OutdoorNebraska

Niobrara Valley Niobrara Valley streams flow through the scenic wooded canyons of north-central Nebraska into the Niobrara River. Favorites of anglers from throughout the state, these easily waded streams attract anglers who use fly-fishing, bait-casting, or spinning equipment. These streams offer quality fishing during spring after high water caused by snowmelt recedes, and again in fall. Niobrara River Located in northern Nebraska, the river's best trout-fishing waters are in Sioux, Dawes and Box Butte counties. Browns and a few rainbow trout. There is public access at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Most of the river flows through private property and permission to enter is required. The Niobrara's troutsupporting water stretches from the Wyoming border to Box Butte Reservoir. Keeper brown trout and some rainbows are stocked in the river annually between the Agate Fossil Bed National Monument and the Wyoming state line. The river lacks good trout habitat. Poor quality and quantity of spawning habitat results in minimal reproduction. Snake River (upper) Located in Sheridan and Cherry counties, the upper Snake River supports trout from near the western Cherry County line to the Doughboy bridge south of Cody. Brown and rainbow trout. Private access, permission required. The Snake River above Merritt Reservoir has a sand bed with fair trout habitat. The stream has an ample flow of cold water. Occasional outcroppings of rock and shale provide spawning areas. Currently 2,500 five-inch rainbows and 2,500 five-inch browns are stocked annually. Harrison Snake River (lower) 20 Located southwest of Valentine in Cherry County, the river flows out of Merritt Reservoir. Brown and rainbow trout. N b ra io Schlagel Creek South of Valentine in Cherry County, this creek flows north into the Niobrara River. Brown trout. There is public access from the Schlagel Creek WMA. The rest of the creek is private access and landowner permission is required to enter. It has 10 miles of troutsupporting waters with 2.5 miles located on the WMA, where there is good trout fishing. The canyon section has the best trout habitat and the most fish. Browns naturally ra R iver WYOMING There is public access at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area (SRA), but the rest of the river flows through private land and permission is required for entry. Below Merritt Reservoir, the Snake cuts through a beautiful canyon and creates Snake Falls, Nebraska's largest waterfall by water volume. It is the state's premier trout stream and offers outstanding fishing for naturally reproducing browns and rainbows. Fish exceeding 4 pounds are sometimes caught there. Currently trout are not stocked. 2 DAWES Marsland Niobrara Ri ver Box Butte Reservoir Agate Agate Fossil Beds National Monument BOX BUTTE SIOUX 29 ★ 1" = approximately 7.2 miles 12 NEBRASKAland Magazine ● Trout Fishing in Nebraska's Streams

• Cover