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Fishing on OFW Sites:
Ponds, lakes, and streams enrolled in OFW are managed
under statewide fishing regulations, with the exception of
largemouth bass, which have a 21-inch minimum length
limit and the daily bag limit may contain only one fish 21
inches or longer:
• Panfish (bluegill, green sunfish, orangespotted
sunfish, pumpkinseed, redear sunfish, all sunfish
hybrids, rock bass, yellow perch, white crappie and
black crappie) – Daily bag limit of 15
• Channel catfish – Daily bag limit of five in standing
water and 10 in flowing water
For other regulations, reference the current Nebraska
Fishing Guide at OutdoorNebraska.org/Guides.
Recreation Liability Act
Questions about potential liability for injury sometimes
make landowners apprehensive about allowing public
access to their property. Knowledge of Nebraska's
Recreation Liability Act should relieve some anxieties.
Statutes 37-729 through 37-736 of the Nebraska Game
Laws state that unless users are charged a fee for access
to the property, landowners are not responsible for
ensuring the premises are safe for recreational use. The
statutes specify:
• A landowner who gives permission to use property
for recreation is not extending any assurance that the
property is safe, and no liability for injury or property
damage can be sought from the landowner.
• Payment to landowners from a government body,
such as the arrangement that occurs through Open
Fields and Waters, has been treated the same as if no
payment were made.
• If dangerous conditions are known to exist on the land,
landowners are obligated to guard or warn users.
• Recreational users of private lands are responsible
for their own actions unless they pay the
landowner for such use.
Note: The above information is only a summary of guidelines for walk-in access on OFW lands. Additional Nebraska hunting, trapping and fishing
regulations still apply. For more information, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/Guides and select the guide(s) that applies to your intended activity.
