Game and Parks releasing rainbow trout
The annual fall stocking of rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across Nebraska is beginning.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fish hatcheries staff are releasing catchable (10-inch or greater) trout to enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter.
“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 works 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 trout set to be stocked, including quantities. Dates can change because of weather or unforeseen circumstances:
Week of Sept. 22
Gilbert-Baker Wildlife Management Area pond, Harrison, 450
Cherry Creek Diversion Pond, Fort Robinson State Park, 200
Week of Sept. 29
Middle Ice House Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 200
Lower Ice House Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 500
Chadron SP Pond, Chadron, 400
Chadron Creek Ranch WMA Pond, Chadron, 150
Week of Oct. 6
East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
Crystal Cove Lake, South Sioux City, 3,000
Grable South Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 1,000
Grable Middle Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 450
Grable North Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 600
Riverside Park Pond, Scottsbluff, 700
Bridgeport State Recreation Area northwest lake, Bridgeport, 700
Week of Oct. 13
Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 2,500
Kramer Park Lake, Bellevue, 2,000
Towl Park Pond, Omaha, 200
Fontenelle Park Pond, Omaha, 400
Benson Park Pond, Omaha, 700
CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 1,200
Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Lake, Norfolk, 1,500
Pawnee Park East, Columbus, 1,000
Fremont Lakes SRA Lake No. 18, 2,000
East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
North Morrill Pond, Morrill, 1,500
Middle Morrill Pond, Morrill, 200
South Morrill Pond, Morrill, 200
Rock Creek Lake, Parks, 2,500
Laing Lake, Alliance, 1,000
Bridgeport SRA northwest lake, Bridgeport, 700
Gracie Creek Pond, Burwell, 1,000
Optimist Lake, Auburn, 470
Humboldt City Park Lake, Humboldt, 200
Pawnee City Lake, Pawnee City, 200
Stanton Lake, Falls City, 200
Auble Pond, Ord, 1,200
Bethpage Pond, Axtell, 200
Central Nebraska Veterans Home Pond, Kearney, 200
Heartwell Park, Hastings, 600
Suck’s Lake, Grand Island, 500
Fort Kearny No. 6, Kearney, 1,060
Windmill SRA No. 2, Gibbon, 1,000
North Park Lake, Holdredge, 1,300
Elm Creek, Elm Creek WMA, Red Cloud, 750
Oxford City Lake, Oxford, 300
Melham Park Lake, Broken Bow, 700
Week of Oct. 20
Grove Lake, Royal,1,500
East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
Birdwood Lake, North Platte, 3,000
Humphrey Pond, Ogallala, 480
Lake Helen, Gothenburg, 1,600
Weeping Water No. 1, Weeping Water, 750
Steinhart Park Pond, Nebraska City, 400
Plum Creek Park Lake, Lexington, 600
Ansley City Lake, Ansley, 800
Bessey Pond, Halsey, 300
Geneva City Pond, Geneva, 200
Clark’s Pond, Sutton, 200
Louisville SRA Lake 1A, Louisville, 500
Lake Halleck, Papillion, 1,200
Gretna Crossing, Gretna, 200
David City west pond, David City, 450
Bowling Lake, Lincoln, 400
Week of Oct. 27
East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200