The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission forecast for select regions of the state.
the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Saturday, August 2, 2008 7:00 pm
North-central
Merritt Reservoir—Anglers trolling leeches or nightcrawlers may catch15- to 24-inch walleye. Fishing spinners and spinnerbaits in the early morning and evening may continue to produce northern pike and largemouth bass, especially in the Boardman Arm.
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge—The shallow productive lakes have become a challenge to fish due to the thick growth of aquatic vegetation. Target Watts Lake for small bluegill and yellow perch, and Clear and Dewey lakes for northern pike and largemouth bass.
Big Alkali Lake—Fishing for yellow perch, catfish, crappie and northern pike should continue during August.
Calamus Reservoir—Walleye fishing has slowed a little from last month, but anglers may have some luck jigging slab spoons vertically to catch walleye in the 18- to 20-inch range. They may also continue to have success by drifting or slow-trolling leeches and nightcrawlers. Anglers who fish live baits off the humps could have some success taking wipers, maybe as large as 20 inches, and white bass. There should also be opportunities to catch channel catfish at night, in the mornings and evenings.
Cottonwood-Steverson Lake—Although the water clarity is poor, anglers may be able to catch a few walleye from 15 to 20 inches. Quality crappie were sampled there in May.
Trout streams—Due to recent rains, some of the streams may be high and muddy, but as conditions improve the Snake River, Long Pine, Schlagel and Plum creeks should again offer good trout fishing in the mornings and evenings. There are public access points on each stream, but permission is required to fish on the portions that are on private land.
South-central
Harlan County Reservoir—Anglers have been taking advantage of a good white bass population and having success fishing at night using minnows and jigs. The lake was just above conservation pool in late July. Anglers have been catching channel catfish in the upper end of the lake and the Republican River. Walleye and crappie fishing has been sporadic.
Johnson Lake—Good walleye fishing, with some taken off the dam, the island, and at the inlet. Some white bass also was taken. Anglers are catching catfish in the canal system above Johnson, including Gallagher Canyon Reservoir.
Elwood Reservoir—The lake received an additional 3 feet of water in mid-July. Fishing has been good for walleye and wipers.
Sherman Reservoir—Anglers fishing for white bass at night have been successful. Water level has remained high due to reduced irrigation demands. Good fishing for crappie and walleye. The upper end of the lake has been good for walleye, while the coves are good for crappie.
Interstate 80 lakes—Fish the following lakes for largemouth bass: Darr Wildlife Management Area, Willow Island WMA, East Gothenburg WMA, Mormon Island State Recreational Area middle lake, Sandy Channel No. 8, and Bufflehead WMA. Bluegill anglers should fish Fort Kearny No. 7 and Dogwood WMA East.
Southwest
Lake McConaughy—The surface temperature at the dam in late July was 71 degrees. The elevation is 7.7 feet higher than last year. Success for white bass has very good throughout the lake on crankbaits, jigs or spinner-worm harnesses. The best areas for white bass were on the north side, from Martin Bay to Theis Bay. Walleye fishing was fair using leeches and nightcrawlers on worm harnesses or Lindy rigs, and by trolling crankbaits. Most fish were being caught near Lakeview or Lemoyne. Success for wipers on the dam at night was good, trolling large crankbaits. Success for catfish was very good using nightcrawlers, leeches, and bait shrimp in the west end of the lake. Boats may be launched from Martin Bay, Divers Bay, North Shore, and Lakeview.
Lake Ogallala—Success for catfish was good at the spillway and in the north basin, using nightcrawlers, cut bait or bait shrimp. Most fish were between 5 and 15 pounds, with some up to 20. Anglers were catching a few trout and perch using nightcrawlers. The best area for trout was near the diversion dam. White bass fishing was good in the north basin using jigs, and occasional walleye were being caught with jigs.
North Platte River below Lake Ogallala—Flows were 1,395 cfs. Occasional rainbow trout, channel catfish, walleye or smallmouth bass were being taken on nightcrawlers or leeches near the spillway.
Sutherland Reservoir—White bass should begin schooling in August. To locate them, anglers should watch for birds picking dead shad off the surface. Anglers are catching white bass, channel catfish and walleye at the inlet and catfish on the west end using frozen shrimp.
Red Willow Reservoir—Big wipers and some channel catfish have been taken, but anglers shouldn’t fish too deep. Also, white bass have been working on top.
Swanson Reservoir—Bank anglers have been taking quite a few wipers on nightcrawlers and channel catfish on frozen shrimp.
Enders Reservoir—Fishermen have been catching channel catfish, wipers and white bass. There also are some largemouth and smallmouth bass possibilities. Enders is second only to Lake McConaughy as the region’s top smallmouth bass fishery.
Lake Maloney—Wiper activity in the outlet should pick up in August, especially early in the day. White bass have been caught off Kansas Point.
Northeast
Missouri River—Fishing through August should be good for walleye, sauger and catfish, and the best times will probably be early morning and evenings rather than during the hottest parts of the day. The area from Niobrara to Lewis and Clark Lake should provide some good smallmouth bass fishing.
Gavins Point Dam tailwaters—The tailwaters should provide good fishing. Anglers may catch drum, sauger, walleye, white bass, carp, crappie and smallmouth bass.
Summit Lake—Largemouth bass fishing should continue to be good, especially for anglers who use topwater lures, rubber lizards or rubber worms in or near weedbeds. Bluegill fishing should also remain good. Anglers should be aware that many lakes have stratified, so they should not fish in the deepest water and will probably find bluegill, crappie and other panfish suspended at some depth. The best fishing will probably be in the mornings or evenings rather than during the heat of the day.
Maskenthine Reservoir—Anglers are expected to continue catching bluegill on bobbers and worms; good success on catfish on stink baits or nightcrawlers. May also take largemouth bass on spinner baits and buzzbaits; and crappie in the 9- to 10-inch range on minnows. Best action should be in mornings and evenings. Night fishing for catfish may also be productive.
Buckskin Hills—Success on channel catfish should be good.
Lewis and Clark Reservoir—Channel catfish and white bass fishing should continue to be good.
Skyview Lake—Channel catfish success should be good, also possibility of a few largemouth bass and bluegill.
Fremont Lake No. 20—Good success catching 7- to 8-inch bluegill should continue.
Southeast
Burchard Lake—Bluegill and crappie still can be caught on jigs or nightcrawlers, but they’ll be found in deeper water. Also look for largemouth bass in deeper water and use deeper-running crankbaits along the edges of submerged weedbeds. Also try fishing jigs near vegetation, slowly crawling plastic worms on the bottom or through the weeds.
Czechland Lake—Quite a few bluegill and crappie have been caught recently.
Wagon Train—August should produce excellent channel catfish fishing once the catfish spawn is over.
Branched Oak Lake—Catfishing should be good for all three species: channels, flatheads and blues. Use bluegill or crayfish to catch flatheads or blues. There are many options for channels, but liver always is a favorite of anglers.
Wildwood Lake—This lake is a good bluegill fishery and an excellent place to take children fishing.
Twin Lakes—There should be some action on channel catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and walleye.
Wehrspann and Zorinsky lakes—Expect good success fishing for channel catfish.
Louisville—Anglers will find good largemouth bass and bluegill fishing.
Pawnee Lake—It’s a good lake for channel catfish and carp fishing, but anglers also have an opportunity to catch white bass on drifted or trolled crankbaits and minnow-imitating lures. Walleye and sauger also can be taken on trolled or drifted crankbaits, nightcrawlers or minnows.
Two Rivers—Try fishing for channel catfish and largemouth bass near the fish feeders at the catch-and-release lakes.
Iron Horse Trail Lake—Anglers near the Kansas border might want to try fishing for largemouth bass in this Pawnee County lake.
Hedgefield Lake—The lake is being drained for dam repair. Fish salvage by the public has begun and allows the harvest of stranded fish of all species by snagging, hand fishing, legal dip or landing nets, and archery. Statewide bag limits must be observed, but fish of any length, regardless of species, may be harvested. Salvaged fish cannot be used for stocking purposes into either public or private bodies of water.
Bowling Lake—Catch bluegill up to 7 inches.
Note: The presence of zebra mussels has been confirmed in Marion Reservoir in central Kansas. Anglers and boaters who have visited that or any other lake should take the proper steps to prevent transport of the mussels, which pose an environmental and economic threat.