West, Columbus, 1,500; Neligh Park Pond, West Point, 900; Fort Kearny SRA No. 6, 1,200; Lake Helen, Gothenburg, 2,000; Plum Creek Park Pond, Lexington, 750
Week of March 22 – Ponca State Park pond, 600; Fremont State Recreation Area No. 2, 1,000; Niobrara SP pond, 1,000
Additional March stockings – East Verdigre Creek, Royal, 800; Lake Ogallala, 10,000; Elm Creek, Red Cloud, 1,000
April stockings – East Verdigre Creek, Royal, 1,000; Two Rivers State Recreation Area trout lake, 10,000; Keller Park SRA No. 4, Ainsworth, 250; Keller Park SRA No. 5, Ainsworth, 400; Steel Creek, Lynch/Verdigre, 200; Sand Springs, Johnstown, 400; Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area sandpit, Royal, 50
Lake Ogallala, 10,000; Gilbert-Baker WMA pond, Harrison, 600; Chadron City Reservoir north pond, 1,700; Chadron State Park pond, 500; Chadron City Reservoir south pond, 1,700
North Morrill sandpit, 2,000; Middle Morrill sandpit, 450; Riverside Park Pond, Scottsbluff, 900; Bridgeport SRA northwest pit, 1,400; Terry’s Pit, Terrytown, 1,500
Grabel Pond No. 1, Fort Robinson SP, 400; Grabel Pond No. 2, Fort Robinson SP, 800; Grabel Pond No. 3, Fort Robinson SP, 400; Lake Carter P. Johnson, Fort Robinson SP, 2,500
Pond owners should be wary of possible winterkill
LINCOLN, Neb. – Private pond owners should be wary of fish possibly succumbing to winterkill.
Excessive snow, especially in southeastern Nebraska, and thick ice from recent frigid weather have created conditions for potential winterkill, according to Jeff Blaser, private waters specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Winterkills typically occur in small, shallow ponds with abundant aquatic vegetation. Snow and ice covering a pond prevent the water from exchanging oxygen with the air. Excessive snow and thick ice allow little sunlight penetration, so plants are unable to produce enough oxygen. If excessive snow cover and thick ice persists, the plants die and subsequent decomposition, along with respiration by various aquatic organisms, can deplete the oxygen, resulting in a fish kill.
Blaser recommends pond owners take stock of their waters at ice-out.
“Depending on the size of the pond, the presence of 40 or 50 dead fish would not indicate a large winterkill,” he said. “Thousands of dead fish of various species and sizes would be evidence of a major die-off event.”
Blaser suggests owners check for fish, visually and angling, following ice-out to help determine the status of the fish populations. The findings from these actions could indicate a pond is a candidate for restocking.
Pond owners can contact Blaser at 402-499-4041 for management suggestions if they had a major fish kill.
Game and Parks to host virtual Wilderness Warriors event
LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on March 11 for a virtual webinar entitled Wilderness Warriors: Theodore Roosevelt and the Women of Conservation.
This free, hour-long event, held in conjunction with Nebraska Outdoor Women’s Month, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Central time.
Roosevelt brought his love and training as a naturalist to the forefront as the 26th president of the United States, saving more than 230 million acres of land for public enjoyment, including nature reserves and public hunting lands. He was influenced by many women who took their love of birds, hunting, wilderness and preservation as their calling.
Adam Lindquist, a Roosevelt impersonator, will give his talk from the perspective of the president. Event attendees will learn Roosevelt’s story and those of the influential women who changed the American landscape for the better.
Registration is required and can be completed by visiting the calendar entry for the event at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.
The event will be recorded and posted to the Nebraska Game and Parks Education Channel on YouTube.
Contact monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov with questions or for more information. Also, check out the events on the Game and Parks’ Facebook page and the Nebraska Wildlife Education Facebook page.
Commissioners to consider waterfowl recommendations, two-tier duck bag limit
LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider 2021-2022 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 17 meeting in Norfolk. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. in the Lifelong Learning Center, 701 E. Benjamin Ave.
Among the recommendations is a proposal for a “two-tier” duck bag limit option a hunter will choose from for the season.
Nationally, duck hunter numbers have fallen nearly 44% since 1990, and Nebraska has lost, on average, 464 duck hunters per year since 1990. A recent survey conducted by Game and Parks; South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks; and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has determined that duck identification skills are a major factor preventing potential hunters from picking up the sport.
Nebraska has been given federal authority to implement an experimental system related to bag limits. The new season options are an effort to make getting into hunting easier for novice duck hunters.
When hunters register for their Harvest Information Program number, they will choose between two options. Tier I is the current traditional six-duck limit with species and sex restrictions. Tier II allows hunters to harvest three ducks of any kind. Once a tier is selected, it may not be changed during the season.
If also adopted by South Dakota, the state would join Nebraska in the five-year pilot program.
The full 2021-2022 Nebraska waterfowl recommendations are:
Early Teal – Low Plains: Sept. 4-19; High Plains: Sept. 4-12; Daily bag limit: six; Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit
Youth Hunt – Zone 1: Oct. 9-10; Zone 2: Oct. 2-3; Zone 3: Oct. 16-17; Zone 4: Oct. 16-17; Daily bag: Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit
Duck and Coot – Zone 1: Oct. 16-Dec. 28; Zone 2: Oct. 9-Dec. 21 and Jan. 5-26; Zone 3: Oct. 23-Jan. 4 and Jan. 5-26; Zone 4: Oct. 23-Jan. 4; Daily bag: Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit
Dark Goose – Platte River Unit: Oct. 28-Feb. 9; Niobrara Unit: Oct. 28-Feb. 9; North Central Unit: Oct. 11-Jan. 23; Daily bag limit: five; Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit
White-fronted Goose – Statewide: Oct. 9-Dec. 19 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9; Daily bag limit: two; Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit
Light Goose Regular Season – Statewide: Oct. 9-Jan. 5 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9; Daily bag limit: 50; Possession limit: none
Light Goose Conservation Order – East Zone: Feb. 10-April 15; West Zone: Feb. 10-April 5; Rainwater Basin Zone: Feb. 10-April 5; Daily bag and possession limits: none
Crow – Statewide: Oct. 15-Dec. 15 and Jan. 13-March 14
Falconry – Concurrent with teal, youth and regular duck season dates, plus, Zone 1: Feb. 25-March 10; Zone 2: Low Plains: Feb. 25-March 10; High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone; Zone 3: Low Plains: Feb. 25-March 10; High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone; Zone 4: Feb. 25-March 10
The commissioners also will consider staff recommendations to:
• amend Administration Regulations relating to permit fees. The proposed changes include establishing a special season landowner deer permit for residents and nonresidents, establishing fees for big game and paddlefish preference/bonus point purchases in lieu of draw, removing the resident aquatic invasive species registration fee and increasing the boat registration fees, and eliminating the duplicate/replacement fee on all permits except deer, antelope, elk, turkey, mountain lion and paddlefish;
• rename Looking Glass Creek Wildlife Management Area in Platte County;
• adopt Phase II of the Lake McConaughy/Lake Ogallala Master Plan, which would create rate structures for weekday and weekend camping, and create a fee for beach camping;
• adopt fee increases for select state park area activities, lodging and rental facilities; and
• increase the Cash Change Fund, to assist with operations and events, and accommodate shower house coin requirements, at several locations in the state park system.
A complete agenda is available at OutdoorNebraska.gov/commissioners.
Prescribed fires set for Schramm Park SRA through April
LINCOLN, Neb. – Prescribed fires will be conducted at Schramm Park State Recreation Area in Sarpy County through the end of April as weather allows.
These fires are part of an ongoing oak woodland restoration project and will help control the spread of invasive plants. Exact dates of the burns, to be conducted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, will depend on conditions.
Affected trails and roads in portions of the park will be marked with signs and closed during the fires.
North Platte angler lands state record tiger trout
LINCOLN, Neb. – Walton “Ed” Moore of North Platte was bank fishing at the Sutherland Reservoir inlet March 11 when a tiger trout took the minnow he was drifting slowly on the bottom of the lake.
He reeled in the 6-pound, 13-ounce trout, which set a state record for rod-and-reel. The fish measured 25¾ inches in length.
The previous state record trout caught on rod-and-reel was 5 pounds, 7 ounces. It also was caught at Sutherland Reservoir.
Read all a list of all of Nebraska’s state fishing records at outdoornebraska.gov/nebraskafishspecies/#record.
Survey seeks input on Game and Parks’ educational programming
LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking input from underserved audiences on its educational programming.
The survey, available online at OutdoorNebraska.org/communitysurvey, is targeted toward Nebraskans who do not regularly use Game and Parks educational opportunities. The survey is offered in four languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese, and is open through April 30, 2021.
Game and Parks regularly offers educational programming on science, natural resources, historical and cultural resources, as well as outdoor recreation skills, for a variety of ages and at locations across the state. Programming also is offered virtually.
“But we recognize these programs and resources may not be meeting the needs of all our constituents,” said Lindsay Rogers, Game and Parks Education Division administrator who spearheaded the survey. “We want to do our part in learning how we can do better.”
Feedback gained from the survey will be used to determine how educational programming can be altered to reach broader audiences and will inform what programming is developed to meet diverse constituents.
To take the survey, participants must be 19 years or older. Game and Parks also asks that only one person per household or family complete it.
“We know as the demographic make-up of Nebraska evolves, our professional education and interpretation strategies also must change,” Rogers said, “and this feedback is critical to that growth.”
For more information on the survey, or to take it, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/communitysurvey. For additional questions, contact Rogers at lindsay.rogers@nebraska.gov.
Gov. Ricketts proclaims Nebraska best turkey hunting destination in United States
LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters from across the country have come to discover what Nebraskans know – the state has excellent wild turkey hunting. For the fifth year in a row, Gov. Pete Ricketts has proclaimed Nebraska the best turkey hunting destination in the United States.
Nebraska has a restored and abundant population of wild turkeys, including the highly sought-after Merriam’s turkeys in the Pine Ridge. With hunting opportunities in every county, there are tremendous opportunities for hunters.
In a postseason survey, hunters report high success and satisfaction rates, with 97% of resident and 94% of nonresident spring turkey hunters saying they would hunt turkeys in Nebraska again based on their experience in the 2019 spring season.
Permits are unlimited in quantity in Nebraska. Turkey hunters can purchases up to three permits for the spring season and two for the fall season. They even can be purchased, accessed and displayed on a mobile device. Also, Nebraska champions youth hunting with its $8 youth turkey permits.
Turkey seasons are long, too: as many as 68 days in the spring and 139 days in the fall. The archery season opens March 25. Youth shotgun season begins April 10 and the regular shotgun season opens April 17. All seasons close May 31.
Hunters find plenty of accessible sites in Nebraska, too, as more than 1.2 million acres of land are open to public hunting in the state. Hunters and landowners are stewards of Nebraska’s natural resources, and mentors and leaders in conservation. Hunting, including Nebraska turkey hunting, brings family and friends together in a way that encourages appreciation for our natural world.
Nebraska welcomes hunters from across the country who help create an $848 million annual economic impact in the state, fueling the economy of towns large and small, and supporting nearly 9,000 jobs.
“Nebraska is the best place in the nation for turkey hunting,” Ricketts said. “Our thriving wild turkey population can be found in every one of our 93 counties. With affordable permits, accessible lands, and long seasons, our state offers an abundance of opportunities for turkey hunters.”
Said Alicia Hardin, Wildlife Division administrator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: “We have known for a long time that Nebraska offers great opportunities to turkey hunters. We hope the recent warm weather, paired with the chance to make memories with family and friends, is the perfect reason to get outdoors, turkey hunt and get your spring started off right.”
Purchase permits at OutdoorNebraska.org or at Game and Parks permitting offices across the state.
Victoria Springs gets spruced up in time for centennial celebration
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Visitors to Victoria Springs, Nebraska’s first state recreation area, will enjoy upgrades at this oasis in the Sandhills just in time for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission parks system centennial celebration.
Recent improvements mean campers will have 50-amp electrical service at 21 new camping sites. Additional basic camping sites are available on the south end of the campground. Later this spring, two new concrete latrines also will be installed to enhance the shower house and restroom.
The two, two-bedroom rental cabins will undergo renovations as well this spring to make them accessible, increase living space and create new decks with views of the lake.
When complete, about $374,000 of Capitol Maintenance Funds will have been put into Victoria Springs for improvements. Victoria Springs is located 6 miles east of Anselmo and 9 miles north of Merna.
The park, which features mineral springs, historic buildings and plenty of outdoor opportunity, will be featured in a Game and Parks signature centennial event July 10 for its role in Nebraska parks’ history. Explore more at YourNebraskaParks100.org.
To learn more about improvements made at Nebraska state parks, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/parksprojects.
Prescribed fires scheduled for Mahoney State Park through May
LINCOLN, Neb. – Prescribed fires will be conducted at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park in Cass County from March 15 through the end of May, as conditions allow.
These fires are part of an ongoing oak woodland restoration project and will help control the spread of invasive plants. Exact dates of the burns, to be conducted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, will depend on the weather.
Affected trails and roads in portions of the park will be marked with signs and closed during the fires.