Proposed Fishing Regulation Changes for 2013-2014
Most of you have probably noticed that our current Fishing Guide is good until the end of this year, 2012. That means that on Jan. 1, 2013 a new Fishing Guide will be valid and that means we have been discussing potential fishing regulation changes. Our Fisheries Division staff here at the Game & Parks Commission has had a lot of discussions about fishing regulations, we have them all the time, but those discussions have been a little more “focused” with the need to publish a new Fishing Guide for 2013-2014.
You can find a list of the proposed fishing regulation changes for 2013-2014 here,
We would appreciate it if you take a look at those proposals and let us know what you think. There are instructions there for your reply. In order to keep the process on time we have to ask that you reply by August 24, 2012. This is an important part of our regulation process and we want to get feedback from our anglers. Fisheries regulation proposals for 2013-2014 will be discussed by our board of commissioners at the August 2012 commission meeting.
Notice again that these regulation changes are being proposed for a two-year period. We are keeping our fisheries regulation process on a two-year cycle. I realize there are 13 pages of proposed changes and that seems like a lot, but a lot of that is explanation and justification included in the text. You will notice that a number of the proposed changes deal with bait regulations and aquatic invasive species. Take some time, look it all over, feel free to comment on as much or as little as you wish.
If you agree with the proposed changes, let us know. If you do not agree, we want to hear that too. If you have comments about regulations that are currently in place with no proposed changes, we would love to hear about that as well.
Darryl, why is the fishing so horrible in Nebraska compared to South Dakota and Iowa? Why does the state keep putting more money into Biologists who are bloggers and better bodies of water going and better fisheries? Seriously, it is quite embarrassing that the states capitol is surrounded by the worst bodies of water I have ever seen in my life. I have lived in over 20 states and fished all 50 states in the past 10 years and by far this is the worst hands down. It is quite embarrassing to see you post old photos of Walleye which you didn’t even catch this season. No one really wants to read about you or kids fishing experiences, they want to hear when its going to get better.
Ben,
Wow. Where do I start?
First of all, you should know that I am a trained fisheries biologist, have a couple of degrees around here someplace to prove that. My position right now is to serve as a laison to the public, to Nebraska anglers, and I spend a lot of time doing that. In previous positions for the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission I have been hands-on involved with a variety of fisheries management and fisheries research projects around the state. I may not get out in the field to do a lot of that work anymore, but I am still very much in the middle of what is being done to take care of our state’s fisheries and to make those fisheries even better.
Believe it or not, my supervisors think the time I spend blogging is very productive and beneficial. In fact, part of the reason it is beneficial and productive is I make it a point to explain the fishing opportunities we have in Nebraska, explain our management of those fisheries, explain the challenges we have, and what we are doing about them, AND demonstrate that the fishing in Nebraska is NOT horrible–is NOT horrible compared to South Dakota and Iowa! I spend significant time every year trying to tell folks where they can go in Nebraska to experience some of the best fishing we have to offer (e.g. http://www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov/fishing/pdfs/FishForecast.pdf ). I fully realize that there are great opportunities in other states; I have a wish list of waters around the country that I would love to fish, BUT I also know that Nebraska offers a diversity of fishing opportunities for a diversity of species of fish. For example, I know we offer wiper fishing that South Dakota has none of; come to think of it, we have a lot more largemouth bass fishing opportunities in Nebraska than South Dakota as well. Likewise, we offer some opportunities that are just as good or better than what Iowa has; we have a rainbow trout fishery in Nebraska right now that is as good or better than any that can be found anywhere (and I have blogged about that frequently)!
I have often said that the “curse” of Nebraska geography is that most of our state’s population lives in eastern Nebraska while much of our water and certainly many of our best fisheries are located in central, northern, and western parts of the state. I am stationed in Lincoln, so I fish close to the capitol city a lot, but you better believe I take every opportunity to travel around the state and sample the great variety of fishing opportunities Nebraska has to offer. My blog is full of stories and photos about those travels, and I hope my rambling encourages other folks to get out there and discover the great fishing Nebraska has to offer.
Sorry, I have not posted any recent pictures of walleyes I have caught. There have been a few, but believe it or not, I do not take photos of every fish I catch and some photos I take, well, just are not very good photos. I have posted photos of some walleyes I or my fishing partners have caught already this year, in fact some of those were caught close to the capitol city. I will make it a point to take some more. Sorry I used that foggy morning walleye photo from last summer; I liked the photo and it was a memorable morning of fishing, in Nebraska.
I fully expect that some folks could not care less about my rambling nor about my family fishing trips. If they do not want to read my blog, I ain’t holding a gun to their head. However, I have blogged a lot about my family and our experiences and will continue to do so because it demonstrates that fishing is a great FAMILY activity. In my experience, in today’s world, there are lots of folks interested in activities they can do together as a family. I will blog about that and include my family in some of my blog posts because that is who I am, and I believe that is something a lot of other folks are interested in and looking for!
In my and my kids fishing adventures we will continue to tell you and others where there is some great fishing in Nebraska. Fish populations in every body of water are dynamic and there are always some “ups” and “downs” in fishing. Every year some waters will be hotter than others. You keep reading my stories about my kids and my fishing and you will find out where the best fishing in Nebraska is right now, and you will be one of the first to know which waters are on the way up, getting better as you would put it!
Daryl Bauer
Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov
Yes, I love to fish South Dakota too, but there’s nothing wrong with Nebraska! There’s always got to be one jerk out there! Keep up the good work! And oh, kids are our future!
Leave Wahahoo catch and release only for northern pike.
Ken,
Please drop me an e-mail with your comments, even if you repeat them word for word. For your comments to be counted “officially” I need an e-mail or written letter.
Thanks,
Daryl B.
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov
I read the proposals, and ,cconsidering the number of Nebraskans who fish, I think they are very reasonable. I especially l;ike the modification of the 16 inch rule for the Keystone Canal. Catching trout from the canal is a real challenge, and a couple of big trout in the cooler is a big deal, at least to me. I don’t get to catch many big fish. Anyway, the new rules are, for me, very workable.
Bob,
Please drop me an e-mail with your comments, even if you repeat them word for word. For your comments to be counted “officially” I need an e-mail or written letter.
Thanks,
Daryl B.
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov
If I’m reading proposals correctly, I like the increase in panfish & white bass possession limits (to 45)–but, being lazy I haven’t researched to determine whether that number (45) is the number of white bass and panfish that you can have in combination, or whether you can have 45 white bass AND 45 panfish?
The increase in walleye possession limit (to 12), I’m unsure about (and really surprised). What is the purpose of that increase? Is it to attract more fishermen to travel to Nebraska to fish walleye? Under current walleye possession limits, a husband and wife can either transport or have in their freezer 16 walleye–that’s a bunch of fillets!
Steve,
For regulation purposes, there is a list of categories of fish on page 14 of the 2011-2012 Fishing Guide, http://www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov/fishing/guides/fishguide/pdf/FishGuide.pdf . Species that are categorized as “panfish” include all the Lepomid sunfish species and their hybrids, crappies, rock bass and yellow perch. White bass are NOT categorized as a panfish for regulation purposes.
So, white bass and panfish have separate limits.
All I can tell you about all of the proposed changes in possession limits is that neither bag nor possession limits have any impact on harvest rates. Increased possession limits were proposed simply to allow folks who might be on a weekend trip to take more fish home with them.
Please drop me an e-mail with your comments, even if you repeat them word for word. For your comments to be counted “officially” I need an e-mail or written letter.
Thanks,
Daryl B.
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov