OutdoorNebraska

ROCKY HOFFMANN Sutherland Supply Canal (also Fishing near one of three rock weirs, Howard Taylor of Ogallala casts into the North Platte River below Lake Ogallala in Keith County. Lower North Platte River System Trout are found in the waters highlighted in yellow. known as Keystone and NPPD Canal) This 30-mile segment of canal originates at the Lake Ogallala Diversion Dam and flows east across Keith and Lincoln counties to Sutherland Reservoir. Rainbow and brown trout. A public access road runs along most of the canal from Lake Ogallala to Sutherland Reservoir. The canal offers ideal coldwater habitat and has been a trophy trout fishery (mostly rainbows and occasional browns) since the early 1970s. The 16-mile stretch from Lake Ogallala to Paxton is among the best trout fisheries in the state and the most likely place to catch a rainbow weighing 5 pounds or more. The canal is drained at five-year intervals to allow for federally mandated safety inspections. Trout are reintroduced following the inspections. The population is maintained by fish escaping from Lake Ogallala and through annual hatchery stockings. Whitetail Creek This creek begins 7 miles north of Lake Ogallala in Keith County. Brown trout. Private access only; to enter private property landowner permission is required. Whitetail Creek flows into the North Platte River 1.5 miles below the Lake Ogallala Diversion Dam. This stream contains approximately 9 miles of troutsupporting water. The last stocking, which was of rainbows, occurred in 1989. Browns are a self-sustaining population. The stream carries a heavy load of sand sediment originating from a heavily grazed watershed. This detracts from the quality of the trout habitat, but the stream still has fair coldwater potential. ★ KEITH LINCOLN R latte orth P N iver Sutherland Paxton 30 25 80 Sutherland Reservoir Sutherland Reservoir SRA Blue Creek Blue Creek is northwest of Lewellen in Garden County. (Not shown on the accompanying maps.) Brown and brook trout. Private access only, permission required. The creek contains approximately 30 miles of trout-supporting stream, which has fair coldwater habitat but lacks spawning gravel. While general land practices are considered fair, water diversions sometimes have a negative effect on trout. Over the years all three species of trout have been introduced in attempts to establish a self-sustaining population. Most recently, brook trout were stocked in 1999. Blue Creek is noted for its small population of large brown trout. NEBRASKAland Magazine ● Trout Fishing in Nebraska's Streams 11

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