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Nebraska => Ice Fishing Nebraska => Topic started by: whitetips on Jan 28, 2016, 10:55 AM
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http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2016/01/yellow-perch/ (http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2016/01/yellow-perch/)
Daryl B.
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Can't get the link to work on this site or the 'other' one. I can't wait to read it. ;D
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Still not working?
How about this?
http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2016/01/yellow-perch/ (http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2016/01/yellow-perch/)
Daryl B.
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Opens right up for me.
Keith
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Thanks for the good read! I noticed at the end of the article someone said that the fisheries of the state don't do enough stocking to satisfy the wants of the fisher folks out there. I am guessing that the guy just wants what he wants. From what the article said the waters in the south east part of the state will not support a viable population for a good perch fishery. I am pretty sure Fremont lakes are included.
Just saying that there are plenty of really fine fishing opportunities in this state, and the game and parks and the work that they do is the biggest reason we have what we have! Sorry for going on and on but, it's not like the game and parks go out of there way to keep people in on part of the state from catching a particular fish.
Keep it safe! JDL
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Still not working?
How about this?
http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2016/01/yellow-perch/ (http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2016/01/yellow-perch/)
Daryl B.
Checked it before work and it still was a 404....at lunch it worked. Thanks.
Opens right up for me.
Keith
When the link was fixed I suspect it worked for everyone....lol.
Interesting that the yellow perch that are 'accidentally' stocked with the walleyes survive and actually thrive. One would have thought that, the way the state writes all yellow perch stocking off, they would have been eaten right up by the large mouth bass. If one or two can make it through the gauntlet of predators to a catchable size I can't help but wonder what a few thousand might turn into.
Also interesting that the Game and Parks sees fishermen travelling great distances for quality fishing as a detriment. Some states see that as a positive thing both for selling of licenses and for the $$ generated in tax revenue for every dollar spent on the trip.
Oh, well. Guess it just won't work in Nebraska.
Off to Iowa and South Dakota we go.....and Kansas. (Insert sarcasm smiley that we would both like to have available).
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I agree.. South Dakota is putting Nebraska to shame in all areas of the Great Outdoors... I dont see Nebraska Doing much as far as Upland hunting granted there are Public lands that hold a few but If I have to drive a couple hours to find a pheasant I would much rather drive North and Spend the 100.00 for a permit and kill some birds on a long weekend.. Fishing is the same way it amazes me the amount of Nebraska Trucks up in the Glacier lakes area of South Dakota the people that travel North.
When I was a kid we would walk fence lines, crp and waterways and always kill birds.. Now we have Nothing.. :'(
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http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/09/grass-always-greener/ (http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/09/grass-always-greener/)
Daryl B.
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One weekend in South Dakota.
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj85/jthod/Ice%20fishing/NESODAK%203-6-15/IMG_20150307_102054884_HDR_zps91e024a9.jpg) (http://s270.photobucket.com/user/jthod/media/Ice%20fishing/NESODAK%203-6-15/IMG_20150307_102054884_HDR_zps91e024a9.jpg.html)
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj85/jthod/Ice%20fishing/NESODAK%203-6-15/received_m_mid_1425846738289_667b66034e3f58d061_1_zps49e0bf34.jpg) (http://s270.photobucket.com/user/jthod/media/Ice%20fishing/NESODAK%203-6-15/received_m_mid_1425846738289_667b66034e3f58d061_1_zps49e0bf34.jpg.html)
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj85/jthod/Ice%20fishing/NESODAK%203-6-15/IMAG1316_zps4dcaa989.jpg) (http://s270.photobucket.com/user/jthod/media/Ice%20fishing/NESODAK%203-6-15/IMAG1316_zps4dcaa989.jpg.html)
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj85/jthod/Ice%20fishing/NESODAK%203-6-15/IMAG1304_zps58a7a297.jpg) (http://s270.photobucket.com/user/jthod/media/Ice%20fishing/NESODAK%203-6-15/IMAG1304_zps58a7a297.jpg.html)
I'll be heading up there in a few weeks. It might not be greener, but it's certainly got more gold.
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj85/jthod/Ice%20fishing/so%20dakota%20Jan%201-5/20160102_192937_zpsrskj3ryy.jpg) (http://s270.photobucket.com/user/jthod/media/Ice%20fishing/so%20dakota%20Jan%201-5/20160102_192937_zpsrskj3ryy.jpg.html)
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http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/09/grass-always-greener/ (http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/09/grass-always-greener/)
Daryl B.
Repeating it doesn't make it true. If Nebraska can stock walleye there is more than enough water, habitat, water temperature, and obviously desire (in your own words you stated people will drive for a good perch bite) for yellow perch.
Maybe someday.
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Wow that's a great bunch of yellow perch, here in Colorado we got some perch too, but they are not really big. Don't mind if I ask what lake in South Dakota? I used to live in Omaha, and we always drive to South Dakota to fish there. It's not really far from Omaha, and I really miss that states. But I was hoping I could make a 1 time a year over there.
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We ice fish SoDak every year for lake trout. I'll stick to NE for yellow perch.
dc
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A bad day of fishing in south Dakota is a great day of fishing in nebraska...... Made my first trip to waubay this year, let's just say it won't be the last.
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We ice fish SoDak every year for lake trout. I'll stick to NE for yellow perch.
dc
For me, it's a 6 hour drive to the Valentine area. Or its 5 1/2 to Webster. With the amount of public waters available, hard for me to pass up SD.
I still make it to Valentine, and going this weekend in fact, but there are only a handful of public waters to fish. It's where I got hooked on ice fishing, and we still make a trip or two out there with out kayaks in open water too. If I had access to some of the private waters in the sandhills, it may bring my that way more, but I don't.
For me, it's also the possibilities. It's not uncommon to catch 5-6 species in a weekend, with a couple scoring 7 or more.
Wow that's a great bunch of yellow perch, here in Colorado we got some perch too, but they are not really big. Don't mind if I ask what lake in South Dakota? I used to live in Omaha, and we always drive to South Dakota to fish there. It's not really far from Omaha, and I really miss that states. But I was hoping I could make a 1 time a year over there.
Most of those were from Waubay over New Years weekend.
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We ice fish SoDak every year for lake trout. I'll stick to NE for yellow perch.
dc
Love SD GF&P's willingness to think outside the box, such as chinook salmon and rainbows in Oahe. You are lucky to be out in perch country, and a short trip up to the Black Hills for trout.
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For me, it's a 6 hour drive to the Valentine area. Or its 5 1/2 to Webster. With the amount of public waters available, hard for me to pass up SD.
I still make it to Valentine, and going this weekend in fact, but there are only a handful of public waters to fish. It's where I got hooked on ice fishing, and we still make a trip or two out there with out kayaks in open water too. If I had access to some of the private waters in the sandhills, it may bring my that way more, but I don't.
For me, it's also the possibilities. It's not uncommon to catch 5-6 species in a weekend, with a couple scoring 7 or more.
Most of those were from Waubay over New Years weekend.
Ive heard Poinsett can be hot for perch this winter as well and quite a bit shorter round trip time, although the crowds are already there. You know what they say, people will travel for a good perch bite.
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Repeating it doesn't make it true. If Nebraska can stock walleye there is more than enough water, habitat, water temperature, and obviously desire (in your own words you stated people will drive for a good perch bite) for yellow perch.
Maybe someday.
So we are supposed to keep stocking yellow perch where they do not produce viable fisheries?
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results does not make it true either.
Daryl B.
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Love SD GF&P's willingness to think outside the box, such as chinook salmon and rainbows in Oahe. You are lucky to be out in perch country, and a short trip up to the Black Hills for trout.
"Outside the box"? We have stocked chinook salmon in Nebraska waters as recently as the 1990's. That did not work.
We have an excellent tailwater trout fishery in Lake Ogallala.
How many wipers does SoDakota have?
You will be seeing tiger trout in more Nebraska waters in the coming months.
SoDakota has not cornered the market on thinking outside the box.
I spent a couple of years in SoDakota, I am fully aware of the fisheries they have. . . . And, I am fully aware of how much different their habitats are compared to what we have in Nebraska.
And no amount of stocking can change that.
Daryl B.
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Man! Don't blame game and parks for the conditions that prevent a good yellow perch fishery in southern portions of Nebraska! Game and parks can't do anything about water temps in the fairly shallow lakes. And don't blame them for the farming practices that have degraded the habitat that used to provide places for the birds to raise their young! And don't forget that game and parks can only spend the money that the state gives them! I am guessing that if they could stock lakes with yellow perch that would survive they would. Given the fact that they have to do as much as they can with the cash they get, they spend it on the fish that will thrive in our waters.
Next time you think about taking your loved ones out for a day of catching some nice gills or crappie, tell them your going to have to take a drive cause game and parks don't give the people of Nebraska any good fishing.
Keep it safe! JDL
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You are lucky to be out in perch country, and a short trip up to the Black Hills for trout.
There are benefits to living out in the sticks. ;D
I understand the distance thing for sure. Spent several years ice fishing other states and still make a trek or two when time allows. Bar none, Nebraska holds it own for game fish through the ice.
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/Sandbilly/ice%2015%20-%2016/20160107_152537_zpsyu3furua.jpg) (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/Sandbilly/media/ice%2015%20-%2016/20160107_152537_zpsyu3furua.jpg.html)
All on NE public waters this season.
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/Sandbilly/ice%2015%20-%2016/20151203_135433_zpsyd54vzzr.jpg) (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/Sandbilly/media/ice%2015%20-%2016/20151203_135433_zpsyd54vzzr.jpg.html)
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/Sandbilly/ice%2015%20-%2016/20160107_152938_zpsdjtrpgtu.jpg) (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/Sandbilly/media/ice%2015%20-%2016/20160107_152938_zpsdjtrpgtu.jpg.html)
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/Sandbilly/ice%2015%20-%2016/20160113_135634_zpsr1tvbp35.jpg) (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/Sandbilly/media/ice%2015%20-%2016/20160113_135634_zpsr1tvbp35.jpg.html)
I think the G&P is doing a great job managing the lakes I fish. Do think the people exploiting some of these lakes need to do a better job of managing what they put in their bucket. Nebraska does not do creel surveys in the winter. That would be interesting. Think the reg changes on Rat & Beaver will be interesting and hopefully open a few eyes. Our Sandhill lakes are unique fisheries. Unfortunately too few understand that.
dc
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A bad day of fishing in south Dakota is a great day of fishing in nebraska...... Made my first trip to waubay this year, let's just say it won't be the last.
Exactly. Your FIRST trip. If you fish those lakes long enough....you will eventually find them cruel. I have fished that country 3 times this winter....and have never had a good day on Waubay lake. I have had some outstanding days on many other lakes up that way. But your statement you made...simply isn't true. If you fish up there enough times (it may be your next trip) then you will have a stinker and it is a lonely feeling look at all that water wondering where the fish are....... There is some amazing water up that way. That being said I am going to focus on Nebraska a lot more this year for walleye. I fished both states last year and caught way more big walleye out of Nebraska waters.
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Too bad them Glaciers didn't come down towards Grand Islands, then we might have more water. I think most of us would like more water.
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Exactly. Your FIRST trip. If you fish those lakes long enough....you will eventually find them cruel. I have fished that country 3 times this winter....and have never had a good day on Waubay lake. I have had some outstanding days on many other lakes up that way. But your statement you made...simply isn't true. If you fish up there enough times (it may be your next trip) then you will have a stinker and it is a lonely feeling look at all that water wondering where the fish are....... There is some amazing water up that way. That being said I am going to focus on Nebraska a lot more this year for walleye. I fished both states last year and caught way more big walleye out of Nebraska waters.
If people were more adventurous, and less patient like me, you just lake hop. Waubay isn't working? (which it usually isn't for me) Take a 10 minute drive to another great lake.
I will say I have had some rough trips up there, but man, when they are good, they are GREAT.
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If people were more adventurous, and less patient like me, you just lake hop. Waubay isn't working? (which it usually isn't for me) Take a 10 minute drive to another great lake.
I will say I have had some rough trips up there, but man, when they are good, they are GREAT.
Thats what keeps me going back. :)
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I'm from Nebraska originally and I think one of the biggest problems that faces the waters of the state are just pure overfishing in a lot of the would be great fisheries in the eastern part. Originally being from the eastern part I know this for a fact, but a lot of the not so common lakes are often some of the better ones. Especially through the ice. Making a trek west can often be a fun and productive trip. And I seen someone mention that they don't have access to private lakes out west, but that shouldn't really be a concern. Plenty of great public lakes. However, you will never get permission if you never ask. With all of that being said, South Dakota does have a lot more opportunities in the state for some great fishing. Two reasons are the main factors in my opinion. 1) Lots and lots of glacial lakes and 2) A lot of less pressure on these lakes when compared to the eastern third of Nebraska. Basically, don't blame the game and parks because they have a lot more to overcome in Nebraska.
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Hey Daryl,
Question for you but don't want to hijack, the thread. What is the thought process behind putting tiger trout in some of the streams out west? Was talking to my friend the other day and they put tiger trout in one of the creeks that goes through his property. The last couple of years it was cutthroats. Some evidence suggests that cutthroats may have been native, but rainbows and browns were brought in.
Being from the west originally, I love a good trout stream. I wonder if browns wouldn't be a bit more hardy for some of the sandhills creeks that are being stocked with tiger? The river otters must be having a grand time with those tasty trout that are planted. They're fun to see play around. No complaints here, just wondering why tiger trout?
and for the record, there are no perch or pheasants in Nebraska. Keep going to SoDak. ::)
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Hey Daryl,
Question for you but don't want to hijack, the thread. What is the thought process behind putting tiger trout in some of the streams out west? Was talking to my friend the other day and they put tiger trout in one of the creeks that goes through his property. The last couple of years it was cutthroats. Some evidence suggests that cutthroats may have been native, but rainbows and browns were brought in.
Being from the west originally, I love a good trout stream. I wonder if browns wouldn't be a bit more hardy for some of the sandhills creeks that are being stocked with tiger? The river otters must be having a grand time with those tasty trout that are planted. They're fun to see play around. No complaints here, just wondering why tiger trout?
and for the record, there are no perch or pheasants in Nebraska. Keep going to SoDak. ::)
Some of the thought process has been that we tried raising some tiger trout, they have been relatively easy to raise, let's see how they do after they are stocked. We are not planning to completely quit raising and stocking cutthroats, but I can tell you those fish are more wild and harder to raise.
The browns do very well in many of our cold-water streams, in fact so well that we do not need to stock them at all because natural reproduction is more than enough to maintain populations without stocking.
Daryl B.
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It is always cool when a stocked population starts reproducing! That must make the fisheries folks pretty happy!
Keep it safe! JDL
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It is always cool when a stocked population starts reproducing! That must make the fisheries folks pretty happy!
Keep it safe! JDL
That's how common carp got their start I hear...
Very happy indeed.
;D
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Daryl I don't think wipers are a good argument to compare your work to South Dakota. ;D
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"Outside the box"? We have stocked chinook salmon in Nebraska waters as recently as the 1990's. That did not work.
We have an excellent tailwater trout fishery in Lake Ogallala.
How many wipers does SoDakota have?
You will be seeing tiger trout in more Nebraska waters in the coming months.
SoDakota has not cornered the market on thinking outside the box.
I spent a couple of years in SoDakota, I am fully aware of the fisheries they have. . . . And, I am fully aware of how much different their habitats are compared to what we have in Nebraska.
And no amount of stocking can change that.
Daryl B.
So, Whitetips, are you saying the part about wipers like it's a good thing? Do the wipers have anything to do with the reason I haven't caught any of the 400,000 crappies stocked in McConaughy in a few years or is it more the fluctuating water level. Talked to a electroshock team and they hadn't found them for a while either. I filled out a South Dakota fishing survey and told them I was glad they didn't feel the need to put wipers everywhere like the state to the south of them
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Crappie seem to do just fine in the Kansas lakes that are FULL of both of them. Milford is know for giant wipers, 15lb+, and it's also a great crappie fishery.
Same with Harlan, HUGE wipers, and decent crappie fishing.
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So, Whitetips, are you saying the part about wipers like it's a good thing? Do the wipers have anything to do with the reason I haven't caught any of the 400,000 crappies stocked in McConaughy in a few years or is it more the fluctuating water level. Talked to a electroshock team and they hadn't found them for a while either. I filled out a South Dakota fishing survey and told them I was glad they didn't feel the need to put wipers everywhere like the state to the south of them
Baloney.
We heard the same complaints about wipers eating walleyes at Harlan County Reservoir, so many complaints that we eventually commissioned a research project to determine what the wipers in Harlan were eating. In two years of extensive sampling not one walleye was found in a wiper stomach, do not remember that any crappies were found in wiper stomachs either. What did the wipers eat? Well, wipers are open-water predators that spend their time roaming open water preying on open-water baitfish. In Harlan there are enough gizzard shad to make every predator fish in the reservoir fat and happy. While the young-of-the-year (YOY) shad are available, summer through winter every year, every predator fish is eating YOY gizzard shad. In the spring YOY shad numbers are at their annual minimum and the YOY shad from the year before have grown too large for some predators to consume (e.g. white bass, crappies). At that time wipers and other predators eat a variety of prey and in our reservoirs small white bass and drum from the year before can be important prey items. Small crappies certainly can be included in that spring diet, but generally far less than other small fish, and certainly not to the extent that crappies become extinct.
Oh, you know what did eat some small walleyes in Harlan?
Big walleyes.
What are the wipers and other predators in McConaughy eating? Well, we have very healthy populations of both gizzard shad and alewives in McConaughy and you better believe that is what they are eating.
And keep in mind that water level fluctuations in Nebraska's large reservoirs play heck with fish like crappies and largemouth bass. In recent years we have had a water level scenario where we have acres and acres of flooded terrestrial vegetation. When that does happen on our irrigation reservoirs you will see a "boom" in fish like pike, crappies and bass. Our management biologists will try to further capitalize on those short-term habitat conditions by stocking additional fish. That has been done in recent years with the crappie stockings in McConaughy. Unfortunately, water levels will eventually decline again and so will crappie numbers. But, that very well may start the cycle over again. Welcome to Nebraska, welcome to my world.
Where is the crappie habitat in McConaughy right now?
The crappies are back in there. ;)
Daryl B.
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Daryl I don't think wipers are a good argument to compare your work to South Dakota. ;D
Why not?
My point is that we may not have as much water as some of our neighboring states, but we very much offer a variety of fishing opportunities. We offer opportunities that our neighboring states do not. We have wipers that SoDakota does not, yellow perch that Kansas does not.
The "grass" always seems greener on the other side of the fence (border?), http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/09/grass-always-greener/ (http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/09/grass-always-greener/).
And that works both ways,
Daryl B.
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Kind of interesting to read the post on the South Dakota blog, "where can I catch a pumpkinseed." They are wishing they had lakes to catch panfish.
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Guys, really? This is what we are arguing about? Half of Nebraska is not “Perch Country”. Pretty sure I do not live where I do based on the population of a single species of fish. We are not Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, or South Dakota. I am glad we are Nebraska. We have things other states could only wish they did and they have some things that we only wish we had…. Fact! I love fishing in glacial lakes in South Dakota for perch, I also love fishing a Kansas mud hole for crappie, but I also love fishing for a healthy Loup River Catfish. Every area is different. I don’t always agree with the NGPC either. But they are the experts not us. They can only do certain things with our bodies of water and our diversity of climates and water qualities across the state. It would be great if I had a 30 minute to drive to catch a limit of jumbo perch but I can’t. I can however drive 30 minutes and catch 10+ inch bluegills and 30+ inch walleye. Let it go guys! Enjoy what we have.
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very interesting that I am having the same exact question right now from anglers in the waters in Missouri....always this time of year when people are seeing buckets of yellow perch from up north all over the ice fishing pages....hard for anglers to understand why we cant just throw yellow perch in our Missouri reservoirs and have perch fishing like in the glacial lakes, and give examples of "my buddy has a buddy that has 12" perch in his farm pond", so why cant we get them in our public lakes? usually that pond has no bass, and is full of fatheads or shiners....not very easy to duplicate that in a public setting....and if we could, it would be over fished as soon as it got good....I too wish we could grow huge populations of 12" perch, and if we could, we would, but reality is our systems just cant....habitat, latitude, predators, etc. I cant imagine having the opportunity to start throwing perch in a new 3,000 acre lake that used to be a cattail marsh a decade ago that's surrounded by fertile land and full of freshwater shrimp and other inverts...the perch recruit, grow, and then......get wiped out by anglers......only difference is.....there is another such body of water a few miles away that will be the next lake that is hot...and so on, and so on......its a whole different world up there in the Dakotas right now....and yes, some of those anglers would chop off a limb to get into some the gills, crappie and wiper fishing we have to offer...agree with Daryl B.....its always greener across the border
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Guys, really? This is what we are arguing about? Half of Nebraska is not “Perch Country”. Pretty sure I do not live where I do based on the population of a single species of fish. We are not Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, or South Dakota. I am glad we are Nebraska. We have things other states could only wish they did and they have some things that we only wish we had…. Fact! I love fishing in glacial lakes in South Dakota for perch, I also love fishing a Kansas mud hole for crappie, but I also love fishing for a healthy Loup River Catfish. Every area is different. I don’t always agree with the NGPC either. But they are the experts not us. They can only do certain things with our bodies of water and our diversity of climates and water qualities across the state. It would be great if I had a 30 minute to drive to catch a limit of jumbo perch but I can’t. I can however drive 30 minutes and catch 10+ inch bluegills and 30+ inch walleye. Let it go guys! Enjoy what we have.
Just remember that 50% of the brain surgeons graduated at the bottom of their class. Are they, too, experts?
Nothing wrong with asking questions. To be dismissed by the 'brain surgeons' with the term, 'baloney', gets annoying and isn't all that impressive.
Just my opinion, which would get you barred and banned from certain forums and yet they take my money for every single tag, license, and day permit that I purchase.
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Hopefully my brain surgeon is not the <%50.
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very interesting that I am having the same exact question right now from anglers in the waters in Missouri....always this time of year when people are seeing buckets of yellow perch from up north all over the ice fishing pages....hard for anglers to understand why we cant just throw yellow perch in our Missouri reservoirs and have perch fishing like in the glacial lakes, and give examples of "my buddy has a buddy that has 12" perch in his farm pond", so why cant we get them in our public lakes? usually that pond has no bass, and is full of fatheads or shiners....not very easy to duplicate that in a public setting....and if we could, it would be over fished as soon as it got good....I too wish we could grow huge populations of 12" perch, and if we could, we would, but reality is our systems just cant....habitat, latitude, predators, etc. I cant imagine having the opportunity to start throwing perch in a new 3,000 acre lake that used to be a cattail marsh a decade ago that's surrounded by fertile land and full of freshwater shrimp and other inverts...the perch recruit, grow, and then......get wiped out by anglers......only difference is.....there is another such body of water a few miles away that will be the next lake that is hot...and so on, and so on......its a whole different world up there in the Dakotas right now....and yes, some of those anglers would chop off a limb to get into some the gills, crappie and wiper fishing we have to offer...agree with Daryl B.....its always greener across the border
I suspect that, from your post, you are a person from an agency that deals with either fish and/or anglers in Missouri. I can appreciate your thoughts of having each others' backs cuz it is a thankless job.
Check the latitude and longitude of Kramper Lake (reservoir) by Hubbard, NE. Some of the most fertile farm land in the state. Just a few years old, tons of vegetation. Custom built contours and base stratus.
No perch stocked. That was a Grand Slam missed because of close-mindedness. Easy claim to success by stocking a few yellow perch if it had been done in the first year (prior to allowing any PUBLIC fishing), showing all the pics online and in the fancy, glossy magazine and SELL LICENSES AND PARK STICKERS AND GENERATE TAX REVENUE.
Trades of fishes is not unique and happens all the time with surrounding states (right, Darrel?). How hard would it be to actually create a destination attitude rather than the, "We don't stock them here because people like to fish for them and we might have to do it again next year?" attitude?
Tiger trout are going to be our claim to fame in Nebraska?
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Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions. For now. My only comment, is a result of having just come from the glacial lakes. Everywhere we dropped a camera, for 3 days, freshwater shrimp were in abundance. Lacking that type of forage base, and the habitat to reproduce, I don't believe we can ever support a perch fishery like the glacial lakes region. The glacial lakes are the perfect storm for perch production.
If we wanted jumbo perch, we could set the limit to say, 3 perch per day, then we would catch some limits of jumbos in 4-5 years.
It is pretty much the same reason we only harvest 1 bighorn sheep every few years. We don't have the habitat to support sustained pressure and that habitat exists in few areas of the state.
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Hopefully my brain surgeon is not the <%50.
I don't want to make fun of any profession, and especially that one but can you imagine if you went to the doctor with an ear issue and were told it was sinuses? Curiosity and common sense makes you ask, 'Are you sure Doc, cuz it feels different than that. I don't want to offend you, but I may do some reading up on this and get a second opinion."
Doctor says, "Baloney!"
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Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions. For now. My only comment, is a result of having just come from the glacial lakes. Everywhere we dropped a camera, for 3 days, freshwater shrimp were in abundance. Lacking that type of forage base, and the habitat to reproduce, I don't believe we can ever support a perch fishery like the glacial lakes region. The glacial lakes are the perfect storm for perch production.
If we wanted jumbo perch, we could set the limit to say, 3 perch per day, then we would catch some limits of jumbos in 4-5 years.
It is pretty much the same reason we only harvest 1 bighorn sheep every few years. We don't have the habitat to support sustained pressure and that habitat exists in few areas of the state.
My head is going to explode. The state of Nebraska has, for many years except for the very rare exception,, sold non-refundable applications for 1 sheep tag to the hopeful citizens of NE, and 1 AUCTIONED OFF A NGFP GUIDED HUNT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AT AN AUCTION AT A BANQUET THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND MORE TO GET INTO THAN THE AVERAGE SPORTSMAN SPENDS IN 3 YEARS ON HUNTING AND FISHING COMBINED!!
I am so sad for my daughter right now.
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My biggest complaint about Nebraska fisheries is that the game and parks does not put in any structure. I love how you can travel down to Kansas to a brand new lake you never fished an have a great time catching large numbers of fish and good sized fish. How can that be? It is because Kansas game and parks actually puts in structure and posts the GPS coordinates of the structure on their lakes websites. And here is something that is such a shocker. Every few years as the structures (i.e. cedars much of the time) decline, they add more trees. The trees bring in bait fish which brings along the fish. Oh and by the way, the trees provide a great place for the fish to spawn. This concept is just so simple and it is why when you head down to the Kansas lakes most of the fisherman are from Nebraska. Oh by the way, the more Nebraska fisherman that they bring to Kansas means more dollars for the state to continue to update their fisheries. I would have to think that if Nebraska did something similar it would attract outside dollars and provide for much better fisheries. What do I know though?
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"My head is going to explode. The state of Nebraska has, for many years except for the very rare exception,, sold non-refundable applications for 1 sheep tag to the hopeful citizens of NE, and 1 AUCTIONED OFF A NGFP GUIDED HUNT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AT AN AUCTION AT A BANQUET THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND MORE TO GET INTO THAN THE AVERAGE SPORTSMAN SPENDS IN 3 YEARS ON HUNTING AND FISHING COMBINED!!
I am so sad for my daughter right now."
You are correct oh wise one, and Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Alberta, idaho all shoot several sheep Can you see any difference? Do we need to stock more and put some in the cornfields so we can all shoot one at home? Probably not.
I go to those banquets, I spend nowhere near getting into them and having a good time as what I spend in one weekend ice trip. But, your mind is made up. Feel free to yell all you want
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Just remember that 50% of the brain surgeons graduated at the bottom of their class. Are they, too, experts?
If they are brain surgeons you had better hope to hell they are experts!
ClearCreek
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My biggest complaint about Nebraska fisheries is that the game and parks does not put in any structure. I love how you can travel down to Kansas to a brand new lake you never fished an have a great time catching large numbers of fish and good sized fish. How can that be? It is because Kansas game and parks actually puts in structure and posts the GPS coordinates of the structure on their lakes websites. And here is something that is such a shocker. Every few years as the structures (i.e. cedars much of the time) decline, they add more trees. The trees bring in bait fish which brings along the fish. Oh and by the way, the trees provide a great place for the fish to spawn. This concept is just so simple and it is why when you head down to the Kansas lakes most of the fisherman are from Nebraska. Oh by the way, the more Nebraska fisherman that they bring to Kansas means more dollars for the state to continue to update their fisheries. I would have to think that if Nebraska did something similar it would attract outside dollars and provide for much better fisheries. What do I know though?
It's a small body of water, but the coordinates of placed-on-purpose structure are posted for Prairie Queen. I don't know if they will ever work backwards and set up more structure in other lakes. Walnut Creek gets structural elements added every couple years, but they remain largely local knowledge.
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Sorry to hijack the thread. Should have waited for the tiger trout thread to ask about tiger trout.
I'm certainly not going to tell a feller his business, so don't take what I'm about to say as gospel or with any more than a grain of salt or .02 which isn't worth a dime.
The grass is certainly greener everywhere you go. Here's the deal- Nebraska is pretty good at accessibility. Deer hunting availability is great. Deer herd is healthy. You can a tag pretty well wherever you want. You can have more than one tag. There are still big deer around and you have a chance to harvest one. Fishing can be good. on the east side of the state there are a lot of areas to fish. West, not as much, but still some. That's nothing to do with the state. It's water availability. Can't fix that.
Bash the banquets where tags are auctioned off all you want. That's a great source of revenue. States all around do the same. Why not do it? People will spend their money here or somewhere else. Why not take it? Sell a few elk tags. That's bug money. Take that money and invest in access or enhance lakes. It all takes money and as much as we complain about things, it's still pretty affordable. My dad from out of state can buy a license. Deer licenses are cheap compared to other states.
It's not that bad. Really. Coming from other places, opportunity exists.
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Boy you can tell there's been a blizzard :-\ We have good fishing, better than some, worse than others! The game and fish has there problems, but who doesn't? If you like S Dakota fish, drive up there and get you some! I do every year, honestly, I'd prolly be better off just staying home but who doesn't like a good road trip? I get tired of everybody complaining about game and fish, but I can see everyone's point of view. I'm not usually one to chime in something like this but I do have a little input.
While it's hard to just sit back and take a bashing, sometimes you just gotta. That's what being a professional is all about. So the biggest recurring theme I see occurring in this thread, that bothers me the most is the lack of professionalism on part of the spokesman for the GFP. "BALONEY" is no way to talk to anyone. But I do believe we could ALL stand a lesson in courtesy ;D
My $.02! (I already know that is more than I'm worth! Lol)
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:popcorn:
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I've got two things for you belly achers and sour puss's. It's my middle fingers. Sorry your not going to get any "professionalism" from me either.. If you don't have anything positive to say or logical solutions. Shut your fish trap. It seems to me like your fishing skills are lacking.. Or you have other problems in your life??? Hell I don't know?? But I can tell you one thing. I love my state of Nebraska! You all need to shut your mouth and go fish. I'm leaving at 5 am for one of my favorite places on earth. The Valentine refuge! And you know what's going to happen to the biggest perch and bluegills I catch??!!!? There getting a photo taken put back down the hole!!!
And far as the, "Baloney" comment!! You guys are little girls if that bothers you! Lmao... Grow up. If I was Daryl I would of had already lost it, said way worse and been done with Ice Shanty, Nefga, and social media because of low blows and morons...
My grandpa passed away a few months ago. And one of the the things that sticks in my mind that he said to me a long time ago fishing was," The best things in life are free".. You all need to get out enjoy a sunrise, sunset, a child's laugh, big catch, or a flock of geese flying over. Anything.
Goodnight I've got Jumbo Perch and big bluegills to catch in the morning. In Nebraska!!!!!
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How many people travel to our state and spend money here for wipers that's why not Daryl
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It's a small body of water, but the coordinates of placed-on-purpose structure are posted for Prairie Queen. I don't know if they will ever work backwards and set up more structure in other lakes. Walnut Creek gets structural elements added every couple years, but they remain largely local knowledge.
This is nothing against you, Nate, but I am glad you brought up Prairie Queen.
Prairie Queen, Kramper, Summit.....they were all built by NRD's, not the Game, and Parks Department of Nebraska. But the Ne Game and Parks (interesting that there is no FISH in that name?) is more than happy to take credit for the success of those reservoirs, but if you take issue with litter or noise at the campground they are the first to send you to the NRD headquarters. Oh, and if you buy a Ne Game and Parks park sticker that's great, they will take your money happily, but if not don't worry, nobody is enforcing it at NRD/NGFP parks anyway. I'm sure that is the NRD's fault, too somehow.
There are a lot of sportspeople in this state that would do well to not believe everything you read on the internet or hear at the coffee shop.
I'm done now.
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I've got two things for you belly achers and sour puss's. It's my middle fingers. Sorry your not going to get any "professionalism" from me either.. If you don't have anything positive to say or logical solutions. Shut your fish trap. It seems to me like your fishing skills are lacking.. Or you have other problems in your life??? Hell I don't know?? But I can tell you one thing. I love my state of Nebraska! You all need to shut your mouth and go fish. I'm leaving at 5 am for one of my favorite places on earth. The Valentine refuge! And you know what's going to happen to the biggest perch and bluegills I catch??!!!? There getting a photo taken put back down the hole!!!
And far as the, "Baloney" comment!! You guys are little girls if that bothers you! Lmao... Grow up. If I was Daryl I would of had already lost it, said way worse and been done with Ice Shanty, Nefga, and social media because of low blows and morons...
My grandpa passed away a few months ago. And one of the the things that sticks in my mind that he said to me a long time ago fishing was," The best things in life are free".. You all need to get out enjoy a sunrise, sunset, a child's laugh, big catch, or a flock of geese flying over. Anything.
Goodnight I've got Jumbo Perch and big bluegills to catch in the morning. In Nebraska!!!!!
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I agree PhisOn I hope you have a great day on the Refuge today. Iwas there yesterday on one of the larger refuge lakes got my limit largest 10.5inches so I didn't get to throw any larger back but would of if i would of had any bigger. Threw some smaller back. Had the whole lake to my self I guess everybody went to South Dakota that is ok with me. Thanks Daryl for all you do. My family has had MA perch, BG, Bass, Pike to 41.5, Catfish to 34 This year through the ice and a few years ago I caught a 47 inch musky. Why would I want to go to South Dakota!
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I've got two things for you belly achers and sour puss's. It's my middle fingers. Sorry your not going to get any "professionalism" from me either.. If you don't have anything positive to say or logical solutions. Shut your fish trap. It seems to me like your fishing skills are lacking.. Or you have other problems in your life??? Hell I don't know?? But I can tell you one thing. I love my state of Nebraska! You all need to shut your mouth and go fish. I'm leaving at 5 am for one of my favorite places on earth. The Valentine refuge! And you know what's going to happen to the biggest perch and bluegills I catch??!!!? There getting a photo taken put back down the hole!!!
And far as the, "Baloney" comment!! You guys are little girls if that bothers you! Lmao... Grow up. If I was Daryl I would of had already lost it, said way worse and been done with Ice Shanty, Nefga, and social media because of low blows and morons...
My grandpa passed away a few months ago. And one of the the things that sticks in my mind that he said to me a long time ago fishing was," The best things in life are free".. You all need to get out enjoy a sunrise, sunset, a child's laugh, big catch, or a flock of geese flying over. Anything.
Goodnight I've got Jumbo Perch and big bluegills to catch in the morning. In Nebraska!!!!!
I could not have said it any better!!
ClearCreek
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This is nothing against you, Nate, but I am glad you brought up Prairie Queen.
Prairie Queen, Kramper, Summit.....they were all built by NRD's, not the Game, and Parks Department of Nebraska. But the Ne Game and Parks (interesting that there is no FISH in that name?) is more than happy to take credit for the success of those reservoirs, but if you take issue with litter or noise at the campground they are the first to send you to the NRD headquarters. Oh, and if you buy a Ne Game and Parks park sticker that's great, they will take your money happily, but if not don't worry, nobody is enforcing it at NRD/NGFP parks anyway. I'm sure that is the NRD's fault, too somehow.
I'm glad you brought up the (lack of) enforcement in this state.
I fished 20 Nebraska public bodies of water this past year, all around the state, almost all on weekend. Somewhere around 60-70 days on the water. I had THREE interactions with law enforcement, two of which were a Federal Warden at the Valentine Refuge, the other was a Nebraska CO at Summit.
In 4 trips to SD last year, a total of 15 days on lakes. I was checked SIX times.
In 10 trips to KS, only 4 lakes, I was checked 3 times.
??? ???
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Just remember that 50% of the brain surgeons graduated at the bottom of their class. Are they, too, experts?
Nothing wrong with asking questions. To be dismissed by the 'brain surgeons' with the term, 'baloney', gets annoying and isn't all that impressive.
Just my opinion, which would get you barred and banned from certain forums and yet they take my money for every single tag, license, and day permit that I purchase.
Sorry, but I spend one heck of a lot of time dealing with misinformation. When I see it, I am going to call it.
Daryl B.
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Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions. For now. My only comment, is a result of having just come from the glacial lakes. Everywhere we dropped a camera, for 3 days, freshwater shrimp were in abundance. Lacking that type of forage base, and the habitat to reproduce, I don't believe we can ever support a perch fishery like the glacial lakes region. The glacial lakes are the perfect storm for perch production.
If we wanted jumbo perch, we could set the limit to say, 3 perch per day, then we would catch some limits of jumbos in 4-5 years.
It is pretty much the same reason we only harvest 1 bighorn sheep every few years. We don't have the habitat to support sustained pressure and that habitat exists in few areas of the state.
Let me say something about the "freshwater shrimp". What you are actually referring to are not shrimp at all but amphipods or commonly called "scuds". Nebraska waters have the same scuds as they have in SoDakota. The scuds or amphipods are present in just about every body of water, but you will see highest densities in waterbodies with clean water and usually at least some aquatic vegetation.
We do have that in some Nebraska waters, we do have some incredibly productive fisheries, for example our sandhill lakes, that produce yellow perch every bit as well as any body of water in SoDakota. The biggest difference is that we do not have as many of those waters or waterbodies like that as large as what they have in SoDakota. I wish we did, but I cannot change that.
Daryl B.
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My biggest complaint about Nebraska fisheries is that the game and parks does not put in any structure. I love how you can travel down to Kansas to a brand new lake you never fished an have a great time catching large numbers of fish and good sized fish. How can that be? It is because Kansas game and parks actually puts in structure and posts the GPS coordinates of the structure on their lakes websites. And here is something that is such a shocker. Every few years as the structures (i.e. cedars much of the time) decline, they add more trees. The trees bring in bait fish which brings along the fish. Oh and by the way, the trees provide a great place for the fish to spawn. This concept is just so simple and it is why when you head down to the Kansas lakes most of the fisherman are from Nebraska. Oh by the way, the more Nebraska fisherman that they bring to Kansas means more dollars for the state to continue to update their fisheries. I would have to think that if Nebraska did something similar it would attract outside dollars and provide for much better fisheries. What do I know though?
What is "structure"?
What you are taking about are things like brushpile FISH ATTRACTORS. What those brushpiles and similar cover objects really do is attract fish making them easier for anglers to find and catch. Unless you add a darned lot of brushpiles you do very little to actually improve fish populations and productivity.
Milford Reservoir in Kansas is over 16,000 acres in size. How many acres of brushpiles would you have to add to actually produce a measurable increase the numbers of fish? To add brushpiles over just 10% of Milford Reservoir would be 1600 acres of brushpiles and even that may not be enough to actually improve fish populations.
However, if you want to add more brushpile fish attractors to Nebraska waters, we do some of that work often in conjunction with volunteer help from anglers. If you are interested in doing that on your favorite body of water, contact your regional fisheries supervisor and see if you can get something going. Those projects are usually done during the winter, on the ice. You can find contact information for all of our regional fisheries supervisors in the front of the Fishing Guide, http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/621072-fishing-guide-2016 (http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/621072-fishing-guide-2016).
Our Aquatic Habitat Program is the first of its kind in the country, http://outdoornebraska.gov/aquatichabitatprogram/ (http://outdoornebraska.gov/aquatichabitatprogram/). We could have taken the angler dollars in that program and run around the state putting a variety of fish attractors in our waterbodies. We have done some of that, but we believe a much better investment of our Aquatic Habitat dollars comes from assisting in the construction of new reservoirs and the rehabilitation of aged reservoirs to reduce shoreline erosion and sedimentation so that we have better water quality which will result in more aquatic vegetation which is some of the best fish habitat you can have. With that our fish populations will respond and the fishing will be improved, in some cases much improved.
By the way, we entertained a bunch of pointy-headed fish biologists from Kansas for a couple of days last fall. They were up here to learn more about our Aquatic Habitat Program.
Daryl B.
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This is nothing against you, Nate, but I am glad you brought up Prairie Queen.
Prairie Queen, Kramper, Summit.....they were all built by NRD's, not the Game, and Parks Department of Nebraska. But the Ne Game and Parks (interesting that there is no FISH in that name?) is more than happy to take credit for the success of those reservoirs, but if you take issue with litter or noise at the campground they are the first to send you to the NRD headquarters. Oh, and if you buy a Ne Game and Parks park sticker that's great, they will take your money happily, but if not don't worry, nobody is enforcing it at NRD/NGFP parks anyway. I'm sure that is the NRD's fault, too somehow.
There are a lot of sportspeople in this state that would do well to not believe everything you read on the internet or hear at the coffee shop.
I'm done now.
OK I am throwing the BALONEY card again.
Yep, Prairie Queen and Kramper are newly-built NRD reservoirs and Summit is one that recently had an Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation project completed. Every one of those projects had a huge chunk of funding from the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. In fact none of those projects would have been anything like they were without our involvement. We love being asked to partner with the NRDs in the construction of those new reservoirs because then from the ground floor we can ensure that those reservoirs are constructed with clean water, aquatic habitat and good fishing in mind! It would be a lot cheaper to just go in, grub out all of the standing timber and throw up a dam, and that structure would serve flood control purposes just fine. But with the Game & Parks involvement you are getting reservoirs that will provide excellent fishing opportunities for a long, long time.
Some of the parks areas around some NRD reservoirs are managed by the NRDs and some have been turned over to the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. Who has jurisdiction there depends on the particular area and how that NRD wanted to handle it.
Yes, never believe everything you read on the internet or hear in the coffee shops and bars.
Daryl B.
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How many people travel to our state and spend money here for wipers that's why not Daryl
There absolutely are some!!!!
http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/05/spring-wipers/ (http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/05/spring-wipers/)
And some come for muskies, some for walleyes, some for trout, some for catfish, I even know a bunch that travel south to Nebraska to ice-fish every winter!
Like I said before, "the grass is always greener. . . "
http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/09/grass-always-greener/ (http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/09/grass-always-greener/)
Daryl B.
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Lol Some is the key word
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Valentine National Refuge is not managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
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Well this post got it of hand! Mr.B I am sorry that I have to agree that the baloney remark was unprofessional! You should have said Black Forest ham or maybe Cajun smoked turkey!
Keep it safe! JDL
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I have fished in Kansas for 30 years now, both open water and ice fishing. I too, am concerned about the Wiper stocking program, fun to catch???? Yes, but they have definitely had an impact on other fisheries. I'd like to know what time of year the stomach content studies were done? If after the shad hatch of course they are more likely to be full of those, but no one can tell me that if a school of Wipers come upon a school of stocked walleye fry that they won't make short order of them also, as well as many other fingerling fish. Not sure what both the Kansas and Nebraska Game and Parks fascination is these days with stocking Wipers in any size body of water that will hold them. Love to fish for white bass at Milford Lake, last May we were catching 20:1 Wipers to white bass and the whites were thin and smallish in size. I understand cycles, food chain, carrying capacity, etc… I think it's time to slow down on some of the Wiper stocking in Kansas for sure, some days they are just a plain nuisance when targeting other fish. I used to be quick to report violaters when seeing them take too many of them, now I'm getting to the point where I want to just turn the other way and ignore it. One other question I do have, if both perch and northern pike are cool water fish, and pike are natural predators of perch; why aren't yellow perch being stocked in the same lakes that contain pike. I have ice fished one or two lakes in Nebraska with pike and no perch, the other panfish seem to be thriving there, plenty of food, deep enough water, flats and structure for both hiding from predators and searching for prey, just an observation? I have traveled to North Dakota quite a few times now and don't see much difference between some of those lakes and some of the lakes I've fished in both Kansas and Nebraska. Water temperature shouldn't be an issue if the pike are thriving there already.
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Well I mentioned that this post had gotten out of hand. The baloney and suggesting another kind of meat was kind of a joke, unfortunately this post has gotten out of hand! Too bad this might have been a good discussion about Nebraska fishing. Instead it turned into an argument about the practices of the game and parks.
Keep it safe! JDL
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I thought this was a post about Perch..Wow was I wrong
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Back to Perch... How about this 12 3/4" 1lb 8oz Nebraska Bar of Gold!!!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c99/PhishOn/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/IMG_20160205_150945307_zpsbgzhhe0q.jpg) (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/PhishOn/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/IMG_20160205_150945307_zpsbgzhhe0q.jpg.html)
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Now those are some nice perch, congrats! After reading all the posts in this thread I was making an observation in my post. I think it's ok to question the fish and game department from time to time to gain insight into what their thoughts and reasons behind certain management practices are? That way we as sportsmen get a better understanding of both there logic behind them and how to better fish these waters for the species available. It doesn't have to turn nasty and become a name calling fight. I think they are doing a fairly good job, but as sportsmen and taxpayers we should be able to voice an opinion as to what we're seeing and experiencing at the lakes we fish. And just to add; I'm not a guy that goes out a couple weekends a year to wet a line, I probably fish 100 days a year on average all across the midwest.
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^^^ Well said... I like your style... We are all our own worst enemies when it comes down to it. Not everyone is going to be happy with Game and Parks practices. When do I get my Sandhill lake with length limits to preserve the big panfish and to create a trophy fishery?!
How many of you guys would travel to fish a lake with panfish restrictions? Like 12 inch minimum on perch and only 1 over 14"??? I like fishing good lakes where I know I have a chance at a PIG!
I got on a lake a few years ago with very minimal pressure.. Loaded with good bluegills and perch.. Did a lot of catch and release of Master Angler bluegills and perch.. Well guess what!? It found its way onto the internet, Facebook, Twitter, on and on... It's now half the fishery it was last year. Makes it hard to keep throwing em back as you watch everyone else haul em out!! Lol.. I just try to sting as many as I can! Get good pics and be selective on the harvest... Dang interwebs anyways lolol
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How many people travel to our state and spend money here for wipers that's why not Daryl
You ever been to big mac on the weekend? loaded with out of state cars (colorado and KS) who come to catch walleye and wiper. Doug Stange with Infisherman is another. He comes to Nebraska to fish a lot...often with the guy you were questioning.... (daryl B.). Saw another walleye/wiper episode on Big Mac the other day. The host of the Next Bite was fishing with our own Ben Garver. You ever casted into a school of boiling wiper and hooked one on light line? These are the closest pull you can get to a saltwater fish....here in the mid west. Those things absolutely SMOKE your drag. Think a little before you speak. :)
One more thing to tie this back into perch....saw a yellow perch from our sandhills that went just under 16" last week...... food for thought.
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I love to fish the sandhills lakes. I also like to eat fish, even stockpile a few for a neighborhood fish fry to share with those not lucky enough to get out fishing. It's at least 100 miles one way for me to get to almost any sandhills lake. I would definitely support a 10 fish limit on panfish. We have to do something about this situation where the word on a bite gets out and there's 75-100 rigs in the parking lot the next weekend no matter how remote the lake. There is also an issue of folks that are fortunate enough to fish several days a week taking buckets of fish home every day. There are problems facing our perch fisheries that are out of the Game and Parks hands. We as sportsmen need to self police ourselves a bit or we will continue to see lakes overfished within a year or two. This is just my opinion and I apologize if anyone finds it offensive.
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I have fished in Kansas for 30 years now, both open water and ice fishing. I too, am concerned about the Wiper stocking program, fun to catch???? Yes, but they have definitely had an impact on other fisheries. I'd like to know what time of year the stomach content studies were done? If after the shad hatch of course they are more likely to be full of those, but no one can tell me that if a school of Wipers come upon a school of stocked walleye fry that they won't make short order of them also, as well as many other fingerling fish. Not sure what both the Kansas and Nebraska Game and Parks fascination is these days with stocking Wipers in any size body of water that will hold them. Love to fish for white bass at Milford Lake, last May we were catching 20:1 Wipers to white bass and the whites were thin and smallish in size. I understand cycles, food chain, carrying capacity, etc… I think it's time to slow down on some of the Wiper stocking in Kansas for sure, some days they are just a plain nuisance when targeting other fish. I used to be quick to report violaters when seeing them take too many of them, now I'm getting to the point where I want to just turn the other way and ignore it. One other question I do have, if both perch and northern pike are cool water fish, and pike are natural predators of perch; why aren't yellow perch being stocked in the same lakes that contain pike. I have ice fished one or two lakes in Nebraska with pike and no perch, the other panfish seem to be thriving there, plenty of food, deep enough water, flats and structure for both hiding from predators and searching for prey, just an observation? I have traveled to North Dakota quite a few times now and don't see much difference between some of those lakes and some of the lakes I've fished in both Kansas and Nebraska. Water temperature shouldn't be an issue if the pike are thriving there already.
Sampling of wipers and their stomach contents in that research study occurred as much as possible throughout the year. Not much sampling was possible during the winter, but other than that, as much as possible.
Sampling of wipers was especially intensified right after the stocking of walleye fingerlings. As I said before, not at single walleye of any size was ever found in any wiper stomachs.
Before you assume wipers impact other species, consider that if there is enough prey to feed everything, and in the case of gizzard shad in most reservoirs there is, then there can be no impacts because every predator has more than enough prey to eat. They may not even impact gizzard shad because they are so prolific.
Why are we stocking pike in some of those waters you are thinking about? In most of them we are trying to bolster predator populations to control unwanted species, and in some of those we are protecting the pike with more restrictive regulations if not total catch & release. Or, as is the case with Lake Wanahoo, we have a window of opportunity where we might be able to provide a pike fishery for awhile in a part of the state where we have none. Sure, we could have stocked some yellow perch there too, but that cool-water panfish species would not have done as well as the bluegills and crappies are doing. And yes, I am saying there are not going to be northern pike in Wanahoo forever.
How well do yellow perch do in Nebraska's sandhill lakes in comparison to bluegills and crappies? Sure bluegills and crappies can do very well in those waters, but in those sandhill lake habitats the yellow perch tend to do even better. Yeah you can stock a lot of things in different waters, but what is MOST SUCCESSFUL depends on a lot of factors including especially HABITAT.
There ain't a whole lot of similarities between many waters in North Dakota and Nebraska. Some of the natural lakes may compare to our sandhill lakes, and some of their reservoirs may compare to our largest reservoirs, but that would be about it.
Daryl B.
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Now those are some nice perch, congrats! After reading all the posts in this thread I was making an observation in my post. I think it's ok to question the fish and game department from time to time to gain insight into what their thoughts and reasons behind certain management practices are? That way we as sportsmen get a better understanding of both there logic behind them and how to better fish these waters for the species available. It doesn't have to turn nasty and become a name calling fight. I think they are doing a fairly good job, but as sportsmen and taxpayers we should be able to voice an opinion as to what we're seeing and experiencing at the lakes we fish. And just to add; I'm not a guy that goes out a couple weekends a year to wet a line, I probably fish 100 days a year on average all across the midwest.
I love the discussions and think that is very useful! That is exactly why I try to participate in on-line forums like this one!
Most of the time all I do is try to explain what we are doing in the Fisheries Division of the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission and why we are doing it. I will call 'em the way I see 'em and be truthful about every bit of it. I am completely willing to listen to opinions and comments, and if you got complaints, I want to hear 'em. Just know I am going to answer what I can. I fully realize that some folks are never going to believe a word I say, just because of my position. Makes no difference to me, you can take it or leave it.
Daryl B.
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Thanks for your input Mr. Bauer, you definitely answered a few of the questions I had. I had been wondering with two cool water species the pike and yellow perch, why they hadn't been stocked into the same lake is all. May I ask in relation to predation; what size bluegills and crappies a Northern Pike of average size in Wanahoo will consume? Or is it mainly fingerlings? Also, may I ask what is the baitfish source that is present in Wanahoo at this time that the Crappie, Walleye, and Northern Pike are preying on? Thanks again for your input. I did notice with the panfish caught there recently they had little black leech or snail like insects in their mouths when they came up through the hole?
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Back to Perch... How about this 12 3/4" 1lb 8oz Nebraska Bar of Gold!!!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c99/PhishOn/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/IMG_20160205_150945307_zpsbgzhhe0q.jpg) (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/PhishOn/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/IMG_20160205_150945307_zpsbgzhhe0q.jpg.html)
Very nice!!
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(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g72/eepks/Perch_2016_zpscccxcxee.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/user/eepks/media/Perch_2016_zpscccxcxee.jpg.html)
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I have followed this post from the beginning when MR. B posted the article in Nebraskaland magazine.......by the way one of the best magazines in the business. There is a common trend that has developed in this forum and others and it is usually started by the same individuals over and over. We are blessed to have a representative like Mr. Bauer who is out there publicly defending/explaining the position of the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. Why does he have to continuously defend the agency and its positions? Is it his or the agency's fault that 90% of the states population is in the Eastern third of the state? Is it his or the agency's fault that the eastern third of the state does not have sand bottom ponds, lakes and reservoirs? Is it his or the agency's fault that there are limited funds that are appropriated by politicians who more than likely are not outdoors people and could care less whether the agency has funds to operate properly? Mr. Bauer I thank you for your continued effort to educate and promote the outdoors in great State of Nebraska and I apologize for the BALONEY that you have to take by being out there for the people to complain to! If the people that have such a problem with the NGPC try and be part of the solution. Write your state senator, write to the newspaper, write the NGPC and express your concerns. In the end there are a few factors that make all of the difference, funding, landscape & population. Once again Thank You Mr. Bauer and Mr. Wagner and all of the folks at NGPC!
If you folks that will never be happy do not like it MOVE!
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I have followed this post from the beginning when MR. B posted the article in Nebraskaland magazine.......by the way one of the best magazines in the business. There is a common trend that has developed in this forum and others and it is usually started by the same individuals over and over. We are blessed to have a representative like Mr. Bauer who is out there publicly defending/explaining the position of the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. Why does he have to continuously defend the agency and its positions? Is it his or the agency's fault that 90% of the states population is in the Eastern third of the state? Is it his or the agency's fault that the eastern third of the state does not have sand bottom ponds, lakes and reservoirs? Is it his or the agency's fault that there are limited funds that are appropriated by politicians who more than likely are not outdoors people and could care less whether the agency has funds to operate properly? Mr. Bauer I thank you for your continued effort to educate and promote the outdoors in great State of Nebraska and I apologize for the BALONEY that you have to take by being out there for the people to complain to! If the people that have such a problem with the NGPC try and be part of the solution. Write your state senator, write to the newspaper, write the NGPC and express your concerns. In the end there are a few factors that make all of the difference, funding, landscape & population. Once again Thank You Mr. Bauer and Mr. Wagner and all of the folks at NGPC!
If you folks that will never be happy do not like it MOVE!
Thank you well said.
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I have followed this post from the beginning when MR. B posted the article in Nebraskaland magazine.......by the way one of the best magazines in the business. There is a common trend that has developed in this forum and others and it is usually started by the same individuals over and over. We are blessed to have a representative like Mr. Bauer who is out there publicly defending/explaining the position of the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. Why does he have to continuously defend the agency and its positions? Is it his or the agency's fault that 90% of the states population is in the Eastern third of the state? Is it his or the agency's fault that the eastern third of the state does not have sand bottom ponds, lakes and reservoirs? Is it his or the agency's fault that there are limited funds that are appropriated by politicians who more than likely are not outdoors people and could care less whether the agency has funds to operate properly? Mr. Bauer I thank you for your continued effort to educate and promote the outdoors in great State of Nebraska and I apologize for the BALONEY that you have to take by being out there for the people to complain to! If the people that have such a problem with the NGPC try and be part of the solution. Write your state senator, write to the newspaper, write the NGPC and express your concerns. In the end there are a few factors that make all of the difference, funding, landscape & population. Once again Thank You Mr. Bauer and Mr. Wagner and all of the folks at NGPC!
If you folks that will never be happy do not like it MOVE!
Excellent post, Munger1! Very nicely put.
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you know Bauer you are so full of it. I live at Big Mac. When I was a kid we caught kokanee in the lake and crappie and perch and huge rainbow trout. Then the G and P in all there wisdom and knowledge put stripers in the lake then the populations of the money fish went down.The lake turned and a tempature inversion the kokanee died the stripers ate all the trout and panfish . So the G and P stocked awiles and gizzard shad. The stripers died off an no one caught any thing thru the 90,s and the scubadivers were blamed for killing all the walleyes plenty of stuff written in papers and nebraskaland magazine. Same S$$$ on the refuge Hackberry was a perfect lake now you cant buy a perch or bluegill you can get a pike. Wonder where all the panfish went. All the refuge lakes had fresh water shrimp or scuds they were gone for years but we saw them last year on Pelican and Dewey. Now we don't see the fisheries trucks of South Dakota up there as much. Game and parks are in it for the money when they get a lake going with panfish you seine it and sell or trade the fish to other states. Deny it Daryl all you want you are a phony . I have worked for Nebraska G and P. Its all about money.
fish98:
Just wondering where G&P keeps all that money they make by selling those fish to other states. I will bet they have a secret underground cavern someplace that is FULL of money.
ClearCreek
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Nope, no pan fish in the Valentine Refuge Lakes. Don't need to fish there anymore. ;D
btw: The SDSU fisheries folks you mentioned work in conjunction with the Ne G&P and Federal Fish & Wildlife conducting studies on state, federal, and private Nebraska Sandhill Lakes. ALL documents are public domain. If Daryl's word is not good enough, there is plenty of reading material available about those lakes.
I believe the future is brighter now than it has been in two decades for our Sandhill Lakes. A sustained period of normal to above normal precipitation covering all but the eastern portion of the Sandhills. G&P implementing new pan fish length limits on certain lakes. Complete system renovations instead of a lake by lake approach when applicable. I'm confident my sons and grand kids will have ample fishing opportunities in NE.
dc
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I was blown away with the number of small perch on one particular refuge lake last weekend. Perfect snack size for pike, and they are capitalizing. The pike we caught were FAT, even the 18-24" pike. Going to have a couple of years of great pike growth, and hopefully a few perch that elude them.
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you know Bauer you are so full of it. I live at Big Mac. When I was a kid we caught kokanee in the lake and crappie and perch and huge rainbow trout. Then the G and P in all there wisdom and knowledge put stripers in the lake then the populations of the money fish went down.The lake turned and a tempature inversion the kokanee died the stripers ate all the trout and panfish . So the G and P stocked awiles and gizzard shad. The stripers died off an no one caught any thing thru the 90,s and the scubadivers were blamed for killing all the walleyes plenty of stuff written in papers and nebraskaland magazine. Same S$$$ on the refuge Hackberry was a perfect lake now you cant buy a perch or bluegill you can get a pike. Wonder where all the panfish went. All the refuge lakes had fresh water shrimp or scuds they were gone for years but we saw them last year on Pelican and Dewey. Now we don't see the fisheries trucks of South Dakota up there as much. Game and parks are in it for the money when they get a lake going with panfish you seine it and sell or trade the fish to other states. Deny it Daryl all you want you are a phony . I have worked for Nebraska G and P. Its all about money.
Does Daryl always have all the right answers.... nope. Does he agree with EVERYTHING the G&P does all the time....pry not. If he is one thing....it is honest. In my experience with him...he calls it as he sees it. Another thing....he posts under his name....and not an avatar. It'd be nice if some of the constant Ney-sayers would post their name, phone numbers, and titles. That way we could look more into your businesses and criticize every aspect as we see fit. :D
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you know Bauer you are so full of it. I live at Big Mac. When I was a kid we caught kokanee in the lake and crappie and perch and huge rainbow trout. Then the G and P in all there wisdom and knowledge put stripers in the lake then the populations of the money fish went down.The lake turned and a tempature inversion the kokanee died the stripers ate all the trout and panfish . So the G and P stocked awiles and gizzard shad. The stripers died off an no one caught any thing thru the 90,s and the scubadivers were blamed for killing all the walleyes plenty of stuff written in papers and nebraskaland magazine. Same S$$$ on the refuge Hackberry was a perfect lake now you cant buy a perch or bluegill you can get a pike. Wonder where all the panfish went. All the refuge lakes had fresh water shrimp or scuds they were gone for years but we saw them last year on Pelican and Dewey. Now we don't see the fisheries trucks of South Dakota up there as much. Game and parks are in it for the money when they get a lake going with panfish you seine it and sell or trade the fish to other states. Deny it Daryl all you want you are a phony . I have worked for Nebraska G and P. Its all about money.
BALONEY.
"fish98", Your mind is made up, you have all the answers. But, there are a lot of other folks reading these things, my reply here is intended to inform them. . . .
Pointy-headed fisheries biologists working for the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission knew 40 years ago that McConaughy, a man-made reservoir, would eventually age and the habitat would change to the point where that fishery would no longer support cold-water fish. They predicted it way back then, and in fact the habitat conditions at McConaughy have changed dramatically over the years. That is why Kokanee and Coho salmon and rainbow trout fisheries no longer exist there.
The striped bass in McConaughy continue to be scapegoats and blamed for a lot of things they had nothing to do with. McConaughy is so large and wind-swept that some winters the water is "super-cooled" to the point that most of the gizzard shad perish. That was a problem about 30-some years ago, and at that time gizzard shad were the primary baitfish in the reservoir. When almost all the gizzard shad died, all the predator fish, walleyes, white bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, crappies, and striped bass were hungry. The stripers were the biggest "dogs" so they ate what they could. The stripers were not the problem, an unstable prey base was the problem. At that time Nebraska Game & Parks Commission fisheries biologists introduced a variety of new baitfish to diversity the prey base. Alewives were most successful and have provided a much more stable prey base of gizzard shad AND alewives to this day.
Once the alewives became established, feeding behaviors of the predator fish in McConaughy changed dramatically. There were a period of years in the 1990's when McConaughy was chock-full of big walleyes and other predator fish. Big walleyes that not many folks were catching because they had not figured out the new feeding behaviors. Once a few anglers figured that out and the word got out the catch of trophy walleyes from McConaughy went through the roof.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the panfish fishery on Hackberry right now. There is some good pike fishing there too, http://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015FishSamplingReport_ValentineNationalWildlifeRefuge.pdf (http://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015FishSamplingReport_ValentineNationalWildlifeRefuge.pdf). If you wonder where all the panfish go to from those sandhill lakes, check the buckets of anglers coming off the ice.
All of our sandhill lakes are incredibly productive including all of them on the Valentine National Wildlife refuge. Amphipods or "scuds" are present in abundance on those waters, ALL the time.
The "fisheries trucks" from South Dakota were driven by graduate students from South Dakota State University (SDSU) who did several years of research on our sandhill lakes. We contracted with SDSU, one of the best universities in the country for doing that work, and we learned a lot about our sandhill lakes fisheries from that. That project has been concluded and that is why you do not see those pickups anymore.
Yeah, you bet, I do this for the money, I am getting filthy rich having discussions like this with you and others. Planning to take a 2-week vacation to Cancun later this month. ::) If you think any of us do this for the money you are crazy. I do what I do because it is my passion, Nebraska's fish and fisheries resources are my passion, it is my home, those are my resources, they are your resources too. It not only is my passion, it is who I am.
I can be no "phonier" than that,
Daryl B.
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great, professional reply....Kudos Mr. Bauer, keep on keeping on....there are people out there that do appreciate what state fish biologists do
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I don't live at Big Mac but I did stay at the Trade Winds last weekend!! Lmao... Jab. Jab.... Yea Hackberry sucks... I can't believe G&P would put crappies in there... Ruined it...
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c99/PhishOn/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/IMG_20160205_130005566_zpskmmoxzog.jpg)
Well I know there is at least two big perch left;)
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Daryl, you're way more patient than I'd be. Those of us that read your posts for the helpful information you provide, certainly appreciate it. Everybody loves good conspiracy theories but good grief, like you said, some minds are just made up. What a thankless job. But who needs a pat on the back when you're rolling in all that cash, right? *extreme sarcasm intended*. Seriously though, thanks to everyone in your profession for your dedication. A little food for thought before I go eat my BALONEY sandwich (sorry had to), if the fishing in our state is so terrible and our fisheries employees are doing nothing to improve it, why am I catching fish EVERYTIME I go to any of the public lakes around me (northeast Nebraska)? And just imagine what it'd be like if the fisheries dept was non existent, like a couple of "theorists" imply? Have a good weekend everyone!
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You know what? If you can't find a place in Nebraska to catch fish, I don' think crying about there are no good fisheries in the state is going to help! Don't blame game and parks cause you have to go some place else to catch fish! Shut up! And go some place else! Those of you who yap about how many days a year you fish, as if that makes you more qualified then folks who have spent their working lives trying to make sure that when I get a chance to go fishing I can have a quality experience? I spend as much time as I can on the water, hard or open, and I ain't got no problems with the way the folks the have been entrusted with taking care of our waters are doing their jobs! To bad this post went off the rails?
One other thing! I see all the time people talking about the buckets of fish being taken home from a hot lake! Are they catching really big fish? Or are they using really small buckets? Cause daily catch limits for pan fish, see the fishing quide is 15. Just wondering why the folks that see buckets of fishing being taken from the lakes don't make a call to the local game warden? See the fishing guide for the numbers .
Those that can catch! Those that can't whine about how the state won't play nice for them!
Pease out!
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great, professional reply....Kudos Mr. Bauer, keep on keeping on....there are people out there that do appreciate what state fish biologists do
I will second this statement! Daryl doesn't need to sit on internet forums and offer tips, advice and info on our fish and fisheries here in Huskerville but he does it. and id be willing to be he knows a bit more on these subjects than most of us. ITS HIS JOB! now if he could figure out how to get rid of the silver carp from the Missouri river id be happy!! and back to perch......
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We fished a very public and heavily fished Sandhills lake Sat and Sun. Dealing with a late start on Sat due to icy roads, and unsettled weather/barometer we managed to bring top side some very healthy, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Crappie, LMB, and my Son lost a nice Walleye in the hole as well. We brought home a nice mess to eat and released a lot. My point is I would say that when you can catch that many species of quality fish in one lake in two days on a tough bite, the people responsible for managing that body of water are doing a damn good job in my opinion. Keep up the good work Daryl and Company!!!! hate to see ice season end ..... Come on November!!!!
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I will second this statement! Daryl doesn't need to sit on internet forums and offer tips, advice and info on our fish and fisheries here in Huskerville but he does it. and id be willing to be he knows a bit more on these subjects than most of us. ITS HIS JOB! now if he could figure out how to get rid of the silver carp from the Missouri river id be happy!! and back to perch......
Ummm....yes he does. Please see his job title on every one of his posts....
Daryl Bauer
Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
[email protected]
Outreach means surfing the net and selling Nebraska's fisheries.
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Well hope your trails are so full of yellow perch that you can't hardly get down them!
Keep it safe until last year! JDL
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Well hope your trails are so full of yellow perch that you can't hardly get down them!
Keep it safe until last year! JDL
Just for the record, I haven't caught a single yellow perch this year, nor have I eaten a single yellow perch in 2013-2016. So, I can 'hardly get them down' cuz I haven't caught a single one in NE.
I did, however, just buy a non-resident license to fish in IA for the first time for 2016. Looking forward to the opportunities that presents.
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Ummm....yes he does. Please see his job title on every one of his posts....
Daryl Bauer
Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
[email protected]
Outreach means surfing the net and selling Nebraska's fisheries.
It does now, it absolutely is one of my job duties. . . .
But, it did not start that way! I saw a need, an opportunity, started doing something about it, and now it is my job! I have some great bosses!
Daryl B.
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Great info on the Yellow Perch. Thanks. One question... Instead of relying on the public for selective harvest why not adjust bag and possession limits?
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Great info on the Yellow Perch. Thanks. One question... Instead of relying on the public for selective harvest why not adjust bag and possession limits?
We do. But understand that fisheries management involves work with the fish and other aquatic organisms, their habitat, and humans. Oftentimes, the fish and habitat are the easy components to work with. ;)
Fishing regulations are always developed with some biology and some politics. Anglers come in an infinite variety of shapes, sizes, ideas, and desires. Nothing we do will satisfy everyone, and you better believe when folks do not like something we hear about it. For fishing regulations to work, they must be accepted and complied with.
There is no doubt that angler attitudes and desires have changed a lot in the past 20+ years. A lot of that change has been towards less "catch all you can, and can all you catch" and towards more catch & release and selective harvest. Some of our regulations reflect those changes now, but I suspect there may be even more of that in the future. I will keep encouraging changes in those attitudes.
One more thing to understand about fishing regulations: Bag limits and possession limits do very little to reduce harvest unless those limits are set extremely low, "low" as in allowing only a couple, three panfish per day. What bag and possession limits do is distribute the catch among anglers and over time. You wouldn't want someone getting more than their "fair share". In most fisheries the real way to reduce harvest, to structure fish populations is some type of length limit.
Daryl B.
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You have to admit there are allot of grassy knolls to hide all the shooters oops I mean seines. Low water levels have nothing to do with fish.
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Ok Daryl you got your degree at South Dakota State so no bias there. Please tell me the reasons behind the cutting of all the trees on the refuge are they dredging the lakes there the piles of sand at the east end of Pelican,Hackberry,Clear. Why is there always a south Dakota fisheries truck up there even on Fry lake and blue? Don't they have lakes in South Dakota?
You will have to talk to the refuge folks about all the tree-cutting.
There has been some dredging to improve boat ramps. Will be some more work on water flow and control structures in the future, and the fishing on the Valentine Refuge will be better because of it.
The research that South Dakota State did for us was done on sandhill lakes, not just refuge lakes.
Yes, they do have some very fine lakes in South Dakota, and also one of the best fisheries science programs in the country!
Daryl Bauer, proud alum of both the University of Nebraska and South Dakota State University
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I'm not an arborist. But I also noticed the tree claim that was cut, (thinned down) on the North West entrance. It wasn't clear cut, but it got a heck of a trim.. My guess is that they had disease otherwise they would of been left alone or clear cut it....
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All right.... Here ya go Fish98... I just called the VNWR headquarters and spoke with the manager regarding the trees and the aliens in SDSU trucks. Just for you...;) Here's the skinny.. The tree claim on the west end right before Duck and Rice was cut down or thinned out on the past managers request. He only wanted Pines in there and no cedars.. The cedars were mulched and used in another project with the NRD.. He said, " you will continue to see cedars, honey and black locust trees cut to stop there spread through the hills". As far as the South Dakota goes... They were doing research. And will probably always being research from what I could understand from him. I even accused him of selling our fish.. And wanted some answers.. He laughed so damn hard...
So... Do I agree with that nice tree strip being cut? No... Can I do anything about it?? No. Do I believe SDSU is going to negatively affect the VNWR.. NO!!!!!
Have a good day.. P.S. he said most lakes have open water and would be accessible with waders for you northern and bass guys...