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A Guide to the I-80 Lakes • Fishing the Interstate GPS coordinates: 41.083934, -102.470537 Goldeneye This 17-acre borrow pit pond alongside I-80 is managed by the South Platte NRD. Fish species: Crappie, bluegill, channel catfi sh, largemouth bass, yellow perch. Amenities: Rock boat ramp. Directions: From Exit 107 at Big Springs, go south 1 mile, turn right and go 3 miles west on Road 6, then turn right on Road 203 and go north 0.25 miles, cross I-80 and the lake is on the right. GPS coordinates: 41.040137, -102.128224 Lake Ogallala and Lake McConaughy SRAs At 30,000 acres when full, Lake McConaughy is the largest lake in the state. Located below the dam is 650-acre Lake Ogallala. Together, the lakes off er some of the best fi shing in Nebraska. Lake Mac is well known for its walleye, and it also off ers exciting fi shing for white bass, wipers, smallmouth bass and other species. Lake Ogallala is a tailwater fi shery, receiving cold water from Lake McConaughy that allows it to support trout, many of them trophy-size, year-round. Trout also are caught downstream from Lake Ogallala in the Sutherland Supply Canal and the North Platte River. Fish species (McConaughy): Walleye, wiper, white bass, channel catfi sh, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, common carp, bullhead, freshwater drum. Fish species (Ogallala): Rainbow trout, tiger trout, walleye, white bass, channel catfi sh, yellow perch, wiper, smallmouth bass. Amenities: Concrete boat ramps, fi sh- cleaning stations, restrooms. Directions: From Exit 126 at Ogallala, go north on Highway 61, following the Lake McConaughy road signs through town. Continue north on Highway 61 for about 9 miles to Lake McConaughy. Continue on Highway 61 across the dam and turn right, following directional signs, to get to Lake Ogallala Above: Lake Ogallala is a great place to fi sh, and features a new fi shing dock that joins one bank to another at the northwest angler access area. Anglers use this fi shing location for trout, catfi sh, perch and carp. JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND Cover: A bluegill, one of the many species stocked in the I-80 lake system. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND