88 Nebraskaland • April 2021
How Many
Could I
Catch?
By Jeff Kurrus
ike many anglers, Scott Buss of Norfolk began planning
his 2020 fi shing trips way before the year started. From
researching stocking reports and fi shing forecasts to
talking to various anglers throughout the state, he
began writing a list of where he wanted to fi sh. Yet he did
have one goal that was diff erent than most. After looking
at the number of fi sh on Nebraska's state record list, which
is 70, Buss wanted to see how many species he could catch.
By the end of the year, he had caught 52. His plan seemed to
work.
Buss is a recorder of information. From plants to birds, he
writes lists of items he sees in the outdoors. When fi shing,
he's as likely to look into the trees as he is his line in the
water. And since he's fi shed since he was a kid, it was natural
for him to begin this personal challenge.
"Sometimes I hear that there are no places to fi sh in
Nebraska," he said. "But that couldn't be further from the
truth. I really wanted to show how good the fi shing can be
throughout the state." So on Jan. 3, 2020, he traveled to Fort
Robinson State Park to put his theory into motion.
By the end of his trip to Fort Rob, he had crossed brown,
brook and rainbow trout off of the list. Then, he spent at least
parts of 81 more days to see how many more he could catch.
L
In 2020, Norfolk resident Scott Buss
put a long thought-out plan into
action. He would travel the state and
see how many species of fi sh he could
catch — fi shing public waters as
much as possible.
Scott Buss of Norfolk fi shes at Two Rivers State
Recreation Area.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
Buss holds a red shiner he caught from the Platte River
while fi shing at Two Rivers State Recreation Area.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
