Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Ted Bartels from Nebraska Games and Parks does his job on Tuesday, stocking Oliver Lake wit 12,000 walleye and 1,500 tiger muskie.
On Tuesday morning, Oliver Lake was stocked with 12,000 walleye and 1,500 tiger muskie from the Nebraska Game and Parks in less than an hour.
Ted Bartels from the Nebraska Game and Parks brought his load from the North Platte Hatchery and delivered fish to Oliver, Winter Creek, Minatare and Big Lake Alice. Stocking by the Nebraska Game and Fish is financed by hunting and fishing licenses. Game and Parks stock most of the public lakes throughout the state.
Walleye are the most popular fish and Nebraska Game and Parks Hatchery raises about a million of them.
By summer's end, the tiny month-old 1-inch walleye will have grown to 8-9 inches. Generally the water temperature determines the growth and size of the fish; eastern Nebraska lakes are warmer and have larger fish, but the cooler temperatures in the western part of the state makes for smaller fish.
The tiger muskie that were dropped off at Oliver are a hybrid fish, a cross between a northern pike and muskie. According to Bartels, tiger muskie will eat and control the rough fish such as carp. The tiger muskies could eventually grow to about 40 inches.
The tiger muskie are started in an inside facility, and they grow rapidly indoors.
The tiger muskie that were brought to Kimball are about 2 months old and close to 7 inches long.
