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The Best Fishing Lakes In Nebraska

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Guide to the top places to fish for bass, catfish, crappie and more in NE.

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

Box Butte Reservoir, Branched Oak Lake, Elwood Reservoir, Glenn Cunningham Lake, Johnson Lake, Lake McConaughy, Lake Wanahoo, Lewis And Clark Lake, Merritt Reservoir, Pawnee Lake, Sutherland Reservoir and Wehrspann Lake are the most popular places for fishing in Nebraska, offering anglers the chance to pursue a variety of fish species. Ice fishing is available when conditions are right at numerous lakes and ponds around the state. The Boat Rental Page lists options for fishing boat rentals at some of these lakes.

  • Bluestem Lake, NE
  • Box Butte Reservoir, NE
  • Branched Oak Lake, NE
  • Calamus Reservoir, NE
  • Conestoga Lake, NE
  • Davis Creek Reservoir, NE
  • Elwood Reservoir, NE
  • Enders Reservoir, NE
  • Glenn Cunningham Lake, NE
  • Harlan County Reservoir, NE
  • Harry Strunk Lake, NE
  • Jeffrey Lake, NE
  • Johnson Lake, NE
  • Lake Maloney, NE
  • Lake McConaughy, NE
  • Lake Minatare, NE
  • Lake Ogallala, NE
  • Lake Wanahoo, NE
  • Lewis And Clark Lake, NE
  • Merritt Reservoir, NE
  • Oliver Reservoir, NE
  • Pawnee Lake, NE
  • Red Willow Reservoir, NE
  • Sherman Reservoir, NE
  • Sutherland Reservoir, NE
  • Swanson Reservoir, NE
  • Wagon Train Lake, NE
  • Wehrspann Lake, NE
  • Whitney Lake, NE
  • Willow Creek Lake, NE

Nebraska is home to a wide range of fishing lakes, offering diverse opportunities for anglers. The state boasts both warm water lakes and cold water lakes, each with its own unique fish species and fishing experiences. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, and the species found in each lake.

Warm water lakes in Nebraska are known for their abundance of fish species that thrive in warmer water temperatures. Some popular warm water lakes include Branched Oak Lake, Harlan County Lake, and Lake McConaughy. These lakes offer excellent fishing for species such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, crappie, and walleye. Anglers can enjoy casting their lines from boats, shorelines, or fishing piers to target these sought-after warm water species.

On the other hand, Nebraska's cold water lakes are characterized by their colder temperatures, which support fish species that prefer cooler environments. Cold water lakes in the state include lakes such as Lake Ogallala, Merritt Reservoir, and Sherman Reservoir. These lakes are known for their populations of cold water species such as trout, including rainbow trout, brown trout, and lake trout. Anglers can enjoy a unique fishing experience by targeting these beautiful and elusive fish in the crystal-clear waters of Nebraska's cold water lakes.

In addition to warm water and cold water species, Nebraska's fishing lakes also offer opportunities to catch other popular fish species. These include white bass, muskellunge, northern pike, sauger, saugeye, and hybrid striped bass. Each lake has its own unique fish populations, and anglers can tailor their fishing techniques and strategies to target specific species based on their preferences.

Whether fishing in a warm water lake or a cold water lake, Nebraska's fishing lakes provide a variety of fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. From reeling in largemouth bass and crappie in warm water lakes to battling trout in cold water lakes, the state's lakes offer a diverse range of fish species and fishing experiences. With its abundant waterways and scenic landscapes, Nebraska is a haven for anglers seeking exciting and rewarding fishing adventures.

Fishing Boats For Rent In NE

Bass Lakes

Box Butte Reservoir, Branched Oak Lake, Calamus Reservoir, Conestoga Lake, Davis Creek Reservoir, Elwood Reservoir, Enders Reservoir, Glenn Cunningham Lake, Harlan County Reservoir, Johnson Lake, Kimball Reservoir, Lake Maloney, Lake McConaughy, Lake Minatare, Lake Wanahoo, Lewis And Clark Lake, Pawnee Lake and Wehrspann Lake are considered some of the best options for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. More...

Catfish Lakes

Branched Oak Lake, Davis Creek Reservoir, Elwood Reservoir, Glenn Cunningham Lake, Harlan County Reservoir, Harry Strunk Lake, Johnson Lake, Lake Wanahoo, Lewis And Clark Lake, Medicine Creek Reservoir, Merritt Reservoir, Oliver Reservoir, Pawnee Lake, Red Willow Reservoir, Wagon Train Lake are favorite options for channel, blue and flathead catfish. More...

Crappie Lakes

Branched Oak Lake, Davis Creek Reservoir, Glenn Cunningham Lake, Johnson Lake, Lake Wanahoo, Pawnee Lake, Sherman Reservoir, Wehrspann Lake and Whitney Lake are a few of the most popular for black and white crappie. More...

Sunfish & Panfish Lakes

Calamus Reservoir, Conestoga Lake, Elwood Reservoir, Enders Reservoir, Harlan County Reservoir, Harry Strunk Lake, Johnson Lake, Kimball Reservoir, Lake Maloney, Lake McConaughy, Lake Minatare, Lake Wanahoo, Lewis And Clark Lake, Oliver Reservoir and Sherman Reservoir are popular spots to fish for bluegill, bream, perch and other sunfish. More...

Walleye Lakes

Box Butte Reservoir, Elwood Reservoir, Jeffrey Lake, Johnson Lake, Lake McConaughy, Lake Minatare, Medicine Creek Reservoir, Merritt Reservoir, Oliver Reservoir, Sherman Reservoir, Sutherland Reservoir and Wagon Train Lake are considered the top locations for walleye fishing. More...

Trout Lakes

Hugh Butler Lake, Kimball Reservoir, Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala, Merritt Reservoir, Oliver Reservoir, Red Willow Reservoir and Sutherland Reservoir are the favorite options for rainbow, cutthroat, brook and brown lake trout. More...

Striped Bass Lakes

Elwood Reservoir, Enders Reservoir, Hugh Butler Lake (Red Willow Reservoir), Lake McConaughy and Sutherland Reservoir are the best options for striped bass and hybrid striped bass. More...

Salmon Lakes

Lake McConaughy and Lewis and Clark Lake are the most popular for atlantic, chinook, chum, coho, kokanee, pink and sockeye salmon fishing. More...

The Marinas Page offers a list of popular marinas on some of these lakes.

Visit the Nebraska fishing page for links to information covering a wide variety of fish species and destinations in the state. Visit the Nebraska map to identify your best route to these top fishing locations. Look to our sister site for additional information about boating in NE at many of the most popular destinations in the state.

 

Best Destinations By State.

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