24 | Fishing Info: 402-471-0641
Additional Information
ATVs AND SNOWMOBILES FOR ICE-FISHING
Snowmobiles, all-terrain and motorized off-highway amphibious vehicles may be operated on the frozen surface
of designated lakes listed below, unless posted as closed. All wildlife management areas are open to ATVs and
snowmobiles on the ice, unless posted otherwise. These vehicles may be operated only from one-half hour before
sunrise until 9 p.m., or as posted. Recommended ice thickness for vehicle use is eight inches. The designated
lakes are, unless posted as closed:
• Big Alkali
• Bluestem
• Box Butte
• Branched Oak
• Calamus
• Conestoga
•
Cottonwood-Steverson
• Davis Creek Reservoir
• Elwood
• Enders
• Fremont lakes
• Frye Lake
• Gallagher Canyon
• Harlan County
• Home Valley
• Johnson
• Lewis and Clark
• Louisville lakes
• Maloney
• McConaughy
• Medicine Creek
• Merritt
• Minatare
• Ogallala
• Olive Creek
• Oliver
• Pawnee
• Red Willow
• Rockford
• Shell
• Sherman
• Smith Lake WMA
• Stagecoach
• Sutherland
• Summit
• Swanson
• Wagon Train
• Walgren
• Willow (Brown Co.)
• Willow Creek
FREE FISHING AND PARK ENTRY DAY - MAY 16, 2020
Free Fishing and Park Entry Day is held annually on the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend. It is intended
to attract those who no longer fish or who have never fished with an opportunity to do so without purchasing a
permit. All bag and length limits are still in effect. Also, no permit is needed to enter a state park area.
COMMUNITY FISHING EVENTS
The Nebraska Game and Parks Youth Fishing Program sponsors Community Fishing Events at community and
recreation area lakes across the state. This is an opportunity for people who have never fished, or have not fished
in years, to learn or refresh their skills. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/FamilyFishing for dates and locations of
Community Fishing Events.
FISH KILL REPORTS
To make it easier to determine the cause, promptly report dead or dying fish to a conservation officer, Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission district office, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy at 402-471-
2186, or the 24-hour Nebraska State Patrol pollution complaint number at 402-479-4921.
POLLUTION
Keep the water safe and clean for future fishing. Report dumping or pollution activities to the Nebraska
Department of Environment and Energy (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) at 402-471-2186, the 24-hour
Nebraska State Patrol pollution complaint number at 402-479-4921, or the Environmental Protection Agency 24
hours a day at 913-281-0991.
RESOURCES FOR LAKE MAPPING AND WATER LEVELS
Lake contour maps are available at OutdoorNebraska.org. For lake levels and stream flows, visit:
CNPPID: cnppid.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lakeRiverData.html
Nebraska Public Power District: nppd.com/about-us/power-plants-facilities/hydroelectric/water-data/
U.S. Geological Survey: waterdata.usgs.gov/ne/nwis/rt
Bureau of Reclamation: usbr.gov/gp/lakes_reservoirs/nebraska_lakes.html
Farwell Irrigation District: farwellid.org/sherman%20reservoir.html
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: rivergages.mvr.usace.army.mil/WaterControl/new/layout.cfm
nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/current.html
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY
For information on the fish consumption advisory program and the status of water bodies across the state go to
the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy website: deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/FCA.
