October 2026 • Nebraskaland 25
WHAT TO DO IN OCTOBER
Fishing the Fall
As fish pack on pounds this fall,
m a ke s u re yo u 're o n t h e w a t e r. I
understand that the smell of recently
spent shotgun shells is intoxicating,
but so is the sight of a rod bending
double. Where you find baitfish, you
will find bigger fish. Now is not the
time to sit in one spot trying to draw
a fish to you. Move quickly, either by
land or boat, to find lunkers in search
of food before winter.
ERIC FOWLER
A Calamus Halloween
Celebrate Halloween at Calamus
State Recreation Area on Saturday,
Oct. 17, for the park's 38th annual
Pumpkin Carvers Event. Activities
begin at 9:30 a.m., including pumpkin
carving, games and a pumpkin rolling
derby on the west side of the shower
house area at the Homestead Knolls
campground. While a limited number
of pumpkins will be provided, visitors
are encouraged to bring the ir own.
The celebration concludes after dark
with a pumpkin display, decorated
campsites and trick-or-treating. Find
i n fo r m a t i o n o n o t h e r H a l l o we e n
e v e n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e s t a t e a t
Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
ERIC FOWLER
Roadside Color
An after-dinner drive or walk this
month, whether from your house or
your campsite, is the perfect way to
see fall color in Nebraska's state park
system. Look at Ponca, Indian Cave,
Platte River and Mahoney state parks
in the east and Fort Robinson and
Chadron in the west from the seat of
your vehicle.
JEFF KURRUS
raska