The annual fall stocking of rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across Nebraska has begun.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fish hatcheries staff is releasing catchable (10-inch or greater) trout to enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter.
In addition to rainbow trout, Game and Parks will stock into Lake Ogallala thousands of cutbows – a cutthroat/rainbow trout hybrid – for anglers looking to catch a different species.
“This popular program emphasizes our urban and community waters statewide,” said Daryl Bauer, Game and Parks’ fisheries outreach program manager. “We encourage anglers to get out and enjoy the weather and harvest a few trout.
“Don’t let this pass by as an opportunity to teach a new angler how to fish either,” Bauer said. “Trout are a great starter fish.”
For young or new anglers, a spinning or spincast rod-and-reel with a worm baited hook work well.
If you are just getting into fishing, read Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at OutdoorNebraska.gov. There, you also can find additional information on fishing or buy your fishing permit.
Game and Parks is seeking input from trout anglers, particularly those who fish put-and-take lakes. To accomplish this, a survey is available at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Search “trout stocking reports.” Information from this survey will be used to inform future trout management and stocking decisions.
The following is a schedule for rainbow and cutbow trout set to be stocked, including quantities. Dates can change because of weather or unforeseen circumstances:
Week of Sept. 23
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
- South Grable Pond, Fort Robinson State Park, 1,200
- Middle Grable Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 600
- North Grable Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 750
- Chadron Wildlife Management Area pond, Chadron, 150
- Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area, Ogallala, 8,000 cutbows
Week of Oct. 1
- Elm Creek, Elm Creek WMA, Red Cloud, 1,000
- Bridgeport SRA northwest lake, 1,400
- Laing Lake, Alliance, 1,500
- Cherry Creek Diversion Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 250
- Sidney Legion Park Pond, Sidney, 300
- Bridgeport SRA middle lake, 2,000
- Middle Ice House Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 200
- Lower Ice House Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 750
Week of Oct. 7
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
- Fremont SRA Lake No. 18, Fremont, 2,000
- Crystal Cove Lake, South Sioux City, 2,500
- Fontenelle Forest Lake, Omaha, 1,200
- Benson Lake, Omaha, 1,050
- Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Lake, Norfolk, 1,500
- Pawnee Park West, Columbus, 1,000
- Lake Halleck, Papillion, 1,200
- Steinhart Park Pond, Nebraska City, 800
- Weeping Water Park Pond 1, Weeping Water, 1,500
- Louisville SRA pond 1A, Louisville, 600
- David City Park Pond, David City, 600
- North Morrill Pond, Morrill, 2,250
- Middle Morrill Pond, Morrill, 450
- South Morrill Pond, Morrill, 400
- Riverside Park Pond, Scottsbluff, 900
- Rock Creek SRA lake, Parks, 3,000
Week of Oct. 14
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
- Towl Park Pond, Omaha, 300
- Grove Lake WMA lake, Royal, 1,500
- Curtis Golf Course Pond, Curtis, 150
- Oxford City Lake, Oxford, 300
- Bethphage Pond, Axtell, 200
- Plum Creek Park Lake, Lexington, 750
- Lake Helen, Gothenburg, 2,000
- Windmill SRA No. 2, Gibbon, 1,100
- Fort Kearny SRA No. 6, Kearney, 1,280
- Holdrege City Lake (North Park), Holdrege, 1,800
- Bessey Pond, Halsey, 600
- Auble Pond, Ord, 1,500
- Gracie Creek Pond, Burwell, 1,000
- Melham Park Lake, Broken Bow, 875
- Ansley City Lake, Ansley, 1,000
- Heartwell Park Lakes, Hastings, 900
- GI Suck’s Lake, Grand Island, 650
- Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home pond, Kearney, 200
- CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland, 1,500
- Bowling Lake, Lincoln, 400
- Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 3,000
- Humbolt City Park Lake, Humbolt, 600
- Stanton Lake, Falls City, 200
- Rotary Club Lake, Auburn, 800
- Geneva Pond, Geneva, 300
- Pawnee City Park Lake, Pawnee City, 300
- Gretna Crossing Pond, Gretna, 200
Week of Oct. 21
- White River, Crawford, 1,000
- Gilbert-Baker WMA pond, Harrison, 600
- Birdwood WMA lake, North Platte, 4,000
- Humphrey Pond, Ogallala, 600
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
- Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala, 6,000 cutbows
Week of Oct. 28
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
- Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala, 5,000
November-December
As time and weather allow, the following water bodies will be stocked with rainbow trout in November:
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 800
- Crystal Springs Middle Pond, Fairbury, 1,000
- Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala, 10,000
As time and weather allow, the following water bodies will be stocked with rainbow trout in December:
- CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 3,500
- Bowling Lake, Lincoln, 400
- Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 3,000
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 1,000