Anglers at the Two Rivers State Recreation Area trout lake are facing stiff competition from some double-crested cormorants.
As a result, the fish-eating birds have lowered the anglers’ catch rates.
A daily trout tag is required to take and possess trout in the area March 1 through June 30. Steve Wilhelm, fish production manager at Grove Trout Rearing Station near Royal, said typical catch rates this time of year are 3.5 trout per tag. Since the cormorants arrived on April 13, the catch rates have slowed to .18 trout per tag.
The park staff has been attempting to encourage the cormorants to move out of the area, but the birds may remain until the weather gets warmer.
“We will not stock any more trout until the birds have at least left the area,” Wilhelm said. Trout will continue to grow at Grove Trout Rearing Station until stocked.
In March, Grove stocked the trout lake with 9,000 11- to 12-inch rainbow trout. In addition, staff stocked 500 11-inch tiger trout and 250 rainbow trout up to 15 inches.
Wilhelm said the trout lake is scheduled to receive about 27,000 trout this season, and 13,300 have been stocked so far. He estimated that there were approximately 5,100 trout in the lake when the cormorants arrived.
“The trout lake is stocked on an as-needed basis this time of year,” Wilhelm said. “We keep track of the number of trout estimated to be remaining in the lake using the results from trout tag returns to the Two Rivers office. In April and May, this amounts to stocking about once every two weeks (about 4,000 trout per load).”
All trout caught in the lake must be harvested and not released. The daily trout tag is $6. Each tag is good for a daily bag limit of four trout. A person may have up to three tags per day and 12 trout in possession. Adult anglers may have two children under the age of 16 fishing under the authority of their tag, but the group bag limit still is limited to four trout per tag.
The trout lake (Lake No. 5) is open from 7 a.m. to sunset each day.
Pine Glen WMA project
A project scheduled to start in June on Pine Glen Wildlife Management Area in Brown County will improve stream habitat on Long Pine Creek for fish and anglers alike.
As a continuation of the cool-water stream program, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will build several in-stream habitat features that create a variety of current breaks for resting and feeding trout. Specific habitat features also will narrow the stream to increase flow velocities and add pool depth.
“Project designs are targeted at improving angler success by creating additional hiding spots and concentration areas for these trout species,” said Brett Roberg, a Game and Parks fisheries biologist stationed in Kearney. “We are hopeful that these stream modifications will provide anglers the opportunity to catch more fish — and bigger fish.”
A service road on the WMA has been improved to allow contractors better access to the canyon bottom to build the stream features. Trees will be removed to give anglers better access to the stream, provide additional fire protection and create wildlife habitat.
The project should continue through the fall. Hunters and anglers accessing the area should be cautious of equipment and workers during construction.
Long Pine Creek at Pine Glen offers anglers opportunities mostly for brown trout but also rainbows, making it a good option for anglers seeking to complete a Trout Slam by catching all four types of trout found in Nebraska.
Cornhusker Trapshoot
More than 2,000 students are expected to compete in the Cornhusker Trapshoot May 3 to 5 on the home grounds of the Nebraska Trapshooting Association in Doniphan.
Competition will take place in individual and team divisions. Junior high students will shoot 100 16-yard targets on May 3. High school competitors will shoot 75 16-yard targets on May 4, then 75 handicap targets on May 5. The high school shooter with the highest combined score will earn the Cornhusker Cup. Competition begins at 8 a.m. each day.
The Cornhusker Trapshoot is open nationwide to all shooters in grades six through 12 who have completed a hunter education course.
Boating classes offered
With summer approaching, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is reminding water lovers to be mindful of the state’s education requirements for boating.
Nebraska law requires any motorboat or personal watercraft operator born after Dec. 31, 1985 to complete a boating safety course and be in possession of a course certificate. Operators must be at least 14 years old to drive motorboats and personal watercraft in Nebraska.
Game and Parks offers three options for taking boating safety courses. They are:
» Option A: Six-hour classroom course followed by proctored exam;
» Option B: Home-study course in which students can download study materials before attending a three-hour review and proctored exam;
» Option C: Online course for a fee of $29.95.
Classroom courses are scheduled at locations throughout the state in the coming months. To find a schedule of course offerings, as well as other boating information, visit boatsafenebraska.org.
» Beer and Bacon, Fort Atkinson SHP, Fort Calhoun
» Growing Up WILD Educator Workshop, Concordia University, Seward
» Linking Literature and Science: Birds and Bird Watching, Benson Baptist Church, Omaha
» Arbor Day, Game and Parks offices closed
» Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex opens for 2018 season, Platte River SP, Louisville
» Outdoor Adventure, Indian Cave SP, Shubert
» Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Experience Platte River SP, Louisville
» Arbor Day Weekend Celebration, Arbor Lodge SHP, Nebraska City
To share your trophy picture or calendar item, send it to Outdoor Sports, World-Herald Sports Dept., 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE, 68102 or email the photo and details to outdoors@owh.com. A daytime or cellphone number must be included.
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