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Jerry Kane
Public Information Officer | jerry.kane@nebraska.gov
| 402.471.5008
Carp-O-Rama Moving to Branched Oak SRA
LINCOLN – Carp-O-Rama is back in 2015 but in a new location. This popular, family-friendly event will be held June 20 at Branched Oak State Recreation Area (SRA).
Anglers of all ages interested in learning all aspects of carp fishing are invited to attend this free event from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Lieber’s Point. Carp caught by anglers will be used in demonstrations on cleaning, preparing and cooking the fish. The cooked fish then will be served as a free lunch.
Other activities include fish printing, Dutch oven cooking demonstrations and prize drawings for children age 15 and younger. Loaner fishing poles will be available.
Carp is an excellent fish for beginning anglers to pursue because they are plentiful statewide, and the required equipment is relatively simple. The strong-fighting fish also is not restricted by bag, possession limits or size limits.
The north and east sides of Lieber’s Point will be chummed with corn the day before the event to attract carp to the area. Canned, whole kernel corn and dough baits are good bait options for catching carp.
In the past, Carp-O-Rama has been held at Pawnee Lake State Recreation Area. However, in November of 2013, a chemical was applied to Pawnee Lake to remove unwanted white perch and gizzard shad from the fish population. Other fish, including common carp, also were impacted. While carp still exist in Pawnee, Branched Oak has a larger population of carp.
A park entry permit is required of all vehicles entering Branched Oak SRA, located 4 miles north of Malcolm in Lancaster County. A fishing license is required of anglers age 16 and older. Both permits may be purchased at the park.
For anglers in western Nebraska, there will be a Carp-O-Rama on July 11 at Lake Maloney Reservoir SRA south of North Platte.
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Fly Fishing School is June 20 at Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium
LINCOLN – People looking to learn the basics of fly fishing are invited to attend Fly Fishing School on June 20 at Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium and Schramm Park State Recreation Area.
This six-hour class will be presented by the Cornhusker Fly Fishers beginning at 9 a.m. It will cover such things as casting, terminology, fly selection, catching fish, strategies, fish food, and ethical handling and releasing of fish.
The cost is $15. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. To sign up, contact Cornhusker Fly Fishers at cornhuskerflyfishers.org. The aquarium is located 7 miles south of Gretna on Nebraska Highway 31.
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Park Visitors Asked to Restrict Firewood Movement
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is asking campers to restrict the movement of firewood to prevent the entry of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) into the state.
EAB is a tree-killing beetle native to Asia. It can move from state to state in firewood. Emerald ash borer has become established near Creston, Iowa, just 60 miles from the Nebraska border. To date there are no confirmed reports of EAB migration into Nebraska.
As in recent years, a Voluntary Firewood Exchange Program is in place at several state park areas to prevent the movement of the emerald ash borer into the state. Campers at Niobrara, Ponca, Eugene T. Mahoney and Indian Cave state parks, and Red Willow Reservoir, Medicine Creek Reservoir, Branched Oak, Lewis and Clark, Pawnee and Two Rivers state recreation areas who bring firewood from outside of the state should exchange their wood at the park office or campground host for an equal volume of locally acquired firewood.
In addition, it is recommended that Nebraska residents also acquire firewood at or near their destination, rather than bringing it from other locations. Locally acquired firewood will be sold at park offices or concessions inside Chadron, Fort Robinson, Indian Cave, Eugene T. Mahoney, Niobrara, Platte River, Ponca and Smith Falls state parks and Branched Oak, Fremont, Lake Maloney, Lake Minatare, Lewis and Clark, Louisville, and Two Rivers state recreation areas.
Wood lying on the ground at Game and Parks properties may be collected and burned as firewood on site.
Park visitors are commended for their cooperation with the wood exchange program and for their diligence in preventing the spread of EAB. Visitors are also reminded to enjoy campfires safely and in compliance with regulations to prevent wildfires.
More information can be found at: emeraldashborer.info and dontmovefirewood.org.
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Four Nebraska Lakes Among Top 100 for Fishing and Boating
LINCOLN – Voters have selected four Nebraska lakes to a list of 100 family-friendly boating and fishing lakes in the nation.
The following Nebraska lakes made the annual top 100 list, which is compiled annually by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF): Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area (SRA), No. 14; Harlan County Reservoir, No. 28; Lake Wanahoo SRA, No. 47; and Two Rivers SRA, No. 73.
Florida’s Everglades National Park was voted the No. 1 place to fish and boat in America. The list was announced June 1 by RBFF.
Criteria for the top places to boat and fish included having a public body of water within an hour of a major city, good fishing opportunities and family-friendly amenities.
RBFF also encouraged Nebraskans and anglers and boaters across the nation to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week, June 6-14, by enjoying their favorite fishing or boating lakes.
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational fishing and boating, thereby restoring and protecting the nation’s aquatic natural resources.
For a complete list of the top 100 lakes, visit: http://takemefishing.org/community/americas-top-family-fishing-and-boating-spots/.
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