OutdoorNebraska

OutdoorNebraska.org | 27 Baits and Scents – Cutbait is legal if the fish used has been legally acquired and the size, bag and possession limits for that species and body of water have been followed. It also is legal to chum for fish using nonharmful baits. Anise oil and other scents that do not stun, kill or harm fish are permitted. Leopard Frogs and Barred (formerly tiger) Salamanders – All regulations that cover the legal use of baitfish also apply to these species. Leopard frogs can only be collected for individual use, not commercial use. Crayfish – There is no daily possession limit on crayfish. Anyone over the age of 16 must have a bait dealer's license in order to sell crayfish. Crayfish may be captured by hook and line, by hand or by legal fish nets and traps as described below. No permit is needed to collect for personal use. Fish Nets and Traps – The possession or use of nets, traps and electrical gear capable of stunning fish is prohibited except for the following: • Baitfish seines of 1/4 inch nonmetallic square mesh only and not more than 20 feet long and 4 feet deep. • Baitfish dip nets of 1/4 inch, nonmetallic square mesh. Neither length nor width may exceed 36 inches. • Baitfish and bait traps of 1/4 inch square mesh material with a length of 24 inches or less, a diameter of 16 inches or less and a throat 2¼ inches or less in diameter. All minnow traps shall be raised, and the baitfish removed at least every 24 hours. • Landing nets, made of nonmetallic mesh, used only for landing fish caught on hook-and-line. Turtle Traps – A legal snapping turtle trap must contain a throat or funnel to be constructed of netting that is at least 4 inches square mesh. The trap must have an entrance possible only from above the water's surface and must allow turtles to reach the surface to breathe. The trap must be personally checked at least every 24 hours and tagged with a metal tag listing the owner's name, address, and fishing permit number or driver's license number. Turtle traps can only be used on private waters, and it is unlawful to sell, offer for sale or barter any snapping turtles. Any turtle(s) exceeding the daily bag limits shall be released immediately. CAST NETS • Only cast nets up to 10 feet in diameter with a mesh size no larger than 3/8 inches square measure are legal gear. • Cast nets may be used only during July, August, September, October and November. • Cast nets may be used to collect gizzard shad and alewife only. • Live gizzard shad and alewife may only be used for bait the same day they were captured and only in the same body of water where they were collected. • Cast nets may be used to collect bait only on the following bodies of water: Northeast: Calamus Reservoir Davis Creek Reservoir Southwest: Elwood Reservoir Farwell South Reservoir Gallagher Canyon Reservoir Harlan County Reservoir Johnson Lake Midway complex reservoirs Phillips Canyon Reservoir Plum Creek Reservoir Sherman Reservoir Enders Reservoir Jeffrey Reservoir Lake Maloney Medicine Creek Reservoir Lake McConaughy Red Willow Reservoir Sutherland Reservoir Swanson Reservoir Tri-County Canal from diversion dam in Lincoln County to J-2 return FISH STOCKING It is unlawful to release any non-native fish, reptile or amphibian in waters of the state or to release any fish or any aquatic organism in any public waters in the state except in those waters from which it came, without written authorization from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. TROUT WATERS It is unlawful to possess a seine of any type on trout streams in Sioux, Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Garden, and Keith counties that are tributaries of the North Platte River and Lake McConaughy, including Red Willow, Wildhorse, Stuckenhole, Ninemile, Tub Springs, Winter, Sheep, Dry Sheep, Spotted Tail, Dry Spotted Tail, Otter, Clear Lonergan or Cedar creeks.

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