Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Spring/Summer 2009
ERIC FOWLER
Roasting marshmallows on the campfire under a starry sky was the way this family chose to end a fun-filled summer day at Ponca State Park. See pages 4-5 for ideas on how your family may enjoy the state parklands.
Inside
Expos, Page 2 Open Fields and Waters Program, Page 3 Dog conditioning, Page 3 Ten Things to Do in the Parks, Page 4 Parks events schedule, Page 5 Hunter/angler recruitment, Page 6 Aquatic rehab projects, Page 6 Fly-fishing, Page 8
These zebra mussels are destructive freshwater clams that originated in Europe and Asia.
OutdoorNebraska.org
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Outdoor Nebraska
Outdoor Nebraska
is published by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Copyright 2009
Commission Offices
Headquarters 2200 N. 33rd St. P.O. Box 30370 Lincoln, NE 68503-0370 (402) 471-0641 www.OutdoorNebraska.org Alliance 299 Husker Rd., Box 725 Alliance, NE 69301-0725 (308) 763-2940 Bassett 524 Panzer St., Box 508 Bassett, NE 68714-0508 (402) 684-2921 North Platte 301 E. State Farm Rd. North Platte, NE 69101-0430 (308) 535-8025 Norfolk 2201 N. 13th St. Norfolk, NE 68701-2267 (402) 370-3374 Kearney 1617 First Ave. Kearney, NE 68847-6057 (308) 865-5310 Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium 21502 W. Neb. Hwy. 31 Gretna, NE 68028 (402) 332-3901 Omaha 1212 Bob Gibson Blvd. Omaha, NE 68108-2020 (402) 595-2144
DOUG CARROLL
Expos are great places for children to learn about all sorts of wildlife. enhance the schedule. Local and statewide professionals will be on-site to share their experiences in the outdoors. The Expo is free and, because May 16 is the Nebraska Game and Parks Commissions Free Fishing and Park Entry Day, no vehicle permit is required to enter Fort Kearny SRA. Bring the family for a day of fun activities for all ages. Also, a special kick-off event for the 2009 Great Park Pursuit outdoor adventure program will be held at the Expo. In addition, a variety of exhibitors will display fishing tackle, hunting
equipment, and camping and boating gear. At the Outdoor Classroom portion of the Expo on May 14-15, students will participate in fun, interactive programs to enhance their knowledge of wildlife and the outdoors. Due to the exciting response to the spring Expo 3,000 students have participated annually in the Nebraska Outdoor Expo at Kearney an Outdoor Classroom has been added for each end of the state. (Julia Plugge is the event coordinator in the Information and Education Division.)
1 2
8 7 5 6 3 14 15 4 9 10 11 13 12
Pursuit
Continued from Page 1 sites participants visit, the more opportunities they have to win. In 2008, the Tesarek family of Plattsmouth was one of 34 teams to visit all 10 selected parks. The Pursuit was a highlight of the familys vacation. Said Karen Tesarek: When we got back to the van, our 13year-old, Andrea, said Finding the places was the most fun part of the whole vacation. I thought that was really something because, in addition to doing The Great Park Pursuit, we also had taken them to the Black Hills, Wind Cave and Mount Rushmore, but she liked the Pursuit the best. Engaging youth in the natural world outside their door is an important component of the program. Of the 1,854 participants from 2008, 900 were
children. Since todays recreation time is often spent in front of a screen, The Pursuit provides an opportunity which allows participants to feel comfortable in natural environments. To build on the success of the 464 teams registered last year, which represented 122 Nebraska communities and eight states, The Great Park Pursuit will offer more opportunities to participate this year. Expanding to 15 parks across Nebraska for this years program provides more close-tohome opportunities. In addition, this years sites include a mix of local, state and federal parklands. The variety of sites selected highlights the great natural resources of Nebraska while raising awareness of locations that offer educational, historical and entertainment opportunities. (Tim Montgomery is the federal aid administrator in the Parks Division.)
Commissioners
Chairman: James Ziebarth, Wilcox Vice Chairman: Jerrod Burke, Curtis 2nd Vice Chairman: Mick Jensen, Blair Dr. Mark Pinkerton, Wilber Ron Stave, Waterloo Dr. Kent Forney, Lincoln Lynn Berggren, Broken Bow Mark Spurgin, Paxton Rex Fisher, Omaha
Director: Rex Amack Assistant Directors: Roger Kuhn Kirk Nelson Sam Sidner
Staff
Administrator, Information & Education: Doug Bauch Editing and Design: Jerry Kane
Outdoor Nebraska Vol. 18, No. 1
Under federal and/or state law, discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, marital status, national origin, disability or political affiliation. If you think you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility or want more information, contact the Affirmative Action Officer, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, NE, 402-471-0641; the Equal Opportunity Commission, Lincoln, NE, 402-471-2024, TTY / TDD 402-471-4693. USFWS, Division of Bird Habitat and Conservation, Civil Rights Coordinator, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, MBSP 4020, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
Printed on recycled paper with soy ink by Jacob North Companies, Lincoln, NE.
Outdoor Briefs
and reels, bait and fishing instruction will be available to participants. Family Fishing Nights are a perfect opportunity for people, who have never fished or have not in years, to enjoy the sport. A 2009 Nebraska fishing license is required for anglers ages 16 or older. The 2009 schedule: May 20 Wehrspann Lake, Omaha, 6 p.m.; May 27 Pawnee Lake, Emerald, 6 p.m.; June 2 Prairie View Lake, Bennington, 6 p.m.; June 9 Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 6 p.m.; June 17 Halleck Park Lake, Papillion, 6 p.m.; June 24 Bowling Lake, Lincoln, 6 p.m.; June 27 Pawnee Lake, Carp-O-Rama, 8 a.m.; July
7 Zorinsky Lake, Omaha, 6 p.m.; July 14 Holmes Lake, 6 p.m.; July 22 Standing Bear Lake, Omaha, 6 p.m.; July 29 Wildwood Lake, Agnew, 6 p.m.; Aug. 4 Walnut Creek Lake, Papillion, 6 p.m.; Aug. 11 Holmes Lake, 6 p.m.; Aug. 19 Wehrspann Lake, 6 p.m.; Aug. 26 Bowling Lake, 6 p.m.; Sept. 1 Standing Bear Lake, 5 p.m.; Sept. 8 Holmes Lake, 5 p.m.; Sept. 16 Halleck Park Lake, 5 p.m.; Sept. 23 Bowling Lake, 5 p.m.
Spring/Summer 2009
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Hunters Checklist
There are a number of things hunters can do before and at the start of hunting season to be well prepared. Here are some suggestions from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Hunter Education 1) Dont delay in taking a course; 2) If you already have taken the course, make sure you have a certification card; 3) If youve misplaced or lost the card, request a duplicate as soon as possible. Go to OutdoorNebraska.org to find a hunter education class or request a duplicate card. Other Hunter Requirements Check the Nebraska Hunter Requirements table at OutdoorNebraska.org for items such as age requirements, permit types, accompaniment, habitat stamps, Harvest Information Program numbers, Nebraska waterfowl stamps, and federal duck stamps. Buy Your Permit Before purchasing a permit, know what may be taken with it and where you may hunt with it. Know the Regulations Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for current regulations. Get Permission Line up a place to hunt private land in advance. Field Care Know the proper field care for the game you plan on taking. Be prepared to transport game. Equipment and Gear Check Make sure everything is clean, safe and not needing repair and sight in your firearm. Train Your Dog Use the summer to get your dog in shape for the hunting season. Accommodations Make plans for places to stay during a hunt.
JEFF KURRUS
Born to Run
A common method used to condition sporting dogs is running. Running exercise can be accomplished by various means, such as running free while hunting, running and pulling weights such as cables or chains, running beside a bicycle, running on a merry-go-round-type dog walker, and running on a treadmill. Check OutdoorNebraska.org for areas open to dog training.
which can be used year round for dog training. Five state wildlife management areas
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Outdoor Nebraska
Ten Things
to Do in the Parks This Summer
There are plenty of reasons to visit Nebraskas state parklands this summer. Here are 10 of the most common ones:
2. Boating 1. Camping
Few things are more relaxing than a weekend camping trip at a state park. Fish in the morning, go swimming in the afternoon, then enjoy a campfire-cooked meal in the evening. Variety is key as the parks have a range of campsites for tents or recreation vehicles. Whether you want a primitive, secluded campsite or one loaded with amenities for the family, Nebraskas parks have a lot to offer. The states many reservoirs offer great opportunities for spending a relaxing day in the boat. You may pull a skier at Lake Maloney State Recreation Area (SRA), fish for rod-bending flathead catfish at Branched Oak SRA, or take a leisurely cruise around Lewis and Clark Lake SRA and soak up some sun.
3. Fishing
Whether youre making an earlymorning trip to a park for some catch-and-release action, or enhancing your camping trip with some afternoon angling for supper, fishing opportunities abound in the state parks. Take the children out and introduce them to fishing. Target a number of species using a variety of methods.
4. Swimming
From the Family Aquatic Center at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park to the beach at Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area, there are plenty of places to take a cool dip in the states parks. Fort Robinson, Ponca, Niobrara, Platte River and Chadron state parks all have swimming pools. Several state recreation areas have large reservoirs with beaches.
5. Picnicking
Pack a lunch and spend a day relaxing at a state park. It could be a short drive to a nearby park, where wildlife viewing and scenery could be taken in during a picnic in the shade of a tree. Interstate 80 travelers can pack a lunch and enjoy it at one of the state recreation areas along the highway.
6. Hiking
Enjoy the outdoors at your own pace on a hike on one of the parks many scenic trails. Take in the Pine Ridge on trails at Fort Robinson or Chadron state parks or overlook the Platte River on trails at Eugene T. Mahoney or Platte River state parks. Ponca and Indian Cave (photo at right) state park trails lead to beautiful views of the Missouri River.
7. Horseback Riding
A different way to enjoy the vistas of state parks is on horseback. Trail rides are available at Indian Cave (photo above), Eugene T. Mahoney, Ponca, Chadron, Niobrara, Platte River and Fort Robinson state parks. Riders may bring their own horses and travel the trails at Two Rivers, Branched Oak, Pawnee, Rock Creek Station, and Willow Creek state recreation areas, as well as Fort Robinson.
8. Canoeing
Nebraska has excellent canoeing rivers, many of them flowing past state parks. Camping at one of the parks is a rewarding way to end a days float down one of the prairie rivers. If a relaxing tour around a small lake is desired, plenty of state parklands have lakes for such use. Bring a fishing pole and combine two activities.
9. Learning
Much of Nebraskas history can be discovered by visiting any of the states 10 historical parks or eight state parks. Learn about Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill and Crazy Horse. See wagon wheel ruts along the California-Oregon Trail. Many parks have living-history demonstrations and dont forget Nebraskas four forts, which have rich, colorful histories.
10. Biking
Fort Robinson State Park (SP) has 67 miles of trails, with bike rentals available. An excellent biking destination in eastern Nebraska is Indian Cave SP, with its 36 miles of trails. Niobrara SP, Fort Kearny State Recreation Area (SRA) and Branched Oak SRA also are good options. Dont forget the Cowboy Trail, which stretches across northcentral Nebraska.
Spring/Summer 2009
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Scenic area includes excellent fishing and modern campground. May 16: kids fishing clinic.
Home of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day, features a 52-room mansion with period furnishings, carriage house and arboretum. Sept. 19-20: Applejack Festival, fine arts show.
restored buildings, modern and primitive camping, cabin and lodging facilities available from mid-April to mid-November. Restaurant open daily from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. March 21-24: Fire School; April 3-4: Boy Scout Tree Plant; April 23-26: historical conference; May 22: Park opens at 4 p.m.; May 23: official opening of park activities; June 12-14: Intertribal Gathering; June 11-15: 4-H Horse Camp; July 2-4: art show; July 4: Fort Robinson Fourth of July Celebration; Aug. 8-9: Performance by Trotters; Sept. 7-11: APHA Trail Ride; Sept. 1620: AHA Trail Ride; Sept. 20-26: Cavalry Association.
Permit Required
A park entry permit is required for all vehicles entering state parks, state recreaton areas and state historical parks. Permits, including fishing permits, may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org. This Salt Valley lake just west of Lincoln offers camping and fishing, along with miles of trails. June 27: Carp-O-Rama, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Platte River SP
Louisville, (402) 234-2217 Located in wooded hills above the Platte River. Modern housekeeping cabins available for year-round lodging. Tepees and camper cabins also available. May 16: fishing clinic, 911:30 a.m.; May 17: mountain bike race, time TBD; May 23-25: holiday buffet; May 23-Sept. 7: horseback trail rides, swimming pool, craft center, paddle boat rentals available; June 21: Father's Day Buffet; July 4: holiday buffet; Sept. 7: Labor Day Buffet.
Working Sandhills ranch interprets early ranching. Includes interpretive center, historical displays and demonstrations. Ranch home tours and visitor center open May 23-Sept. 7, Monday-Saturday (closed Wednesdays), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, noon-4 p.m. June 28: Sod House Sunday.
ERIC FOWLER
Indian Cave SP
Entrants circle the arena during the dance contest at the Intertribal Gathering at Fort Robinson State Park in 2007. This year, the event, which is open to the public, is June 11-15.
and recreation. Restaurant open yearround. Holiday buffets: Easter, Mothers Day and Fathers Day; May 15, July 10, Aug. 14 and Sept. 11: star gazing; Sept. 12: Moonshell Storytelling Festival. Shubert, (402) 883-2575 Restored schoolhouse and general store from the old Missouri River town of St. Deroin. Located in scenic Missouri River bluffs on the Lewis and Clark Trail. Modern and primitive camping available. Living history demonstrations. June 6: Trails Day (trail restoration); May 23-25, June 6-7, July 4-5, Aug. 1-2, and Sept. 5-7: black powder demonstrations; Sept. 5: fireworks.
Huge bone bed of animals fossilized in volcanic ash. Park includes interpretive center and ongoing excavation of fossils. Open daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Call for additional open days.
Ponca SP
Ponca (402) 755-2284 Located in scenic bluffs above Missouri River on the Lewis and Clark Trail. Modern and primitive camping available. Housekeeping cabins available MayOctober. Outdoor Education programs are available Memorial Day-Labor Day. May 9: International Bird Migration Day; May 10: Mothers Day Buffet; May 29-31: Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop; June 20-21: Fathers Day Fossil Hunt; June 21: Fathers Day Fish Fry; Aug. 7-9: Becoming an OutdoorsFamily Workshop; Aug. 22-23: Heritage Farm Weekend; Sept. 8-9: Archery SightIn; Sept. 19-20: Missouri River Outdoor Expo (students only on Sept. 18).
Rest stop for wagon trains on the Oregon Trail. Park includes interpretive center, archaeological site and wagon ruts. Visitor center open May 23-Sept. 7, Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 12-13: Ash Hollow Pageant.
Home and barn built by frontier showman and scout William F. Buffalo Bill Cody. Cody memorabilia, historical displays. House and barn open March 23-May 22, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., open seven days a week, May 23-Sept. 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; open Sept. 8-Oct. 23, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Calamus SRA
Burwell, (308) 346-5666 Nebraskas newest large reservoir has a fish hatchery nearby. June 6: Calamus Carp Tournament; Aug. 1: Calamus Carp Tournament; Aug. 2324: Windsurfing Rodeo.
Chadron SP
Chadron, (308) 432-6167 Nebraskas first state park. Located in the scenic Pine Ridge. Housekeeping cabins available from mid-April to midNovember, plus a group camp/conference facility. Modern campground with showers available. April 25: Chadron Adventure Race; June 20: Chadron State Park Anniversary Day; July 10-12: Fur Trade Days.
Niobrara SP
Niobrara (402) 857-3373 Located at confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers on the Lewis and Clark Trail. Modern and primitive camping available. Modern housekeeping, cabins overlooking the river with year-round availability. May 23-Sept. 6: horse trail rides; June 6Aug. 9: swimming pool open daily; Aug. 10-Sept. 6: swimming pool open on weekends; May 23-Sept. 5: buffalo cookout and entertainment every Saturday; May 23, July 4, July 11, July 25, Sept. 5: Nebraska Humanities Program; May 30, June 13, June 27, July 18, Aug. 15, Aug. 22: National Park Service Interpretive Program; July 3, July 31: National Park Service Kids Program; Aug. 1: Ponca Culture Night; Aug. 8: mountain man storytelling.
Eugene T. Mahoney SP
Ashland, (402) 944-2523 Ultra-modern park located in bluffs above Platte River. Year-round lodging
Fort Robinson SP
Crawford, (308) 665-2900 Historical outpost served from Indian Wars through World War II. Museums,
Parks Key
SP: State Park SRA: State Recreation Area SHP: State Historical Park
Pawnee SRA
Emerald, (402) 796-2362
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Outdoor Nebraska
Television Schedule
Turpin Time Tuesday, noon (frequently during 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts), KDUH-TV, Ch. 4, Scottsbluff, with Dick Turpin Nebraska Outdoors with Rocky Hoffmann Wednesday, 6:25 p.m., KNOP-TV, Ch. 2, North Platte, with NGPCs Rocky Hoffmann Morning Outdoor Files Wednesday, 6:54 a.m., NTV Network (KHGI-TV, Ch. 13, Kearney, KWNB, Ch. 6, Hayes Center), with NGPCs Ralph Wall Turpin Time Wednesday, 6 p.m., KMEGTV, Ch. 14, Dakota Dunes, S.D., with Dick Turpin Outdoor Report Thursday, 6:50-7 a.m., KOLN/KGIN-TV, Ch. 10-11, Lincoln and Grand Island, with NGPCs Ralph Wall Turpin Time Thursday, 6:50-7 a.m., KOLN/KGINTV, Ch. 10-11, Lincoln and Grand Island, with Dick Turpin Turpin Time Thursday, 11:30 a.m. newscast, Friday, 6:55 a.m., KNOP-TV, Ch. 2, North Platte, with Dick Turpin Weekly Outdoors Report Thursday, 6 p.m. sportscast, WOW-TV, Ch. 6, Omaha, with NGPCs Greg Wagner Weekly Outdoors Report Saturday, during 8 a.m. newscast, WOW-TV, Ch. 6, Omaha, with NGPCs Greg Wagner
Jetty
Island
Offshore Breakwater
Jetty
ERIC FOWLER
New features at Glenn Cunningham Lake are labeled above in this June 2008 photo. near completion. It has been deepened from its previous 4-6 feet to the new 10-18 feet. Some of the excavated lake bottom material was used to build an access peninsula to the island and several hard points. The lakes pumping system was damaged after a heavy rain and runoff last June, and repairs were made and the lake was filled to capacity in March 2009. Sherman Reservoir Work on this lake in central Nebraska was finished in May of 2008. The project included the construction of seven jetties and eight offshore breakwaters to protect shorelines from wave erosion. Also, sediment was removed from four bays so that crappie fry, fingerlings and adults would not be stranded in backwaters during summer irrigation drawdowns. Jetties and breakwaters were marked, but the tops intentionally were built to a lower elevation than high pool to keep protected zones from becoming isolated and stagnant. This created a potential boating hazard when the reservoir was maintained at or above full pool. To reduce risk, rock piles extending above the water line were placed at 100-foot intervals along the tops of those structures. The exposed rocks, along with hazard buoys, alert boaters to the presence of jetties and breakwaters. Crescent Lake This Garden County lake, and its watershed, were renovated to remove carp and other rough fish; Rotenone was applied in 2007 and 2008 to several lakes and their connecting waterways to remove rough fish. (Jerry Kane is a public information officer in the Information and Education Division.)
Spring/Summer 2009
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Mussels
Continued from Page 1 hard surfaces and form clusters that can clog water systems in power and municipal water plants, requiring costly regular treatment. Microscopic young sucked into the cooling systems of boat motors can grow and clog those systems, causing engine damage. They also are voracious feeders, filtering microscopic organisms from the water, and have disrupted the aquatic food chain in many inland lakes. Zebra mussels have been found in the Missouri River along Nebraska twice an adult in 1999 and larvae in 2003 but intensive monitoring hasnt detected any since. In 2006, zebra mussels were found in a lake at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue. The lakes outlet,
which drains into the Missouri River, was plugged and last September the lake was chemically treated to kill the zebra mussels. While it appears that effort was successful, officials hope to treat the lake a second time this spring and will continue monitoring efforts to ensure all zebra mussels are killed. Zebra mussels have been found in seven Kansas reservoirs since 2003, including three in 2008. In Colorado, the discovery of adult zebra mussels in Pueblo Reservoir in 2007 led to a state initiative that found larval zebra and quagga mussels in eight other reservoirs in 2008, including Julesburg Reservoir, an irrigation reservoir in the northeastern corner of the state. Water diverted from the South Platte River feeds the lake, also known as Jumbo Reservoir, and is returned to the river near the Nebraska border.
We thought the threat was going to come from the east, said Darrol Eichner, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission district fisheries supervisor who oversees Lake McConaughy and other large reservoirs in southwestern Nebraska. Jumbo Reservoir is less than an hours drive from McConaughy, which draws many of its visitors from Colorado. Other reservoirs in the area attract visitors from both Colorado and Kansas. Eichner said zebra and quagga mussels can deplete phytoplankton, microscopic plants and algae at the base of the aquatic food web. This can leave little, if anything, to eat for zooplankton, the small invertebrates that are the primary food source for recently hatched walleye, white bass and other reservoir game fish, as well as alewives and small gizzard shad, the primary forage for adult game fish in
McConaughy. These mussels could very easily affect game fish recruitment, Eichner said. Biologists will begin taking water samples to look for mussel larvae this summer at McConaughy. We might already have them, we dont know, Eichner said. More than fishing is at stake. Several hydro-electric and coal-fired power plants are served by water from the Platte River system, and mussel infestations could lead to higher electric rates. Officials from state and federal agencies, power companies and other stakeholders in Nebraska began working together this year to develop an Aquatic Nuisance Species management plan that will guide monitoring and, if necessary, control efforts. (Eric Fowler is a regional editor for NEBRASKAland magazine.
Turkey
Continued from Page 1 percent; central, 500 percent; northeast, 200 percent; and southeast, 300 percent. The 2009 statewide spring turkey seasons begin with a youth archery season, March 25-May 31; archery season, March 25-May 31, youth shotgun season, April 11-May 31, and shotgun season, April 18-May 31. Each hunter is allowed up to three permits and the bag limit is one male or bearded female turkey per permit. The 2009 statewide fall archery and shotgun season is Sept. 15-Dec. 31, with permit limits of two permits per hunter and bag limits of two turkeys per permit. Turkey hunters are required to display a minimum of 400 square inches of hunter orange on their head, chest and back when hunting during the November firearm deer season. Survey cards returned by spring wild turkey hunters continue to show
high satisfaction with the season and the numbers of birds seen, and spring hunters report very little issue with increased numbers of hunters, both on private and public ground, Hams said. Statewide harvest for the spring wild turkey seasons have increased with the record population of birds, Hams added. Between 2002 and 2008, the statewide harvest of turkey in the spring went from 9,000 in 2002 to 19,000 by 2008. To those who remember back to Nebraskas early wild turkey hunts, the increase is henomenal. The year of my first spring hunt in Nebraska, 1967, the spring harvest was only 243 birds. Spring turkey permits are available from Commission offices and online at OutdoorNebraska.org. Additional information is available in the 2009 Nebraska Spring and Fall Turkey Hunting Seasons brochure and on the Web sites information pages. (Bob Grier is the district information officer in the Commissions Alliance office.)
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Outdoor Nebraska
MAGGIE KEITH
The number of tools fly anglers cram into their fishing vests is limited only by the needs and choices of the individual. However, there are some essential items. They are (clockwise from upper left): rod, reel and line; box with fly assortment; tool for weighing and measuring fish; nail clipper; fillet knife; leaders; and forceps.
These fly patterns would be good options to consider when targeting specific fish species:
creek channel, drop-off into deeper water, weedbeds, partially submerged brush piles, timber, and shoreline vegetation. Take a variety of fly patterns so you will be able to fish the surface, the mid-depths and near or on the bottom. Try a variety of retrieves at various depths to
locate the fish and then duplicate that retrieve as long as you are getting strikes. Shortly after dawn and in the evening are the best times to fish, but bass are active both day and night. Smallmouth bass Fish the Missouri River,
Merritt Reservoir, Lake McConaughy, or Interstate 80 lakes. Smallmouths prefer brush piles, weedbeds, flooded timber, and rocky areas. Flies that imitate crawdads, small fish and insects are best. Shortly after dawn and in the evening are the best times to fish, but bass
Specific Purpose
Panfish 7-foot, 4- or 5-weight, medium-action rod single-action fly reel of appropriate size and weight to complement the short, light rod weight-forward floating 5weight fly line and proper amount of backing selection of knotless tapered leaders with tippet sizes from 3x to 6x Bass 8- to 9-foot, 7- or 8-weight rod (depending on
Multipurpose
If you can have only one fly rod, these are the recommendations: 7-foot medium-action rod rated for 7- or 8-weight NGPC line weight-forward floating fly line matched to rod weight inexpensive single-action fly reel with capacity to hold fly line and 50 yards of backing (or enough to fill the spool)