Keep your catch of fish as fresh as possible and you will be rewarded with a wonderful meal that is the finale to a fishing trip. In mid-October, trout will be stocked across Nebraska in small city park ponds and state park lakes.

These pan-sized fish offer a person the delicious main course of a meal. From the lake to the table, every step is critical in making the best of what nature has given you.

Fish are a perishable food product and the quality of the meal is only as good as the handling of the fish after the catch. If practical, fish can be kept alive until just before cleaning. The best method is to keep them as cold as possible, as soon as possible. If you know you are going to be keeping fish, take along a cooler with ice and place them in it immediately after catching.

A 10-inch rainbow trout is one of the easiest fish to prepare for the pan. It is not necessary, nor advisable to skin or filet a small trout, as they have delicate flesh that is best kept whole. The method is simply to remove the internal organs and gills, and then wash.

Do this by making an incision along the belly from the vent to the gills, and disposing of the entrails. The gills may take a little more cutting to release them from the head. The head can be left on or removed depending on the diner’s sensibility. Notice a dark area inside and along the spine of the fish. This is the fish’s kidney and can be removed by gently rubbing while washing. It does not change the cooked product if left in the fish.

There are two easy methods for cooking trout:

Pan fry – Dredge in a mixture of flour, salt, pepper and seasoning of choice. Fry about 3 to 5 minutes per side in a quarter inch of medium hot oil. Use spatula to turn the fish gently. When done, place on a platter to rest for a few minutes before serving.

Bake – Wrap in foil and cook on the grill or in the oven. This allows each fish to be seasoned to the particular desires of the diner. Oil is necessary to keep the fish moist; use butter, olive or vegetable oil; just a splash will do. Spices can be delicate such as rosemary and parsley, or bold such as Cajun and curry, but remember that a little goes a long way. To add flavor and edible ingredients, include sliced onions, garlic cloves, capers, or artichoke hearts.

Seal this foil packet and bake on the grill grates or in the oven on a baking sheet for 10 to 15 minutes (350 degrees). Serve after resting for a few minutes and then placing each packet in front of the diner on a plate. Open carefully to release the steam and aroma.

A trout meal is best served with rice, vegetables and the stories of how they were caught.

If you are just getting into fishing and want more details, a helpful resource is Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at OutdoorNEbraska.gov/howtofish. For information on Fish Stocking, including the dates pf upcoming trout stocking, OutdoorNebraska.gov/fishstockingreports.

National Reptile Awareness Day art contest begins

LINCOLN, Neb. — Students across Nebraska are invited to celebrate National Reptile Awareness Day 2020 through an art competition hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Young artists in grades K-12 may submit their original artwork of a Nebraska native reptile by Oct. 14 at outdoornebraska.org/reptileart. Each student that submits a digital piece of artwork will receive a Reptile-ology magazine.

Winners from each grade level will be selected by Game and Parks staff and announced on National Reptile Awareness Day on Oct. 21. Nebraska through proclamation will recognize the national day designed to grow one’s awareness and appreciation for snakes, turtles, lizards and more.

To learn more about Nebraska’s native reptile species, or for inspiration for artwork, visit outdoornebraska.org/reptiles.

Kayak Kid Essay Competition accepting submissions through Oct. 15

LINCOLN, Neb. – Youth are invited to enter the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Kayak Kid Essay Competition for the chance to win an outdoors prize package.

The contest requires a handwritten 250-word essay expressing why growing up in the outdoors is important. Entries must include a photo of the essay writer at one of the southwest region parks or reservoirs, including Johnson Lake, Elwood Reservoir, Gallagher Canyon Reservoir, Lake Maloney, Sutherland Reservoir, Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park and State Recreation Area, Enders, Medicine Creek, Rock Creek Lake, Red Willow or Swanson Reservoir.

Competition is in two age divisions – 10 to 14 years and 15 to 18 years. Judges will award one writer in each division who best exhibits an appreciation and love for nature’s resources. Winners will receive a kayak, paddle and lifejacket.

The entry deadline is Oct. 15, 2020. Mail essays to Red Willow State Recreation Area, 72718 Trail 2, McCook, NE 69001. Include the essay writer’s name, address and phone number with the essay and photo.

Contact Aric Riggins at 308-345-5899 and aric.riggins@nebraska.gov, or Zach Oliver at 308-334-5493 and zach.oliver@nebraska.gov, with any questions about the contest.

Platte River SP observation tower to close temporarily

LINCOLN, Neb. – Platte River State Park’s Lincoln Journal Star Observation Tower will close temporarily to the public so it can be painted.

Located near Walter Scott Jr. Lodge, the tower will be closed Sept. 17 to Nov. 1. Hiking near the tower is permissible, but the area below the tower will be closed to traffic. The Daugherty Tower, located near Mallet Lodge, will remain open, and dining at Walter Scott Jr. Lodge will continue through the maintenance.

The observation tower at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park also is currently closed due to construction of a new group facility.

For more information, contact the park office at 402-234-2217, and stay tuned to OutdoorNebraska.org for updates.

Nebraska Game and Parks to offer interactive online hunting workshops

LINCOLN, Neb. – Unravel the mystery and excitement of hunting by joining Nebraska Game and Parks educators for online Hunting Happy Hour workshops.

Starting Sept. 22, these interactive Zoom-based sessions cover everything from basic hunting to waterfowl hunting, upland bird hunting and big game hunting with bow, firearm and muzzleloader. Workshops give newcomers the confidence and knowledge to seek out their own adventures this fall and beyond.

Hunting Happy Hour workshops are ideal for adults with little to no hunting experience who are interested in learning. Sign up and enjoy one or several 60-minute sessions from the comfort of your home or office.

Registration is required, and sessions are limited to 25 participants each. To learn more and register, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/workshops.

Virtual bird banding programs offered for free

SCOTTSBLUFF – The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, in conjunction with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, is hosting a series of live virtual bird banding programs on Tuesdays through Oct. 6.

The interactive program is perfect for all ages and will last from 9-10 a.m. CST (8-9 a.m. MST). Registration is required at bit.ly/VirtualBirdBanding.

Program participants can expect to see live birds and learn from educators about the species captured, as well as about the process of bird banding.

Bird banding is used to collect data and track bird species across the world. After birds are captured in a specially-designed net, a small metal band is attached to the leg of the bird. Each band has a unique number; all information gathered about the bird – species, sex, age, weight – is entered on a national database. If or when birds are re-captured, biologists can use the database to track bird migrations, population trends and natural history.

The banding station highlighted will be at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area; visitors across the state are welcome to join the sessions on Sept. 22, Sept. 29 and Oct. 6.

For more information, contact Delanie Bruce, Nebraska wildlife education coordinator, at delanie.bruce@birdconservancy.org or 308-633-1013.

Schramm Education Center closed Sept. 22

LINCOLN, Neb. – Schramm Education Center in Gretna will be closed Sept. 22 during construction on the parking lot.

Visitors can still access Schramm Park State Recreation Area, located directly east of the facility, to enjoy time outdoors. The park includes ponds, nature trails, a geologic display and a historic fish hatchery. Buy your park entry permits online at OutdoorNebraska.org.

For more information, call the education center at 402-332-3901.

Health alert issued for Bluestem; three other Game and Parks lakes remain on alert

LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, has been issued for Bluestem Lake in Lancaster County. The alert remains in effect for Pawnee and Wagon Train lakes in Lancaster County and Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County.

Visitors to Bluestem, Pawnee (east and west beaches), Willow Creek and Wagon Train state recreation areas should avoid full-body contact activities that could lead to swallowing water, such as swimming, wading, skiing or jet skiing. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are OK. Dog owners are urged to keep pets out of the water and not allow them to ingest lake water.

Samples taken by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy on Sept. 14 were above the health alert threshold of 8 parts per billion (ppb) of total microcystin, which is a toxin released by certain strains of blue-green algae.

This is a lower threshold than previous years, based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations. Previously, the state had set a limit of 20 ppb, but adopted the new limits after concluding that the new EPA threshold is based on the best scientific evidence available, and is protective of public health.

Lakes with beaches and those that allow power boating are tested weekly through the summer, and sampling results will be updated every Friday. Health alerts are lifted immediately when algal toxin levels are below 8 ppb. To view weekly data for the lakes sampled, visit deq-iis.ne.gov/zs/bw/.

Fishing is permitted at lakes that are under a health alert. Information to date indicates toxins do not accumulate significantly in fish tissue, which is the meat that most people eat.

For more information on harmful algal blooms, read this Fact Sheet.