Family-Outdoors

Do you love fishing? Maybe you’ve always wanted to try to fish but don’t know where to start? Either way, Free Fishing Day is for you! On June 3 this year you can fish without a license. It’s the perfect time to try out a new hobby or keep doing what you already love. Families can enjoy fun fishing events throughout the state beginning on Free Fishing Day.  Plan to attend an event near you!

  BY JERRY KANE ON MAY 15, 2023 FISHING NEWS By Daryl Bauer There is no doubt the fish species that can send the largest number of anglers to the banks during the spring outbreak of fishing fever is crappies. Everyone loves to sit on a shoreline on a warm afternoon and experience a good crappie bite. What can an angler do to maximize the number of spring days catching crappies? Crappies love warm areas; they also love bays, coves, corners and similar areas that are protected from the wind, especially cold north and northwest winds. Find cover in those warming areas — emergent vegetation, stalks of last summer’s submerged vegetation, brush piles, fallen trees or beaver lodges — and you likely will find some spring crappies. Rocks and rocky habitats also hold fish, but, on many Nebraska reservoirs, those hold more crappies later in the spring after the water has warmed more. Where did they go? Fish for crappies on a beautiful spring afternoon and everything can be grand. Go back...

  NORTHWEST NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI RIVER SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST Win weekly prizes and help Iowa DNR expand walleye collection data by simply recording your catches  May 1 - June 30 .  It's easy to join in the fun!  Register today .  There is a $25 entry fee; only paid participants qualify for prizes. NORTHWEST Black Hawk Lake Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. Anglers are picking up fish in Town Bay, along shore near Ice House Point, the inlet bridge, and near the outlet.  Black Crappie  - Good: Anglers are picking up crappie close to shore along the Ice House Point shoreline, from the fish house in Town Bay, and in the marina with small jigs. Some sorting is needed.  Channel Catfish  - Fair.  Walleye  - Good: Anglers are picking up good numbers of 12- to 18-inch walleye along shore and from boats.  Yellow Perch  - Fair. Brushy Creek Lake Water temperatures are in the low 60s.  Black Crappie  - Fai...