A Guide to the I-80 Lakes • Fishing the Interstate 3
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
