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