Another source of trout fishing fun is available in Nebraska. The Nebraska Park and Game Commission is scheduling the release of rainbow trout into waters across the state.
This will provide anglers and families, especially on city ponds and lakes, with additional angling opportunities for this popular species.
It begins on March 11, the opening day of Trout Lake at Two Rivers State Recreation Area in Douglas County. All trout caught in this lake must be harvested and not released. Anglers must first purchase a daily trout tag for $6 at the park office. Each tag is good for a daily bag limit of four trout. One person may have up to three tags per day and 12 trout in possession. An adult angler may have two children under the age of 16 fishing under the authority of his tag, but the group bag limit is still limited to four trout per tag.
Trout Lake (Lake No. 5) will be open from 7 am to sunset daily. Anglers, except residents under the age of 16, must have a Nebraska fishing license. All vehicles entering the park must have a park entry permit. Anglers who own trout on any other lake in Two Rivers must also have a trout tag. Anglers will be able to use one fishing rod and one reel each.
Adults can enjoy it, but trout fishing is also a great way to introduce kids to fishing, because simple and inexpensive equipment can be used.
“Rainbow trout are especially good for new anglers because they easily bite through anything, even corn, bread pieces or worms, and are easy and safe to handle,” said Larry Pape, Game and Parks aquatic education specialist. “You can use a simple spin-cast combo or a spinning rod and have a fun day fishing for trout.”
For resources to help beginners or even seasoned anglers, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/howtofish.
The following is a schedule for the 88,000 rainbow trout that will be stocked this spring, including quantities. Dates may change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances and times, when listed, are provisional:
March 13
- CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Ashland, 2500
- Carney Pond, O’Neill, 750
- Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area No. 2, Fremont, 4,000
- Ponca SP Pond, Ponca, 750
March 14
- Heartwell Park Lake, Hastings, 450
- Suck Lake, Grand Island, 650
- Halleck Lake, Papillion, 1,200
- Weeping Water Pond 1, 1,500
- Louisville SRA 1A, Louisville, 600
- SRA Windmill No. 2, Gibbon, 600
- Bethphage Pond, Axtell, 200
March, 15th
- Terry’s Hole, Terrytown, 1,500
- Riverside Park Pond, Scottsbluff, 900
- Geneva Pond, 300
- Fort Kearny SRA No. 6, Kearney, 1200
- Holdrege Town Lake, 800
- Ponca SP Pond, Ponca, 750
March 16
- Auble Pond, Ord, 750
- David City Park Lagoon West, 600
March 17
- Oxford City Lake, 150
- Lake Victoria Springs SRA, Anselmo, 1200
- Humboldt City Park Lake, 350
- Pawnee City Pond, 300
- Rotary Club Lake, Auburn, 800
- Stanton Lake, City of Falls, 200
- Steinhart Park East Pond, Nebraska City, 800
March 18th
- Lake Helen, Gothenburg, 2000 at 12:30
- Plum Creek Park Lake, Lexington, 750 at 2 p.m.
- Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 4000 at 1 p.m.
- Lake Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, Norfolk, 1500 at 9 am
- Pawnee Park West Lake, Columbus, 1,500 at 10 am
- Neligh Park Pond, West Point, 810 at 11 am
March 22
- Bridgeport SRA Middle Lake, 2,000
- Bridgeport SRA Northwest Lake, 1,400
23 of March
- Morrill’s North Pond, 2250
- Middle Morrill Pond, 450
March 27th
- Rock Creek Lake, parks, 1500
Additional March stockings as weather and weather permit
- Gracie Creek Pond, Burwell, 1,000
- Elm Creek, Red Cloud, 500
- Two Rivers SRA No. 5 (Trout Lake), Waterloo, 14,900
- East branch of Verdigre Creek, Royal, 1,000
- Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area Sandbox, Royal, 75
April stockings, weather and weather permitting
- South Grable Pond, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford, 1200
- Middle Grable Pond, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford, 600
- Gilbert-Baker Pond WMA, Harrison, 600
- Bridgeport SRA Northwest Lake, 1,400
- Chadron SP Pond, 500
- North reservoir of the city of Chadron, 1,700
- South reservoir of the city of Chadron, 1,700
- Morrill’s North Pond, 2250
- Middle Morrill Pond, 450
- Riverside Park Pond, Scottsbluff, 900
- Terry’s Hole, Terrytown, 1,500
- Carter P. Johnson Lake, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford, 2500
- Cherry Creek Diversion Pond, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford, 250
- Arrowhead Meadows Golf Course Pond, 150 Curtis
- Rock Creek Lake, parks, 1500
- Two Rivers SRA Lake No. 5 (Trout Lake), Waterloo, 9,600
- Verdigre Creek East Branch, Royal, 800
- Keller Park SRA No. 4, 250
- Keller Park SRA No. 5, 400
- Sand Springs, Plum Creek Valley MMA, 400
For online fish stocking information, including upcoming trout stocking dates, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/fishstockingreports.