28 Nebraskaland • April 2019
Outdoor Nebraska
By Renae Blum
Weather in April can be unpredictable. Nevertheless,
there are plenty of reasons to get outside. Here are just
a few.
Morel
mushroom
hunting
Season typically begins
mid- to late April |
Statewide in woodlands
The search for this wild-
growing delicacy is on.
While morels are notoriously
fi ckle, they do favor certain
conditions, often emerging on
warm, sunny days following spring
rains. They grow in both moist
fl oodplains and upland woodlands,
and are often most plentiful at the
base of cottonwoods and elms that
have recently died.
Fish for crappies
Throughout the month | Statewide
"April can be the best month for crappies because
of the pre-spawning concentrations," said
Nebraska Game and Parks fi sheries education
specialist Larry Pape. Pape recommended looking
for crappies gathering around structure such as
standing timber or breakwaters, and using live
bait, particularly small minnows, where allowed.
To fi nd great places to fi sh, consult the 2019
Fishing Forecast, available at Outdoornebraska.
org/fi shingforecast.
PHOTO
BY
JENNY
NGUYEN-WHEATLEY
PHOTO
BY
JEFF
KURRUS
PHOTO
BY
ERIC
FOWLER
PHOTO
BY
JUSTIN
HAAG
Earth Day
Celebration
April 13
Wildcat Hills Nature
Center, Gering