OutdoorNebraska

Archery and Spearfishing ARCHERY AND SURFACE SPEARFISHING • Game fish may be taken by archery statewide from July 1 through Dec. 31 from sunrise to sunset. • Game fish must meet the length limit requirements for the water body from which they were harvested, as well as daily bag limits and possession limits. • Game fish may not be taken with surface spears. • Nongame fish may be taken by archery or surface spear statewide 24 hours a day year-round. • Note the closed area below Gavins Point Dam during the archery paddlefish season. • Use of crossbows is illegal in the area from the Gavins Point Dam downstream to the U.S. Hwy. 81 bridge. They are allowed only downstream of the bridge. • Artificial lights are allowed. • Only hand-drawn longbows (including compound bows) and crossbows (designed to be shoulder fired) are legal. • Arrows may have only one point, which must be barbed, and must be attached by a line to the bow at the time the arrow is released. • For surface spearing, only hand spears are legal. • The following waters are closed year-round: Platte River State Park, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, and other park areas as posted. UNDERWATER SPEARFISHING Lawful spear guns include hand spears, rubber band-powered spear guns, compressed air spear guns, and spring- loaded spear guns. All spears used on powered spear guns must be attached to a shooting line no more than 20 feet long. Underwater spearfishing is not permitted within 100 yards of any designated swimming or water-ski jump area, boat dock, boat ramp or spillway. Seasons – The season for game fish is July 1 through Dec. 31 in waters listed below, except *Box Butte Reservoir and private waters, which starts June 1. Bag, possession and length limits are the same as for hook and line. Hours are sunrise to sunset. The season for nongame fish is year-round in waters listed below. There are no size, bag or possession limits for nongame fish species. Hours are sunrise to sunset. Waters Open to All Species – All privately-owned lakes are open, with permission of the owner, as well as: Lake McConaughy Lake Ogallala Lake Minatare Box Butte Reservoir * Lewis and Clark Lake Harlan County Reservoir Enders Reservoir Elwood Reservoir Red Willow Reservoir Medicine Creek Sutherland Reservoir Maloney Reservoir Jeffrey Reservoir Johnson Reservoir Sherman Reservoir Swanson Reservoir Merritt Reservoir Calamus Reservoir Waters Open to Nongame Fish Species Only: Buffalo County Union Pacific SRA War Axe SRA Bassway Strip WMA Bufflehead WMA Kea Lake WMA Kea West WMA East Odessa WMA Blue Hole West WMA North Kearney Rest Stop Sandy Channel SRA Dawson County Dogwood WMA Cozad WMA Cozad West WMA Willow Island WMA East Gothenburg WMA Hall County Cheyenne SRA Wood River West WMA Alda DOT Diver's Flag – A diver's flag must be displayed on the water on a float or buoy when diving or underwater spearfishing. Divers and underwater spearfishers must remain within 150 feet of the flag. The flag must be at least 12 inches square, with a red background and white diagonal stripe that is one-fifth the width of the flag. The white stripe must run from the top of the hoist to the bottom of the flag. It is unlawful to display this flag when diving or spearfishing is not in progress. 20 | Fishing Info: 402-471-0641

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