OutdoorNebraska.gov | 5
Season Dates More Info
Hook and Line Year-round Page 8
Paddlefish Archery: June 1 - 30; Snagging: Oct. 1 - 31 Page 17
Underwater Spearfishing Game Fish: July 1 - Dec. 31 statewide, except Box Butte Reservoir
and private waters, where the season is June 1 - Dec. 31; Non-
game Fish: year-round
Page 17
Surface Spearfishing Year-round for nongame fish only Page 16
Archery July 1- Dec. 31 for game fish; Year-round for nongame fish Page 16
Bullfrog Aug. 15 - Oct. 31, east of Hwy. 81; Year-round, west of Hwy. 81 Page 15
Snapping turtle Year-round Page 15
Mussel Year-round, no harvest in any river or stream Page 15
2024 Season Dates
New for 2024
Channel Catfish – Only one fish in the daily bag can be 30 inches or greater in length statewide.
Bluegill – The daily bag limit for bluegill shall include only one fish nine inches or longer at Duck Lake
(FWS), Pelican Lake (FWS), Blue Lake (FWS), Island Lake (FWS), Smith Lake (FWS), Frye Lake WMA, and
Smith Lake WMA.
Yellow Perch – The daily bag limit for yellow perch shall include only five fish 10 inches or longer, of
which only one fish may be 12 inches or longer, at Home Valley Lake, Rat and Beaver WMA, Blue Lake
(FWS), Island Lake (FWS), Smith Lake (FWS), Frye Lake WMA, and Smith Lake WMA.
Archery Paddlefish – Additional areas below Gavins Point Dam now will be open to archery fishing during
archery paddlefish season; only the north wall of the spillway and the powerhouse discharge canal will be
closed. See pages 18 and 20 for specific language and detailed image of the closed area.
Permit Information
WHO NEEDS A FISHING PERMIT?
A Nebraska permit is required of residents and nonresidents age 16 and over. Nonresidents
under age 16 need not have a fishing permit if they are accompanied by someone who has a
Nebraska fishing permit. A fishing permit is required to take or attempt to take fish, bullfrogs,
snapping turtles, barred salamanders or mussels by any legal method. An angler must carry the
fishing permit while actively fishing.
RESIDENT PERMITS
The requirements to qualify as a Nebraska resident to buy a fishing permit:
• Reside in Nebraska continuously for at least 30 days before making application for a
permit and intend to become a Nebraska resident.
