the STEELHEADS ARE RUNNING

by Gene Hornbeck Tackle busters like this in Nebraska? You bet, and I hooked one to prove it

HOW I HOOKED into the lunker that was now sulking on the bottom of Red Willow Creek was a mystery to my two fishing partners. He was big and I felt his strength more now as he moved in a quick dash across the hole, swirled to the top in front of Joe Ulrich, then dove for the bottom.

"Hey," Joe exclaimed, with more than a touch of excitement in his voice, "that looks like the same one I turned over earlier this morning. What did you sneak in on us to get him to take again?"

Before I could answer the jovial conservation officer, the fish sent fly line hissing through my hand APRIL, 1962 3   as he made a run to the tail of the pool. My prize dug deep for the bottom, then bore back upstream, stopping almost under the spillway. I was initiating a new 8-foot fly rod strung with a D-level line and 10-pound test leader. The rig would hold if the hook didn't pull out. The battle was five minutes old and my arm was beginning to feel the strain.

the STEELHEADS ARE RUNNING continued

"Don't overplay him now," Joe called.

"You won't have to worry about that," I replied. "I'll land this fish even if I have to go swimming to get him."

My partner dropped down near the tail of the pool to give me netting assistance. Ten minutes and at least a dozen runs later, the big steelhead rolled over on his side at the tail of the pool and was mine.

Steelhead in Nebraska? You bet, and they are every bit the fighters and almost as big as their cousins that run the West Coast streams. The big trout got his name from the rainbows that run from the ocean into the fresh-water streams to spawn. The name comes from the deep silver color the trout takes on when in salt water. Now stocked in many inland lakes, the fish puts on tremendous growth and when he matures, seeks the running waters of a gravel-bottomed stream to spawn.

That's just what my five-pound prize had done, one of the last holdouts in the scenic, crystal-clear tributary of the North Platte. Steelheading had hit its peak at the small irrigation check dam 10 days ago, with only a handful of anglers taking advantage of the run from Lake McConaughy, over 70 miles to the east.

Shortly after I landed my five-pounder, Father Semper, another member of our fishing party, joined us. The Dalton priest shook hands with me as Joe filled him in on the catch.

"After you reported Jim McCole had taken the lone two-pounder yesterday, I thought I'd better put in a good word for you, Gene," the priest offered.

"Faith is great," I agreed, "it and a strip of Joe's trout eggs."

Father Semper had taken five fish about like mine from this hole during the winter run. Joe Ulrich figured that at least 100 of the big beauties came from this spot throughout the peak of the spawn. The trout move into the Platte tributaries about the middle of October. They remain there through the winter months. The last good fishing usually ends in the creeks by the first of April.

Steelheading began with the building of Lake McConaughy. This big impoundment formed a huge storehouse of food for trout already in the upstream creeks like Nine Mile, Red Willow, Pumpkin, and 4 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   others. Monster trout began showing up in the lake about two years after the dam went in. A little later reports started to sift in of lunkers being hauled out of the tributary streams.

According to Father Semper, there are three runs during the annual migration. The first is made up of fish in the three-pound class. The second run usually gets under way in December and the third in February. On a couple of occasions there has been a small run just after the ice went off the river and the lake.

The steelhead migrations to the far-off streams of Scotts Bluff and Morrill counties were well established by 1950. The biggest catch on record is a 12-pound, 4-ounce trout taken at the mouth of Pumpkin Creek.

Nebraska's run is almost unique in the fishing world. The longest distance recorded by the Game Commission is a 9y4-pounder taken from Sheep Creek within a few miles of the Wyoming border. It had covered at least 200 miles of the winding Platte.

Jim McCole, conservation officer from Gering, had been my fishing partner on Nine Mile Creek a day earlier. Like Red Willow, the small stream in Scotts Bluff County had produced its share of lunkers during the fabulous steelhead run. I was blanked but Jim managed to coax a two-pounder out of a hole in the lower end of the stream.

Some of the locals were still out trying the streams though the run was about over. None of them were making out with the big trout. "Gone" was the word that was being passed around. Many residents still find it hard to believe that they have trout this large in their back yard, but all work hard convincing the visitor that they are there for the taking.

Local trouters use a variety of tricks. Some stick strictly to spoons and spinners. Others are egg fishermen. Still others play the deep holes with a lively minnow. While salmon or trout eggs, along with minnows and worms, are the top bait, almost any artificial known to take trout in the summer will work during the run.

The lure of catching just one of these big tackle busters is enough to warm the blood of any trout fisherman. I had that glow of pride when the three of us stowed our gear at day's end and pulled out from Red Willow Creek. We had fished the entire length of the stream and only I had scored. Joe and Father Semper, being blanked, weren't quite so pleased.

"How," Joe pondered as we drove back to Bridgeport, "can a man call a fish his when he stole someone else's bait, had someone else help him net it, and got an assist from the man upstairs? It just isn't fair."

I wouldn't argue with that.

THE END APRIL, 1962 5

the DUKE ALEXIS HUNT

by J. Greg Smith

THE HOMESPUN, buckskin West had never seen anything like him, an honest-to-goodness Russian prince ready to take on the prairie wilderness for a couple of days of buffalo hunting. Big and bewhiskered, as fancy a greenhorn as had ever graced the Plains, the Grand Duke Alexis had come a visiting, the royal emissary of Alexander I, czar of all the Russias.

Such a royal visit was big news, even in the cultured East, but to the raw and untamed Nebraska frontier of 1872, it was like having a trainload of dance hall girls come to town. Phil Sheridan had pulled off the social coup of the season during a White House reception shortly after the duke had arrived in the states with the Russian battle fleet in tow.

Fun-loving Alexis was quick to pounce on the general's invitation. Even in the regal splendor of St. Petersburg, he'd heard about the vast herds of buffalo that blackened the Plains and the colorful characters who hunted them. Alexis couldn't see why "roughing it" in the wilderness for a couple of days wouldn't go a long way toward cementing relations between the two nations, the prime reason for his trip.

So rough it he did, bringing along admirals and counts and royal physicians and servants and enough champagne to float the Russian fleet, at least that's what one grizzled old-timer reckoned when he saw 6 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   the beribboned party unload at North Platte. The whole town met the royal train to give a 21-gun salute and cheer the duke, Sheridan, Custer, and Buffalo Bill Cody as they led the impromptu but colorful parade, up the dusty streets of the small frontier town.

Even the weather co-operated in Sheridan's plans for the royal hunt. It was an unseasonably warm January morning when the colorful party rode out toward Camp Alexis, 65 miles to the southwest.

The hunting camp on Red Willow Creek near the present town of Hayes Center was a far cry from roughing it. The Negro infantrymen who'd worked almost a month setting it up reckoned that maybe old Phil had gone a little overboard in his attempt to impress the royalty.

A town had been created in the middle of nowhere, one that would be lived in for only a couple of days. Two big hospital tents were ready for feasting and merrymaking. Six wall tents, three of them floored and covered with plush red carpeting and outfitted with the finest of furnishings, awaited the ducal party and officers. Thirty "A" tents for the troops and 265 Sioux Indian lodges were nearby, as pretty a picture as anyone would care to see.

The belles of North Platte were impressed by the young duke as he led the hunting party off toward buffalo country. He was big, big all over, and you couldn't help noticing his massive hands and feet, even on a 6-foot, 2-inch frame. His light side whiskers and mustache set off his blue eyes. Quite a catch, the girls agreed, even without the royal jewels.

Alexis, Sheridan, and Custer rode in an open carriage. Bill Cody and five other buckskin-garbed scouts rode nearby. Stretched out behind was the duke's entourage in colorful ribbon and braid bedecked uniforms. Accompanying them were the reporters, an army in themselves. Out a ways they met General Palmer and an escort of cavalry. An unsuspecting stranger coming on this parade would wonder whether he or the hunting party had got a taste of loco weed.

Encouraged by the duke, Cody and the boys gave chase to a couple of stray buffaloes when they were spotted. Each time one of the great beasts went down, the Russians gave out with a cheer. They had never seen such daring horsemanship. The way the scouts handled their chargers and weapons was something they would never forget.

Bill was hand-picked for the hunting job. Sheridan knew of no other that could do a better job at leading the duke around the wilderness lot. Cody had already gained a reputation as a scout for fancy eastern hunting parties as well as being recognized as a real hero of the Plains.

The colorful Nebraskan had a taste at royal hunting for the past two years, putting on great shows for a couple of British nobles as well as newspaper editors from Chicago and New York. Thanks to the colorful writings of these early-day journalists, the 26-year-old scout was fast gaining a national reputation. Youngsters in the East were already hero-worshiping Bill Cody, youngsters from 6 to 60.

The sun was crowding the cold western horizon when Alexis and the boys reached the bluffs overlooking the camp. There to greet them with "Hail to the Chief" was the Second Cavalry's regimental band, another of Phil's special little treats for the duke. As the last strains wafted off into the endless prairie sky, Spotted Tail's Sioux warriors charged into view. Painted and feathered and wearing their Sunday best, they showed the duke daredevil riding that would put the famed Cossacks to shame.

Cody had invited 100 Indians to participate in the show; closer to 1,000 were on hand when the Russians moved in. But they were no more eager to get in on the act than the American generals that were present, six of them, to be exact, with only two companies of cavalry and two of infantry to lead. The troopers did more saluting in those two days than they did during the rest of their enlistments.

After a gourmet-style feast and a couple of rounds of toasting, the royal party hit the sack early to be ready for the hunt the next morning, the duke's twenty-second birthday. January 14 was another clear day, and Alexis was up early to learn the finer arts of killing a buffalo from Cody.

Alexis climbed aboard Bill's famed hunting horse, Buckskin Joe, and was ready (continued on page 29)

APRIL, 1962 7

FISHING KICKOFF

by Wayne Tiller Crystal ball sees experts hitting angling road early for best luck

BREAK OUT the tackle box, limber up your angling arm, and be ready to take on Nebraska's host of game fish. The crystal ball shows a number of old reliable fish producers ready to get into the angling act, and several renovated lakes should come into maturity to offer an abundance of fishing hot spots throughout NEBRASKAland.

Spring is to anglers as opening day is to the upland gunner. This is the season when the big fish runs assure top angling. It's also the time when lure-stealing, bait-robbing water vegetation is nil.

April showers conjure visions of rainbows, and not just the sky variety. Lake McConaughy will be the destination of many fishermen chasing rainbows—the fighting kind. This sport of kings on the end of a fly rod will also draw many line whippers to the picturesque Pine Ridge country around Crawford, Chadron, and Harrison.

Big names of the trout world in the Pine Ridge are the Niobrara and White rivers, and Soldier, Monroe, and West and East Hat creeks.

These constantly cool waters offer topnotch angling from the Wyoming border downstream to Box Butte Reservoir. Browns make up most of the creel, with some rainbows offering an added attraction.

The White River is a major stream that, along with its many tributaries, offers numerous hot spots. Good brown and brook waters can be found upstream 8 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   from the Crawford area. Soldier Creek running by Fort Robinson's back door is one of the White's tributaries that rates special mention for its good brown trout waters. Monroe Creek is the main brook trout hangout in the state, with some of these sporting fish venturing into the sister streams of West and East Hat creeks.

But not all trout angling is concentrated in the western part of the state. Long Pine Creek near Ainsworth is one of the more popular trouting waters and offers visitors excellent brown and rainbow fishing next to the new state area. Plum Creek in the same area offers good browns and rainbows north of Highway 20.

Even farther to the east on the trouting map is Grove Lake and its connecting Verdigre Creek. And Two Rivers trout lake No. 5 will again be a popular spot for the outdoorsmen who can't find time to get farther from the big cities. As in the past, fishermen are required to purchase a special tag for $1.50 a day in addition to the annual state permit. The daily bag and possession limit is five trout from this lake.

After the first early run of trout angling, practitioners of the piscatorial art will turn to the other species that also blossom in the spring. On many of the state's lakes, the hottest fishing is during spring spawning runs.

Angling interests go from trout to walleyes when Lake McConaughy's waters begin to warm. Then white bass start hitting in the inlet waters from the feeder streams and soon spread over the lake. Continued warming triggers the smallmouth bass to start their activity around the dam and other rocky areas.

Consistently in the ranks of the state's angling hot spots, McConaughy boasts a diversified creel, offering northern, bluegill, crappie, perch, channel cat, fresh-water drum, carp, and buffalo. Lake Ogallala, just below Kingsley Dam, also offers a variety of game fish for the angler that may be wary of McConaughy's vastness. Year-round trout angling is also found in the tail waters of Kingsley Dam and the immediate area of the lower lake.

Enders and Medicine Creek reservoirs should again join the year's fishing hot spots. Walleyes will initiate the season as soon as the water begins to warm. Then, as at Big Mac, crappie will come into APRIL, 1962 9   their own. Channel cat, largemouth bass, and northerns will also provide plenty of action.

FISHING KICKOFF continued

Harlan County Reservoir also features runs of walleyes and white bass that annually push it into the ranks of the top fishing holes. To add spice to the Harlan creel, channel catfish, crappie, and large-mouth bass start showing up after the water warms, usually in May or early June.

Although walleyes and white bass are found in catchable numbers throughout the Platte's Tri-County system of lakes and canals, the most notable is the inlet area of Maloney Reservoir near North Platte. This area has produced prime fishing the past few years.

But not all the prime spring fishing spots will be found in the southern and western parts of the state. The eastern area is also expected to have some exceptional angling this season, especially before the aquatic plants reduce the anglers' scoring chances.

Burchard Lake in the southeast is expected to offer above average walleye, northern, and bluegill angling for those that know the tricks of their targets. This popular area is expected to be a consistent producer this year, although it is not likely to have big runs of fishing luck as occurs on the western reservoirs. Verdon in the same area will offer some good bluegill and largemouth bass angling.

The Missouri River proper offers the spring angler good catches of sauger and catfish. A thorough knowledge of "Big Mo" is a definite advantage. Paddlefish, crappie, white bass, goldeye, and walleye round out the angler's creel. The goldeye is an almost ignored fighting member of the smelt family. It weighs up to a pound and offers top-water action.

Another old reliable is the popular tail waters of Gavins Point Dam at Lewis and Clark Lake in northeastern Nebraska. Early season visitors to the Missouri River dam will cash in on sauger and walleye. Later in the season, drum, channel cat, and goldeye will be landed.

Still another producer of good bass and crappie catches in eastern Nebraska is Lake No. 20 at the Fremont State Recreation Area. Although anglers should not expect fantastic catches from this lake, good-size fish await visitors to the east-central area. In a recent survey, fishery technicians found the lake to be producing about 75 pounds of bass per acre under their management program. This compares to the more usual 30 to 50-pounds-per-acre average.

Overlooked by many anglers is the vast untapped acres of top fishing water available in the Sand 10 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   Hills. Nestled among the grass-covered hills are 65,800 acres of lake water, much of which is capable of producing upward of 1,000 pounds of fish per acre. Generally anglers may look for better-than-average catches of northerns, largemouth bass, crappie, perch, and bluegills.

In the eastern-most group of lakes located in Brown County, Enders Overflow, 29 miles southwest of Ainsworth, is expected to offer prime northern and crappie angling this spring before the limiting vegetation slows down fishing in mid-summer. The problem of aquatic plants is common in the Sand Hills lakes and is one reason for emphasizing angling when the fisherman will get the best return for his fishing effort.

In the past, bass from Long Lake, just north of Enders Overflow, have averaged two pounds, with a few granddaddys pushing the scales over the three-pound mark. A bonus for visitors to the lake is a state recreation area complete with fireplaces, tables, and well water. With these facilities, you can stay for a weekend or a week.

The 26 fish-supporting lakes on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge south of Valentine include several waters that are expected to make hot-spot rating this spring. Special regulations governing early-season fishing prohibit the use of motorboats and fishing with bait fish within the refuge.

As has been the rule in the past, pike weighing up to 9 pounds are expected to once more shove Watts Lake into the spotlight. Perch up to 2 pounds and bass up to 2% pounds take a portion of the Watts limelight, starting in May.

The 680-acre Hackberry Lake at the front door of the refuge headquarters is also expected to offer prime angling this season following its renovation in 1958. The hottest area will most likely develop in the deep-water region of the eastern half of the lake with bass, pike, and bluegills furnishing most of the sport.

Duck Lake is another name symbolic of good fishing on the refuge. Best bass, bluegill, and crappie fishing is from April to July, and fighting large-mouths have been taken weighing four pounds. Again, the accumulating growth of water plants makes angling tougher after mid-summer. So plan your trip accordingly.

In western Cherry County, 15 miles northeast of Gordon, Shell Lake is expected to offer above average angling for pike, perch, bass, crappie, and bluegills this spring. Cottonwood Lake near Merriman offers a tree-shaded camp grounds with its good fishing.

Brunner Lake, 25 miles southwest of Chambers in Holt County, rates special mention due to its fast-growing populations of bass, northern, and crappie. Four-month-old pike in this lake have measured l^Vz inches. As is the case in most Sand Hills lakes, Brunner is seriously under-fished. Access is by permission.

Swan Lake, 25 miles south of Atkinson, is another up-and-coming lake that should provide top sport this season. It was renovated in 1959, growth has been satisfactory, and anglers are expected to start reaping the ample harvest of bass, northern, bluegill, and crappie this year.

Seven miles southwest of Swan Lake and easily reached is Willow Lake, privately owned, but open to fishing. From all indications, this central Nebraska Sand Hills lake should blossom into a top pike-angling spot. Bass, crappie, and bullheads diversify the creel.

Moving to the western Sand Hills, Island Lake on the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge is the only lake in the area that rates consideration as an angling hot spot this season. The Sand Hills lake was renovated in 1958 and stocked with bass, pike, and bluegill. 'Bait and motor restrictions are the same as those at Valentine Refuge.

State-owned Smith Lake is the only other special-mention Sand Hills lake in this area that could jump into the better-than-average category this spring. Due south of Rushville or north of Lakeside, 222-acre Smith Lake offers bass, northerns, bluegill, crappie, channel cats, bullheads, and perch.

These are the hot spots, the places just waiting for you to test your angling skill. Don't wait for summer. Head for the open water now while the fish are biting.

THE END APRIL, 1962 11

LONG LOOK AT FREMONT

Conflicting interests must make concessions in recreation boom

NOWHERE CAN the national outdoor recreation boom be reflected more dramatically than at Fremont Recreation Area. Surrounded by almost 750,000 people in the heart of Nebraska's eastern population center, it has staggered under the brunt of fun seekers since recreation's "Critical Fifties'' when there were not enough state play spots to even begin to meet the demand.

Swimmers, boaters, water skiers, campers, picnickers, anglers—all converged on the area's 21 sandpit lakes and meager recreation facilities. Each looked for his own special niche in the undersized, underdeveloped, and poorly designed park. As would be expected, chaos resulted. Water skiers zipped precariously through knots of swimmers, campers blithely pitched their tents in major access routes, and would-be fighter pilots ran pursuit curves on the waves.

Considering Fremont's background, this tremendous conflict of interests could be expected, almost predicted. The Game Commission, seriously hamstrung by the lack of development funds and adequate boating laws plus the physical characteristics of the area itself, could do little more than watch the situation develop.

Fremont was acquired piecemeal through the years, beginning as early as the 1920's when the first of the sand-pit lakes became available, their value for industrial purposes exhausted. It was acquired tract by tract, by purchase through game and fish license monies or gifts. Thus, the general design of the 700-acre land-and-water area is oriented to existing sand pits. It was not designed as a park in the sense that one would acquire and develop a suitable tract of land for park purposes.

Game Commission acquisition interest in the area was related to the free public fishing potential the area afforded near centers of population. All acquisition monies spent on the area were from fish and game funds, and all development, until very recently, was also from such funds.

With the boom, it soon became apparent that general family-type usage of the Fremont Area, and many similar sites, was outstripping usages related to fish and game for which these areas were initially acquired. It became increasingly clear that the sole financing of such areas from fish and game funds was highly unfair to the sportsmen footing the bill.

A more equitable distribution of costs was tried in 1957 with the passage of the "Sticker Bill". This required that all automobiles entering state recreation areas display a sticker costing $1, the acquired money to be spent on maintenance and development. A more realistic solution came with the passage of the State Park Act in 1959. That same year, the Nebraska Boating Act was adopted.

These two laws had a direct bearing on Fremont. The new boating legislation provided for control and 12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   direction of boating, and the park act offered regular, systematic financing of the state park program.

by Jack D. Strain Strain Chief, Parks Division

Boating interests, like all others trying to use Fremont, have had their share of problems. It's easy to see why. If the entire water surface, consisting of less than 300 surface acres, was combined into one body of water, the resulting lake could not possibly accommodate boaters in the immediate area.

With nearly 750,000 people living in the region and only about 15,000 registered motor boats in the entire state, the question of how much of Fremont is to be essentially directed to this minority use group becomes more than a rhetorical one.

There are no lakes of potential power-boating size on the west segment at Fremont. Power boating, therefore, is physically restricted to the east area. On that side, there are 12 lakes, with a combined surface of 210 acres. One-half of these lakes are less than 7 acres in size. Of the 6 remaining lakes with 182 surface acres, boating is permitted on 3 connected lakes having combined surfaces of 99 acres.

In the nation-wide recreation scene, power-boat enthusiasts are in a minority ratio of about 1 to 25 in the top 10 most popular outdoor recreational activities. Even on the east segment of the Fremont A^ea, where boating is highly popular, the ratio is 1 to 13. Under the present management plan, therefore, boating fans have comparatively exclusive use of 37 per cent of all water surface, and the use of 47 per cent of the water surface on the east segment of the recreation area.

Administrators recognize that certain activities require more space than others. A surface acre of water accommodates more swimmers than power boaters, for example. In some instances, water surfaces can safely be utilized concurrently by two or more special interest groups. In the case of other activities, such as swimming and boating, concurrent use is inconsistent with the objectives of public health and safety.

With the enabling legislation of the 1959 session, the Game Commission conducted intensive studies at Fremont during the 1960 season, and again in 1961. Their purpose was to gain a thorough knowledge of visitor activities and habit patterns, and to devise a management plan that would eliminate some of the obvious hazards to human life and preserve all possible recreational interests in proper perspective.

During the 1960 studies, it became apparent that many of the problems were related to two special interest groups, swimmers and campers. The dangers inherent to isolated swimming, swimming in waters of unknown depth, and swimming in power-boat courses are so evident they hardly need description here.

In 1961, the Game Commission redesigned the bottom gradient of a portion of one lake on the east segment, closed off a bay in one of the boating lakes, and restricted swimming to these areas after appropriate access roads and a parking area were developed. Also, as a result of the boating laws, activities of boaters were regulated and directed in the interests of safety.

As a direct result of these programs, the seven reported boat accidents of 1960, involving five personal injuries, were reduced to two in 1961. Four children swimming or playing on the water's edge were injured in 1960 by boats (continued on page 32)

APRIL, 1962 13

10 AND 90

Dark of the moon wont bring fish,, but these handy how-to tips will by Gene Miller Fisheries Technician

LET'S FACE it, the person that goes fishing only during the dark of the moon, while the barometer is rising, and the wind is out of the south misses a considerable amount of good fishing. For during any day of any month of any year, fish can be caught in Nebraska.

There are fishing tips that have nothing to do with the mystic gravitational pull of the moon, the erratic behavior of the barometer, or the infernal wind. These are based upon the biological habits of the fish you hope to out fox, and the fishing techniques you hope to out fox them with. If your neighbor gets up at 9 o'clock in the morning, drives to the lake, begins fishing at 11, quits fishing at 2, and goes home, he has followed his habits, not the fish's. His catch will reflect this, and so will his temperament.

There's a concession or two that must be made to the fisherman. First, he has to have time off from the job. This must jibe with weather fit for travel and comfort while fishing. Too, he can go only so far and fish so long. And then there's the wife.

There are many fishing helps that can be used. Broadly, these boil down to biological habits and fishing techniques. Fish are cold-blooded animals— their body temperatures closely following the water in which they live. They become "uncomfortably" warm and cold as far as feeding is concerned. When the water temperature hits 75° or over, fish begin to lose their appetite, your clue during the hot summer months to go out only during the cool hours. If fishing in the daytime, don't work near the surface where the water temperatures are warmer.

When temperatures range from 32° to 50° the feeding activity of many species is seriously curtailed. Fishing success for bass, catfish, bullhead, and drum will be much lower. Instead, concentrate on trout, sauger, walleye, northern pike, the sun-fishes, and perch.

Assuming that the temperatures are somewhere near optimum, fish often select a certain type of habitat as preferential. Generally, more fish will be taken on or near the bottom, near snags, and around weed beds and schools of forage fish.

There's an important point to remember when fishing the bottom. Many lakes stratify during the 14 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   heat of the summer, the water building up in temperature layers. No oxygen is present in the lower layer, making it restrictive to fish. Studies have shown that approximately 80 per cent of the fish population is located above this de-oxygenated water at any given moment.

Determining whether oxygen is present on the bottom presents quite a problem to the fisherman. The best policy is to ask local people where the fish are hitting in large, public waters. Small lakes with no visible inflow or outflow such as gravel pits usually are devoid of oxygen below about 12 feet.

Some species feed more actively during certain parts of each day. If fishing is done during these periods, the catch is usually greater. Fish such as walleye, catfish, largemouth bass, and bullheads often feed most actively at dusk, dark, and dawn. Northern pike, drum, and bluegill are generally caught from daylight to dark.

Certain physical phenomena can affect feeding habits. During periods of runoff, for example, a rise in stream level will often trigger catfish to feed more heavily.

Fishing technique is more important in filling stringers and creels than most people realize. Probably the three most common mistakes include using too large a sinker, too large a bobber, and too fast a retrieve when using artificial baits.

A sinker's purpose is twofold. It provides casting weight and also takes the bait to the desired depth. As far as I'm concerned, anglers should possess fishing tackle capable of casting with only the weight of two BB-size split shot. Spinning outfits with light line lend themselves well to this.

The other purpose of the sinker, to take the bait to the desired depth, can definitely be overdone, and often is. In a lake environment, still-fishing with natural bait should almost never require more than two BB split shot.

In short, use as little weight as possible. The more natural a bait feels to the fish, the more readily he will take it. Admittedly, there are occasions when heavy sinkers are needed such as bottom bumping while trolling and fishing near or on the bottom of swift streams. But the rule still applies—use as little weight as possible.

Bobbers should only be used to keep the bait off of the bottom. Very rarely should you depend on them to signal bites since they present too much resistance to the taking fish. Size should be restricted to that needed to hold the bait from sinking and no more. Many that I see people using are far too large. As with sinkers, the bigger the bobber, the more resistance the fish can feel, and the fewer fish you'll catch.

Artificial lures can be real producers when used right. Within reason, the slower that a lure is retrieved, the greater its effectiveness. There are some exceptions to this, however. Oftentimes the places harboring the most fish such as weed beds, lake bottoms, and downed trees are the spots where the most lures are lost. But don't ignore these merely because of the threat of lost lures.

One last point. While still-fishing the bottom in a lake, it is most often wise not to keep the line tight. Allow slack and you'll have the same bites with a greater number of fish hooked. This technique is not possible if too heavy a sinker is used.

It has been established that approximately 10 per cent of the fishermen catch 90 per cent of the fish. This isn't all luck. The fishing tips given here should help the fisherman join the 10 per cent if he is not already there.

THE END APRIL, 1962 15

Off The Beaten Path

by Jane Sprague In Nebraska's out-of-the-way places a unique world awaits your discovery

LOOKING FOR the different and unusual? A trip through Nebraska will uncover the exciting and the uncommon for those willing to search for it.

Throughout the state, nature has been at work carving and mellowing the land, leaving her freakish calling cards behind. Caves, strange-shaped buttes, natural bridges, these are only a few of the things an inquisitive traveler can discover.

In western Nebraska, nature had a heyday carving strange and ^Cveird formations. With her tools of 16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   wind and water, she marked a trail for the pioneers. Chimney Rock, Courthouse and Jail rocks, and Scotts Bluff are only a few she left behind as guideposts. Famous as these might be, there are still others waiting for those willing to look for them.

Approximately 15 miles south of Gering on the eastern side of Nebraska Highway 29 stands a strange inverted funnel. Like a topsy-turvy tornado, 4,501-foot-high Funnel Rock has stood for countless ages as the elements chiseled away its silhouette.

Also part of the Wildcat Range south of Gering is a natural bridge carved high in the rocky bluffs. Travel down Highway 29 into the southern Wildcat Range to discover this strange engineering feat.

Eons ago, strange creatures wandered through the swampland that was Nebraska. Western Nebraska today is a fossil-hunter's delight, abounding in remnants of these early inhabitants. In the northwestern part of the state north of Harrison is Sowbelly Canyon. Here, where a warring group of Oglalas almost starved out a small party of troopers from Fort Robinson in the late 1800's, can be found the "devil's corkscrews".

Long before man had come to Nebraska, ancestors of today's beavers had their homes in strange winding burrows. These stand today looking like white stone augers screwed into the earth. There's also fabulous Pine Ridge scenery to make the trip a real pleasure. A county road runs east off Highway 2 north of Harrison into Sowbelly.

While in this same area, stop at Warbonnet Battlefield west of Sowbelly Canyon. History was made at this spot where Dull Knife's pitiful band of Cheyennes battled troopers from Fort Robinson for two weeks before they were finally subdued. A historical marker tells the story.

Southeast of Crawford is Crow Butte. Old stories tell how a band of Crow Indians retreated to the top of the butte to stave off a drive by hostile Sioux. By building fires and leaving behind a few old men to make noise, the majority of the Crow were able to escape down the other side. You can reach the unique area by traveling U.S. Highway 20 east from Harrison to Crawford, then via a county road to the butte.

Western Nebraska isn't the only area of the state boasting fascinating reminders of the past. In eastern Nebraska, amid the high bluffs overlooking the Missouri River, is Blackbird Hill. East of Macy, the rounded hill carries the legend that when Chief Blackbird of the Omahas died in 1800, his body was mounted on his favorite horse and buried under a 16-foot-high mound of dirt at the top of the hill. The Omahas believed that from this vantage point their chief would be able to ever watch the verdant beauty of the Missouri. A marker stands at the hill and full directions for getting there can be obtained in Macy.

Since prehistoric times, caves have fascinated man. In the rolling Nebraska countryside, there are no huge caverns to boast of, but in the caves which are here, strange lore exists, legends of Indians, bad men, and all the others that used them.

East of Winnebago, near the northern end of Me morial Park in Thurston (continued on page 30)

APRIL, 1962 17  

the FREE RUNNERS

by Bob Havel District Game Supervisor Man's best friend dons wolf's clothing to turn into a killer at large

HERE'S A killer at large in the state that stands as a potential threat to Nebraska's rebounding deer herds. He's the free-running dog, a wolf in sheep's clothing who under the guise of being man's best friend, is raising havoc with some of these prized big-game animals. Trained hunting dogs are a boon, controlled pets a joy, but the unwanted or uncared-for mongrel that roams the fields is a nemesis that must be dealt with permanently to alleviate the problem.

Rather than humane disposal of unwanted domestic dogs, people often turn these creatures loose to shift for themselves. Survival depends upon their ability to revert to the wild state. Uncared-for dogs, those which the owners allow to run loose, can be just as deadly, since all dogs have the inherent quality to chase and kill. Such a pet may not run deer alone, but in the company of several less honorable canines, his good traits are often abandoned in the wild.

Most are unaware of the number of deer destroyed each year by dogs. In many states this is a very serious problem. So far, the danger exists only in local areas such as in portions of southeastern Nebraska where deer populations are being established. Here these wild dogs, much like their ancestors, the wolf, have been known to run in killer packs across the countryside.

Dog predation is most common in the late winter when deer are usually in a poorer condition and the does heavy with fawn. Damages inflicted include overexhaustion, entanglement by agricultural fences, crippling due to falls, running into highways, over bluffs, into icy waters, and actual catching and killing.

R. E. Trippensee, a noted wildlife authority, says the domestic dog is probably more destructive in the aggregate than any other predator, unless it be the mountain lion. In settled regions, this animal is the predator of prime importance, due to its universal presence and the persistence of its attack. Once a dog acquires the deer-hunting habit, it must be dealt with summarily, for the habit is not otherwise easily discouraged.

There are no figures on the number of deer killed here, but reports from other states give an idea of the seriousness of the problem. Wisconsin reports that the greatest proportion of annual deer losses to predators, statewide, occurs by the domestic and feral dog.

In 1953, dogs limited the spread of deer into void deer range in northern Georgia, and in southern West Virginia, free-runners continue to be the greatest barrier to establishing good deer herds. Virginia wardens dispose of over 40,000 dogs in the field each year. Indiana completely abandoned its stocking attempts in one area because of dogs.

Natural predation on established deer herds has a beneficial function in destroying weak, diseased, and crippled animals. The coyote, bobcat, and other supposed predators provide esthetic and recreational value to many people. The rifle has replaced the deer taken by the wolf and mountain lion since the near extinction of these animals. Under biologically sound hunting regulations, the deer in Nebraska can be kept within the limits of ability of the environment to support them. Dogs are not needed to control the population.

There's another important point to consider. Free-runners are potential disease carriers to humans as well as wildlife. The gone-wild, wide-ranging mongrel infected with rabies can spread this dangerous disease over a large territory in a short time. Domestic dogs can be vaccinated, an impossible task with free-runners.

It's ironical that many of the men who are most outspoken in condemning wild predators are at the same time guilty of permitting their own dogs to run loose. If man continues to disregard the depredations of his domestic dog, over which he possesses the power of complete control, is it fair to condemn and persecute wild predators? Perhaps less emphasis would need to be placed on the control of wild predators to accomplish the goal of game management—sustained game production for recreational use—if the activities of unwanted and uncared-for dogs were carefully restricted and controlled.

The seriousness of the problems which can arise from the unwanted and uncared-for dog must be realized and dealt with realistically. Its possible impact on Nebraska wildlife and its potential disease influence are problems that affect everyone in the state.

THE END APRIL, 1962 19

TALKING TURKEY

by Bill Bailey Game Division Project Leader Merriams success has game pros going. Will Rio Grande do same?

THE LARGE dark torn hurtled from the crate, rapidly gaining altitude through the light falling snow until it cleared the cottonwoods and elms along the South Platte River. He soared to an opening, coming to an ungraceful landing with both feet pumping. The big bird dashed for the tall timber, there to become acquainted with his new home and join the other Rio Grande wild turkeys that had been released earlier.

This completed the releases of Rio Grande wild turkey for the winter of 1961-62, the last of the 487 freed in 23 sites along the stream courses and river breaks of southwestern and central Nebraska. Reproduction was good in initial 1961 releases though plants were late in the season.

Encouraged by these results and the previous success with Merriam's turkeys in the Pine Ridge, 20 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   the Game Commission moved into an all-out program with the Rio Grande. Negotiations were completed to acquire 500 wild-trapped birds.

The future outcome of these plants is still unknown, but there is room for optimism. Early historical references quote records of turkey observations in many of these areas. From these game technicians believe that good turkey populations occurred prior to intensive settlement. In addition, this type of habitat is similar to areas in western Oklahoma and the northern panhandle of Texas where they have been transplanted with success.

Restoration of this greatest of game birds is a venture well worth the effort and co-operation of all. To a large extent, the future of the program will depend upon the co-operation and vision of everyone in the release areas. The turkeys must be given all the breaks if introductions are to be successful. They should be afforded maximum protection and have as little disturbance as possible.

This program has captured the imagination and enthusiasm of many people throughout the state. Since the Game Commission has worked entirely with truly wild birds as planting stock, the supply was understandably limited. These turkeys are hard to come by. All Rio Grandes planted here have been trapped from flocks in the wild. They were made available through the excellent co-operation of states with well-established wild turkey populations.

Many people near the introduction sites have expressed a desire to supplement these plants with turkeys obtained from game farms. Almost invariably, birds from game farms are a strain of the eastern wild turkey. The lineage of such stock is often questionable. In many instances, domestic turkeys have been crossed with wild birds to facilitate rearing under penned conditions. The resulting quality as a game bird and one that can survive in the wild leaves much to be desired.

These birds will breed freely with the wild Rio Grande turkeys that have been planted. The resulting progeny will not be the true wild turkey which was originally planted.

Is the program and co-operation worth the effort? Look at the results of the Merriam's turkey project. During the fall of 1961, the Merriam's population was estimated to be about 1,200 birds. By the fall of 1962, the population will be great enough to sustain a harvest by hunters.

No one can say at this time that the Rio Grande turkey program will meet with success similar to the Merriam's. At this point, everyone concerned should give the birds every chance for successful establish ment. Co-operate in affording protection from the poacher and undue disturbance. Refrain from intro ducing "new blood". If successful in the program, all Nebraskans can look back at these early efforts with pride as a job well done.

THE END APRIL, 1962 21

TOGETHERNESS

by Darlene Engle Sharing hubby's interests is great. But after this hunt, I'm for "apartness"

I'M SURE by now most everyone has heard the expression "togetherness" used. It, so I hear, is a wonderful state of ideal companionship especially desirable between husband and wife. Togetherness may be all right in some marriages where an occasional trip to the supermarket or downtown is all that is involved, but I'm here to say it can be disastrous on a deer-hunting trip.

I have always loved to hunt and fish. So does my husband. Sounds terrific so far, but bear with me. This year, as in the past two years, my husband and I applied for a deer permit together and as opening day dawned we were well on our way to the Sand Hills with high hopes, for we had been successful on our previous outings. Yes, everything was wonderful, except for the weather—foggy, misty, with a light 50-mile-an-hour breeze riffling across the ridges. But were we discouraged? Never.

OUTDOOR Nebraska proudly presents the stories of its readers themselves. Here is the opportunity so many have requested—a chance to tell their own outdoor tales* Hunting trips, the "big fish that got away", unforgettable characters, outdoor impressions—all have a place here. If you have a story to tell, jot it down and send it to Editor, OUTDOOR Nebraska, State Capitol, Lincoln 9. Send photographs, too, if any are available.

"Keep your eyes peeled, honey," my husband cooed sweetly. "We're in deer country now and you get the first shot."

I turned to smile my thanks and mentioned that it would be nice just to see one so we would at least know deer were around. After all, we had been there 20 minutes. My husband took his eyes off the road for a minute to explain with gentle patience that these things took time. As we tore our eyes from one another, we glimpsed a buck going out of sight over a ridge just ahead of the pickup.

Screeching the truck to a stop, hubby grabbed his rifle, leaped from the cab, and was disappearing over the ridge. This all happened before I had climbed across my rifle and the gear shift and managed to stop the truck before it could run over a small embankment which looked like the Grand Canyon. Notice, please, the teamwork this involved.

"First shot, my eye," I mumbled.

After a half hour had passed, my husband finally came back to the truck.

"Did you get him, dear?" I asked.

"No, but I probably would have if you would have quit jabbering like a parrot so I could pay attention to the road."

This remark led to a few exchanges of opinions as to how smart we each thought the other was, in a true togetherness manner, naturally. A short time later the air cleared and things were looking up. Then he spoiled everything by mentioning he was hungry. He became very irate just because I'd forgotten our lunch. I sometimes wonder if he has a sense of humor. Then he looked at me forgivingly and said, "I would take a cup of hot coffee. I'm about froze."

"You can't have any."

"Good Lord, did you forget that, too?"

"No."

"I'll hate myself for asking—but why can't I have it?"

"Because it has glass in it."

"Glass?" He took a deep breath, a good thing because he was getting rather red in the face, and slowly asked, "How did it get glass in it?"

"I would imagine it was when I shut the door on the Thermos."

We rode in silence, except for occasional mumblings from my husband. We didn't see another deer that day or the next, so we decided to return home and try it the last day.

Come sunrise, hubby and I were at our destination along the Dismal River. It had the possibilities of being a very nice day. We had our lunch and coffee, minus the glass, and the sky was clear and calm. My husband didn't even comment when he 22 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   discovered that we had both put sugar and cream in the coffee.

Just as the sun was touching the ridge tops he spotted three deer on the side of a ridge far ahead. We decided to park and walk so the noise of the pickup wouldn't spook them. It was only a short five-mile jaunt over the roughest country I'd ever seen until we finally caught up with them. My husband suggested we split up. He would take the ridge; I would stay down close to the river.

I wasn't quite to my assigned station when I heard my husband whistle and looked up to see two big bucks and a doe standing on a ridge across from him. He was closer so I waited for him to shoot first. He was in position but was yanking at his rifle lever.

I decided I'd better get a move on to get in a position where I could shoot. This sounds terribly simple, just a few leaps to a clearing across a barbed-wire fence. As I approached I was trying to decide whether to go over, under, or through.

Evidently, I never made up my mind for certain, because I got so tangled up I couldn't get loose. I gave serious thought to shooting from this undignified position, but was hampered because my binocular straps had become entwined in my rifle sling so that I couldn't bring my rifle up without strangling myself. This would have been the easy way out.

I glanced up in time to see one of the bucks crossing the river. He stopped on the opposite shore broadside to me and stared for a short time as if trying to decide what it was that was thrashing around in the fence. With a disdainful flick of his tail, he leisurely pranced out of sight over the ridge.

It was then I realized that hubby dear was screaming some "sweet nothings" at me from the ridge top, something about not making so much noise and a few compliments on my hunting abilities. I shouted right back, just a little something to let him know I thought he was crazy, too. After I had finally untangled myself with no help from old "Mr. Togetherness", I met him halfway up the ridge.

"Instead of screaming at me, why didn't you shoot? You were closer than me."

This, I believe, was the wrong thing to say because his face turned red.

"Because my rifle jammed, I couldn't get it unjammed, and it's still jammed, dear."

When he had cooled down, we discussed the tragedy a little more calmly.

"Let me use your rifle," he said, "I'm going to see if I can pick up their trail again."

I handed my rifle to him, hoping he wouldn't ask, but of course he did.

"How many shells are in it?"

"One."

"One? Great. Give me the new box of shells."

"I can't."

"Why can't you give me some shells?"

"Because I picked up the empty box this morning by mistake."

On our way home I broke the silence by mentioning I certainly hated to return without a deer. Most people can go home and forget it, but my Game Commission friends would never let me live this down.

"Those guys will never believe this, it's fantastic," I said.

"You've worked there three years, haven't you?"

"Yes," I replied.

"They'll believe it."

Now that the hunt is long over, it is rather funny, although I still can't make hubby see it that way. Oh well, there's always a next time. And as for this togetherness bit, my husband suggested that it would be nice if I could hunt in South America and he would go to Alaska next year. I believe he's trying to tell me something.

THE END Darlene, secretary at the Game Commission's District Four office in North Platte, had a hard time living this one down, "A hunt," she says, "no one will let me forget" APRIL, 1962 23

DUTCH OVEN COOKERY

by Lou Ell Plan for new taste treats with camping s handiest rig

WITH A DUTCH oven and a minimum of experience, you can prepare finger-licking campfire fare. This handy rig opens up a new world of camp cooking for the uninitiated, just the piece of equipment to cook pies, stews, roasts, steaks, cookies, and rolls.

This versatile utensil is made in either cast iron or aluminum. The iron variety must be cured before using. This is done by pouring in two inches of cooking oil and placing the utensil in a 450° F. home oven for two hours. Swab the oil over the insides occasionally, then remove and let cool slowly.

This conditioning fills the pores of the metal with grease, preventing sticking food and rust. Once conditioned, Dutch ovens are never washed. Crusted food can be scraped out, and the utensil wiped clean with a damp cloth.

For either stewing or baking, use a bed of glowing embers. It can be made from regular barbecue charcoal or native wood if there is plenty available. To do this, build a crisscross crib about 14 inches high over a shallow pit. The wood burns down rapidly and the coals fall into the pit. Throw on more wood if you need more coals. While it's burning down, let's make:

Campfire Stew 1 1/2 pounds of stew meat or venison, cut in 2-inch chunks. 3 fist-size potatoes, peeled and chunked. 5 to 6 carrots, split and chunked. 2 medium-size onions. 1 scant handful of dry or 1 V2 cups canned peas. 1 teaspoon salt. Pepper to taste.

Shovel half the coals out of the pit, and preheat the open Dutch oven. Braise the meat thoroughly, then set the oven aside again until it cools. Liquid poured into a hot, dry oven will crack the iron or warp aluminum. When cooled, add the other ingredients and water to cover. Put the oven back on the pit coal bed, replace the lid, and cover with the coals removed from the pit.

The stew will be ready after an hour of cooking, but it's best if it simmers for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Stir in 2 tablespoons of flour to 24 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   make gravey about 10 minutes before removing from the fire. Serve over camp biscuits.

For dessert, let's try:

Apple Pie

Peel and slice 8 apples. Mix in 3/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon flour, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix crust from package mix, rolled out on floured foil or a plastic sheet to form two crusts. Line pie tin with one, pour in apple-sugar mixture, and dot top with butter. Put on second crust, and puncture.

Invert an empty pie tin in bottom of the oven, and set the pie on this. Use the inverted pan, or a few pebbles, to hold any baked-goods pan off of the bottom of the oven. This prevents burning on the under side.

Set the oven in the coal pit to preheat, shoveling coals into the lid too. After 5 minutes, lift off the lid with a wire hook or a forked stick, put in the pie, replace the lid, and bank the coals around the oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Serve the pie warm with a slice of mild cheese on each wedge.

Here are some other simple Dutch oven foods:

Ham And Beans 1 box of precooked beans. (These are available from larger grocery stores.) 1 2-pound ham hock.

Dump six cups of water into the oven, put in beans and ham. Place on coals and cook for 30 minutes after water boils. Add more water if necessary, and pepper to taste.

Fried Rabbit

Dredge meat in flour, pancake, or biscuit mix, salt and peppered. Set oven on coals. Melt two tablespoons shortening, put in meat, and cover for half the cooking time to help hold the heat. Remove the cover for remainder of cooking time to crisp the coating.

Campfire Biscuits

Use a prepared biscuit mix. Preheat oven as for pie, and bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until biscuits are nicely browned.

Bacon and Eggs

Use the inverted lid of the Dutch oven. Lay bacon on the cold lid, place on coals. When bacon begins to cook, crack on the eggs. Salt and pepper to taste. Use low heat coals (mix in some ashes with the embers) for bacon and eggs.

Steak

Use hot coal bed and preheat the inverted lid on it. Grill steak as usual, about 5 minutes on each side, according to the way you like it. Salt, pepper, and a sprinkling of powered onion or a slice of raw after you turn the steak once.

That's all there is to basic Dutch oven cookery. Experiment with any other foods you wish. Once you learn to control the heat intensity of your coal bed, it's hard to beat.

THE END APRIL, 1962 25

Outdoorsman's TRAILER TIPS

Master your rig before vacation road detours into driver's nightmare alley

TRAILERING should be approached with a much more critical attitude than the average city dweller turned vagabond is inclined to offer. Not only is this true in the realm of parking a trailer, but also in the capacity, hitch, safety equipment, and road handling.

Trailers that have "just enough" capacity to carry their load invariably prove too small. Welds break, springs fail, tires blow, and the load suffers.

On the list of accessories, the most important item is a good stout hitch, the type that bolts directly to the car's frame. A safety chain is an absolute necessity on rough back roads and will free your mind of the nightmare of a loose trailer on the highway. As other equipment, brake taillights are required in Nebraska, while directional lights and electric brakes are needed in some states for some size trailers.

Pulling a trailer can ruin or make an outing. Proper equipment and know-how will make the difference.

THE END 26 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   LEFT CURVE Steer farther to right so trailer stays safe distance from traffic in other lane RIGHT CURVE Keep car wide to left or corner-cutting shadow will veer out to clip curb BACKING AROUND A CORNER The four basic steps start by (A) pulling trailer just past your destination. Turn front wheels hard in direction opposite intended target to (B) point trailer at goal. Then spin wheels and (C) follow arc, making steering adjustments (D) to hold course APRIL, 1962 27

Long Pine Creek

New addition to state areas ranks as trouting paradise

BETWEEN DEEP-GREEN ponderosas and cedars flows cold, rushing Long Pine Creek. In its sparkling waters trout play and wait to test the angler's skill. Songbirds dart through the trees, adding to the sound of the rippling water, and here and there, squirrels and raccoons cautiously venture from their homes to search for dinner among the pine needles.

This is Long Pine Creek, an area purchased in the spring of 1961 by the Game Commission for development under the new state-park 10-year development plan. The 160-acre area abounds in pine-studded scenery in the midst of Nebraska's fabulous Sand Hills. U.S. Highway 20, which cuts through the area, makes it easily accessible. Northwest of Long Pine between Bassett and Ainsworth, Long Pine's wilderness of rugged terrain hasn't changed much since the first settlers arrived and marveled at the beauty of the small, clear creek that races its way toward the Niobrara River.

Prized rainbow and brown trout abound in Long Pine Creek. You won't have to wait too long before one of them leaps teasingly from his watery home to take an unsuspecting fly. The angler will find more than enough to keep him busy when one of these sparkling beauties takes a shine to his lure.

This is the area for outdoorsmen and those seeking the relaxation its quiet serenity can provide. The needle-carpeted banks of the creek are the perfect place to settle down for a leisurely picnic and revel in the crisp aroma of frying trout.

In the midst of the rolling Sand Hills, a region noted for its fine waterfowl, grouse, and deer shooting, Long Pine is also on a direct route to the scenic and historic Pine Ridge. Vacationers will find the area to their liking as a camping spot while touring the state or as their headquarters while taking advantage of the waterfowl sport the many lakes by Ainsworth provide and the grouse shooting in hay country.

Long Pine now offers no improvements such as picnic tables, fireplaces, or toilet facilities, but those willing to rough it will find it just what they've been looking for. It's a spot the whole family can enjoy.

Though no improvements have been made at the area, Long Pine is one of those areas scheduled for completion when L.B. 208's .30-mill-levy funds become available in December 1962. The area was purchased partly with Game Commission funds and partly with money raised by people in the surrounding area. Local residents wanted to see the scenic spot become a part of Nebraska's chain of recreation sites.

Nebraskans will begin to see improvements at the as yet unclassified area by the summer of 1963. Though this might seem a long time in the future, L.B. 208 is one of the most far-reaching park bills to date. For a period of 10 years it will provide the state park system with a firm tax-supported income of approximately one million dollars a year.

Right now, Long Pine offers its own brand of beauty to the outdoorsman. The pine-studded scenery seems to spring out of the surrounding grass-covered hills. Canyon-like, it is a virgin wilderness, waiting to delight the nature lover and quench the appetite of the trout fisherman.

In the future, it will be dotted with picnic tables, fireplaces, and camping facilities. But even then it will retain the type of beauty which surrounds it now. A beauty which speaks of untamed wilderness untouched by bustling civilization. This is Long Pine Creek, the perfect spot to get away from it all and find enjoyment.

THE END 28 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

DUKE ALEXIS HUNT

(continued from page 7)

to go. His colleagues weren't quite so fortunate. Phil had rounded up the most spirited and showy horses of the department and had them grained up for weeks. The troopers howled with laughter as one after the other, the Russian "kings" were unceremoniously dumped to the ground.

Cody, Custer, and the duke rode out ahead to a small herd kept from wandering by Spotted Tail's Sioux. Cody pointed out a choice bull and the duke charged. Just at the last moment he reined in, and when Cody came riding up, the flustered duke blubbered out that "You have drilled me so hard, I have a blank mind."

Swallowing a laugh, Bill told the duke to let old Buckskin Joe do the hunting. All Alexis would have to do was shoot. Buckskin played his role perfectly, putting the duke alongside a prize specimen. Alexis pulled out his .44 revolver and blasted away six times as bull, Joe, and the duke charged together across the plains. It seemed impossible but Alexis missed all six shots.

Cody raced forward with his rifle, the famed Lucretia Borgia, and gave it to the still flustered duke. The Russian fired, started to reload, then looked back and discovered his first shot had been a killer. He hauled back on the reins, jumped off of Joe, raced for the beast, and cut off its tail. Then, sitting square on the back of the buffalo, "He let go with a series of howls and gurgles like the death song of all the fog horns and calliopes ever born," at least that's the way Cody described it.

While the duke waved the tail for all to see, the ambulance wagons drove up loaded down with wicker baskets of champagne. The Russians toasted the duke, toasted Phil, toasted each other, and the servants were always on hand to make sure that no one's glass was empty. It was a heck of a place to have a party, but no one complained.

Once things got back to normal, the rest of the group continued with the hunt. When it was over two hours later, some 20 to 30 black carcasses dotted the prairie. The duke's bull, sans tail, was a better trophy than most realized when he had it hauled back to camp. Alexis personally supervised the skinning out of the head that would soon grace the gilded walls of St. Petersburg.

Once back at camp, the toasting began all over again. Later there was great feasting and singing, first in Russian, then Indian, and then by the troops. The celebration iasted long into the night with not even Sheridan too concerned whether the group got off to an early or late start in the morning.

The last day of the hunt dawned brighter than even the previous two. Custer and Sheridan accompanied the duke, but all were taking it slower. Not cottoning to the fast pace of the chase in the early hours, they sat back and watched as Spotted Tail's braves made a surround on another herd. After his experience with a pistol the previous day, Alexis believed that the Indians' bows and arrows were totally inadequate to bring down the monstrous animals. One noted bowman immediately proved the weapon's worth by killing a huge specimen, the arrow going completely through the buffalo and sticking in the ground.

At this, the Russians let out a great cheer and then another after the Sioux's hunting dance. That afternoon the duke bagged two more animals. The hunters went at the sport so enthusiastically that Custer's horse died in the chase and Mike Sheridan, the general's brother, ran his to the ground. Each time the duke brought down an animal, the champagne was passed around again. One scout observed later that he "was in hopes that the duke would kill five or six more buffaloes before we reached camp, APRIL, 1962 29   especially if a basket of champagne was to be opened everytime he dropped one."

Once back at camp and another round of feasting, the royal party settled down to listen to the band, and later, watch an Indian powwow. The royal hunt had ended, a smashing success, to say the least.

Cody was showman to the end. On the return trip the next morning, Alexis learned that Bill was once a stagecoach driver of some renown and asked him to drive the team to the station. Cody, always eager to oblige, payed no mind to the springless, brake-less dogcart-type wagon they were riding in and whipped the spirited cavalry team to a lather. Even Bill was a little scared by the time it was all over, figuring that they made a roadless six-mile expanse in about three minutes.

Though the speed was stretched a mite, the duke agreed it was one heck of a trip. He told Sheridan that, "I would not have missed that ride for a large sum of money but rather than repeat it, I would return to Russia by way of Alaska and swim the Bering Strait."

The duke and his entourage couldn't pull out of North Platte without having at least one more fling. Alexis presented Buffalo Bill with a purse of gold, a diamond stick pin, and other treasures before leaving for Denver.

Nebraska will be a long time forgetting the Grand Duke Alexis hunt. It was a royal soiree that has no equal in the Plains country. Bill Cody, without realizing it, had staged his first Wild West show, played to his first real royalty.

Only a stone marker pinpoints the spot where the royal hunt occurred, that, and maybe a couple of mementos of the hunt. It would seem appropriate that Hayes Center recreate the hunt on an annual basis. It's a cinch this kind of pageant would attract the kind of attention and the kind of press that the real article did 90 years ago.

THE END

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BEATEN PATH

(continued from page 17)

County, is Big Bear Hollow. In a cave there dwelt Big Bear, a strange creature half man and half bear. He was protected by two black bears endowed with magic powers. Big Bear preyed upon the Indians, keeping them from hunting in the hollow and stealing their women.

Finally, the husband of one of the girls carried off trained two bears as ferocious fighters. They overpowered Big Bear's protectors, causing them to lose their magic powers. Big Bear was killed, and once again the Indians hunted in the hollow.

The fabled John Brown of Underground Railroad fame also left his mark here. At Nebraska City on State Highway 2 stands John Brown's cave and cabin. Supposedly, he stopped here with his band of escaped slaves on the way to Iowa from Missouri. The cave is a 10 by 12-foot cellar and it's rumored that you can hear the mournful singing of the slaves once inside. The cabin is reputed to be the oldest log building still standing in Nebraska. It is now open to the public as a museum.

For those who delight in the unusual, the Antelope County sinkhole offers an interesting sidelight. At one time the 200-foot-deep hole was an acre of pasture land. About 35 years ago, the area dropped unexplainably. Trees, earth, and even a horse that was in the pasture fell into the ravine that was created. Today, a large spring gushes through the sunken area. Check at the Oakdale Post Office for directions.

Dating from even before the early romanticists, tragic lovers have been jumping to their deaths from some of Nebraska's high precipices. Indian legends often tell of beautiful maidens leaping to their death because of a frustrated love.' In northeastern Nebraska about four miles east of Niobrara on Highway 12 is a tall, chalk-colored cliff. The Santee Indian legend which tells the story runs true to tradition. A young maiden, when not allowed by her father to marry the warrior she loved, galloped on horseback over the side of the cliff to her death.

In later years, another story tells of Jesse James' heroic escape over this same cliff. James was being pursued by a band of Indians when he reached the cliff and rode his horse over it. Once at the bottom, he headed for the nearby Missouri River and swam to safety.

Cloaked in legend, waiting to surprise the eye, many other spots are waiting off the beaten path for you to discover. Take their trails to a whole new world of adventure.

THE END 30 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

OUTDOOR ELSEWHERE

They Grow Them Big

SASKATCHEWAN . . . They grow trout big in Saskatchewan's Lake Athabasca. Last summer the lake yielded the biggest lake trout ever caught. The monster weighed in at 102 pounds, was 50 inches long, and boasted a 44-inch girth. Within a week after the 102-pounder was caught, a 95-pound giant was brought in from the same waters. Both fish were netted by commercial fishermen at the lake.

Third Time No Charm

PENNSYLVANIA . . . There's a hunter in Pennsylvania who insists his 10-year-old hound snickers each time he looks at him. Last fall during rabbit season, the dog kicked up a bunny which headed straight for the man. Three shots missed the animal completely. After a second and third run proved just as unsuccessful, the hound gave up in disgust with a look at the hunter that could mean just one thing. As far as he was concerned, three tries were enough for anyone.

Iron Curtain Crane

NEW MEXICO . . . Today's trend is to get away from the Iron Curtain. But a sandhill crane recently turned the tables by flying behind it. The crane, banded in New Mexico in January 1960, was taken in May 1961 in the Magodan region of Russia. And he made quite a trip to get there. By way of Alaska, the migratory bird had covered almost 8,000 miles.

The Ancient Ones

PENNSYLVANIA . . . Even the wildlife world has its old-timers. The Pennsylvania Co-operative Wildlife Research Unit recently reported hunters had taken a 6-year-old gray squirrel and a 6-year-old ruffed grouse. The most striking record, how-^ ever, was that of a black duck which was more than 21 years old when taken this year. The duck might set a new record in longevity.

TARGET ARCHERS . . . FIELD TARGET SHOOTERS . . . BOWHUNTERS . . . VARMINT CALLERS!

SPEAK UP

Send your questions lo "Speak Up", OUTDOOR NEBRASKA, State Capitol, Lincoln 9, Nebr. Thankful Texan

"I want to take the time to thank you good people of Nebraska for the hospitality shown to us on our recent pheasant-hunting trip to Venango. I have hunted for three seasons in Nebraska and I enjoyed this trip more than I did the other two. The main reason for this is that we got to know the people of Nebraska much better and they in turn got to know us better.

"On this last trip my hunting partner took his retriever with us to fetch our game and to improve his field training. We were standing in a stubble field discussing where to hunt next, as we lacked one pheasant of having our limit for the day. While we were talking, his dog came up between us wagging his short tail and all but told us that if we didn't want that pheasant at our feet, he would get it for us. The dog then reached and grabbed it by the back and handed it to his master. This gave us the limit for the day.

"I told my hunting partner that his dog would get put in jail or arrested for hunting pheasants without a nonresident hunting permit and an upland game bird stamp. He was the only hunting dog in town that got a limit of pheasants."—H. P. Stewart, Midland, Texas.

The Art of Skinning

"In case you do not know, here is a little tip on cleaning rabbits and squirrels without getting hair all over the meat. The basic idea is to drive two nails thru a board so that the sharp ends will stick out about two or three inches.

"Soak the rabbit or squirrel in water for a few seconds, or, if stiff, use warm water to loosen the skin. Then hang by the hind legs, cut across the back enough to get a finger under the hide, and skin downward. Finally, cut through the tough belly skin to remove the front half of the skin, hang by the front legs, and skin the hind quarters."—Alfred A. Schmidt, Falls City.

Diseased Rabbits?

"Can you tell me what was wrong with some of the cottontails this past year? While hunting in the Fairbury area I found that some of the rabbits had a white substance, not in the intestines, liver, or muscles, but just loose in the body cavity. Three of my day's bag were just full of what looked like real small rice while the others were clean. Were those rabbits diseased? I have heard other hunters say they have found the same thing."—Frank Kolar, Omaha.

From your description we are unable to state with certainty what is responsible for the unusual condition. However, it is likely that the small pellets were cysts containing larval dog tapeworms.

It is not uncommon to find the white, watery, bladder-like cysts of the larval dog tapeworm in rabbits. In the northern areas of the nation, 75 per cent of the rabbits may be infected. They are absolutely harmless to man for they cannot adapt to the human intestine, and infected rabbits can be cleaned and safely eaten. As a general precaution, however, rabbit should always be well-cooked.

The threat of introducing these "bladder worms" is more than an adequate reason for never feeding raw rabbit carcasses or entrails to dogs or cats. The tapeworms never reach adulthood in the rabbit, but remain dormant in an immature cyst stage, or until the rabbit is eaten by a dog, cat, fox, or other suitable host. Only then can the parasite become a fully developed tapeworm.

Cottontails may carry a number of internal parasites which are nearly all harmless to man.—Editor.

APRIL, 1962 33

notes on Nebraska fauna...

BURBOT

by Leo H. Dawson Area Fishery Manager

THE BURBOT, neither eel nor catfish but mistaken for both, is one of the strangest-looking denizens to grace Nebraska waters. This fish, Lota lota lacustris, is distinguished from all others by a single, very prominent barbel or whisker under the point of the chin. By way of comparison, the catfishes have four chin barbels and fresh-water eels have none.

This unique fish with its small head and long dorsal and anal fins, is known locally by such names as ling cod, pocket eel, lawyer, and eel-pout. His color ranges from olive to dark brown on his back with dark mottlings fading to yellow white beneath. The scales are very small and, without a close examination, the fish appears to be scaleless. The dorsal fin is divided into two parts—the front with 12 to 13 rays and the rear with 70 to 75 rays.

Salt-water members of the cod family are widely distributed and make up a very sizeable commercial 34 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   catch in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Some cod fish, such as the Atlantic variety, may attain a weight of nearly 200 pounds. Similar heavyweights are also found in the Pacific.

Fresh-water cod often mistaken for eel or catfish while in water. When smoked, this big river denizen is prime table fare

Burbot weighing over 12 pounds and with lengths exceeding 32 inches have been reported. However, the average size is considerably smaller. Usually, the fish reaches a length of 6 to 8 inches at the end of the first year, 10 to 15 the second. A two-year-old will weigh around a pound or more. Adults are usually 16 inches and over.

As is the case of all fishes, growth depends on the food availability and living conditions. The natural foods of the burbot consist primarily of minnows, chubs, shiners, and other small fishes as well as crayfish.

A deep-water fish, the burbot occurs mainly in large rivers and lakes from New England through the Great Lakes region, north to the Arctic and west to the Upper Missouri and Columbia river basins. The greatest abundance is probably reached in cold northern lakes such as the Great Lakes and other deep-water lakes of Minnesota and Canada. Most authorities consider the species rare in the Missouri although many are taken each year.

Commercial fishermen take ling in the Mississippi River and in the Missouri River as far north as North Dakota. Some 5,000 pounds of burbot were harvested in that state in 1960.

Early commercial fishing reports did not list the burbot as a separate species since it was not highly ranked as a food fish. Instead, the fish was placed in the category of soft or trash fish with such varieties as the suckers. For this reason the comparative availability of this fish in the Missouri River today is not definite. The burbot's value, food-wise, has come up considerably. From 1939 through 1949, commercial fishermen took a yearly average of over 364,000 pounds alone from the Ohio waters of Lake Erie.

During the hot summer months the ling prefers deeper, cold lake waters. He moves into the shallows during the winter to spawn. Young burbot have been found on the hard sand lake bottoms in May. Cold-water tributaries are utilized in rivers as spawning areas.

Not too much is known about the habits of the burbot in the Missouri River. Such specific things as where and when the fish spawns, if there is a spawning migration, movement and the effects of large dam construction on movements, and relative abundance, to mention a few, are worthy of study in Nebraska.

One western state has stocked burbot in one of its large reservoirs as a predator fish to aid in keeping down large numbers of small sunfishes. This stocking has resulted in a highly successful winter fishery for the ice fisherman.

The most likely fishing spots here are along the Missouri River proper, especially below Gavins Point Dam in the tail waters area. Winter and spring fishermen probably take the greatest numbers, although several have been taken during other times of the year.

Actually, one could expect to catch burbot only occasionally, since the species is not in great abundance. In five years of research on Lewis and Clark Reservoir, South Dakota fishery technicians reported less than a dozen in their netting. Far more were being taken in the tail waters. For a few years in the mid-1950's the burbot made up a large percentage of the total Gavin's creel. Now they have slipped to an occasional catch.

Minnows, worms, and crayfish are all good baits. Present the offering in the deeper waters, using just enough weight to get the hook down near the bottom. In this way the current can move the bait around, giving it a natural action.

Probably a good time to try for burbot would be late winter and on into spring. Snagging, a popular fishing method on the Missouri, also brings the burbot into the creel. The flesh is considered by many to be strongly flavored. However, the fish ranks high for eating quality when it is smoked.

Next time you're fishing the Missouri, give the burbot a try. It will prove to be a new experience in your angling career.

THE END APRIL, 1962 35

BUCKET Low-down