OutdoorNebraska

Pine Ridge (continued) Hat Creek is located 5.5 miles north and 6 miles east of Harrison in Sioux County. Brown and brook trout. Private access only, permission required. A 3-mile stretch of the stream supports trout. Downstream, a stretch of Hat Creek is dewatered during irrigation season. Brown and brook trout are present upstream in East and West Hat creeks. Soldier Creek (middle and south forks) This stream is located in northern Sioux and Dawes counties. Brown and brook trout. Public access is available along most of the creek. The middle fork of Soldier Creek is fed at its origin by springs located on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land. It runs about 13 miles and empties into the White River in Fort Robinson State Park. The primary trout waters run 8.7 miles from the creek's origin to Carter P. Johnson Lake. The creek has fair spawning gravel andsupports natural reproduction of brown and brook trout. The south fork is 7 miles long and is almost entirely within the USFS's Soldier Creek Wilderness Area. It empties into the middle branch of Soldier Creek at Fort Robinson. The south fork is limited by low flows. In 1993, brook trout were stocked in the stream in the wildernessarea and it has developed into an excellent fishery. This stream offers a unique fishing experience for avid trout anglers. White River From its headwaters in north-central Sioux County, this river angles northeast through Dawes County. It enters South Dakota northeast of Chadron. Rainbow and brown trout. Nearly all the river is private access except for about 6 miles that runs through Fort Robinson State Park. Landowner permission is required to access the river on private land. A 250-year flood swept through the drainage in 1991, reducingtrout habitat. The effect of the flood will probably continue for many years. The stretch of river between Andrews and Kreman Crossing in northcentral Sioux County is the only section that is now considered to be trout-supporting. The river has been stocked extensively over the years, and it is currently stocked each year with 1,000 keeper brown trout and 1,000 keeper rainbow trout. Cattle grazing along the stream in privately owned areas has reduced trout habitat. The trout-holding habitat of the White River could be greatly increased through stream enhancement projects if funding becomes available. Natural reproduction of brown trout occurs in the upper reaches of the river. BOB GRIER Hat Creek Squaw Creek This creek is 4 miles east and 3 miles south of Crawford in Dawes County. Brook trout. About 3 miles of the stream contain trout-supporting water, most of it within the Ponderosa WMA, which is public access. The remainder of the creek is private access, where landowner permission is required BOB GRIER Upper Bordeaux Creek winds through a scenic wooded area in Dawes County. 6 NEBRASKAland Magazine ● Trout Fishing in Nebraska's Streams

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