April 2021 • Nebraskaland 91
the time he was carrying a shoulder bag, a rod-and-reel or
two and some nightcrawlers. "There is no telling how many
containers of nightcrawlers I bought last year. You can catch
just about any of Nebraska's fi sh with a nightcrawler."
From grass pickerel and river carpsucker to white bass and
northern pike, Buss was thrilled with each of his new catches
— even the ones he couldn't immediately identify. When he
wasn't sure what fi sh he was holding, he would reach out to
other anglers, Nebraska Game and Parks fi sheries biologist
Daryl Bauer or search Fishes of Nebraska.
But identifying fi sh became even more of a challenge
when he added microfi shing to his list of techniques, where
catching an inch-and-a-half fi sh could be the trophy of the
day. "I can still remember fi shing with my dad and granddad
when I was younger and seeing a school of minnows swim
by. I told my granddad that I was going to catch one of them.
He laughed, saying I had no chance. A short time later, I was
Grass pickerel, Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. SCOTT BUSS
Northern pike, Missouri River below Gavins Dam near Lewis
and Clark State Recreation Area.
SCOTT BUSS
Rock bass, I-80 Lake near Hershey. SCOTT BUSS
Stonecat, Elkhorn River near Norfolk. SCOTT BUSS
Shortnose gar, Missouri River near Lewis and Clark State
Recreation Area.
SCOTT BUSS
Flathead catfi sh, Missouri River at Indian Cave State Park.
SCOTT BUSS
