Fishing in
Nebraska
4,311 named waters · 7 stocked in the last 30 days
Nebraska's Lake McConaughy, the state's largest reservoir, is one of the best walleye fisheries in the Midwest and also holds strong hybrid striped bass and smallmouth bass populations. The Platte River system across the state carries catfish and other warm-water species through mostly agricultural country.
Nebraska holds 4,311 fishable waters on the books. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has logged 322 stockings in the last year, led by rainbow trout. The biggest water in the state is Lake McConaughy at 24,885 acres.
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When does Nebraska stock?
Stocking peaks in March and June, going by every record on the books.
What you'll catch here
- Rainbow Trout12 waters
- Walleye12 waters
- Saugeye5 waters
- Yellow Perch5 waters
- Hybrid Striped Bass4 waters
- Brook Trout4 waters
- Black Crappie3 waters
- Largemouth Bass2 waters
Freshest stockings
Full report →- East Branch Verdigre CreekRainbow TroutJul 29, 2026
- Calamus ReservoirWalleyeJul 16, 2026
- East Branch Verdigre CreekRainbow TroutJul 13, 2026
- East Branch Verdigre CreekRainbow TroutJul 8, 2026
- Zorinsky LakeBlue CatfishJul 8, 2026
Most-stocked waters, last 12 months
- East Branch Verdigre Creek25× stocked
- Lake Minatare10× stocked
- Lake McConaughy10× stocked
- Ogallala Lake9× stocked
- Keller Park Ponds4× stocked
- Hackberry Lake4× stocked
- Willow Lake4× stocked
- Rock Creek Lake4× stocked
- Elwood Reservoir4× stocked
- Willow Creek3× stocked
Biggest waters
- Lake McConaughy24,885 ac
- Harlan County Lake12,822 ac
- Calamus Reservoir5,032 ac
- Swanson Lake4,661 ac
- Sutherland Reservoir2,956 ac
- Merritt Reservoir2,544 ac
- Sherman Reservoir2,435 ac
- Johnson Lake2,207 ac
Major rivers
- Platte Riverorder 10 · ~9,866 cfs
- Middle Channel Platte Riverorder 10 · ~7,370 cfs
- South Channel Platte Riverorder 10 · ~10 cfs
- South Channel Platte Riverorder 10 · ~2 cfs
- North Platte Riverorder 9 · ~4,108 cfs
- Loup Riverorder 7 · ~975 cfs
- Elkhorn Riverorder 7 · ~820 cfs
- Big Nemaha Riverorder 7 · ~588 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →Cherry (329) · Gage (179) · Sheridan (173) · Garden (166) · Otoe (140) · Sioux (121) · Lancaster (117) · Dawson (108) · Scotts Bluff (90) · Dawes (85) · Nuckolls (84) · Holt (84) · Richardson (80) · Morrill (80) · Saunders (72) · Webster (70) · Douglas (69) · Frontier (68) · Pawnee (68) · Gosper (64) · Seward (64) · Keya Paha (64) · Jefferson (63) · Washington (59) · Red Willow (56) · Harlan (56) · Rock (55) · Cass (53) · Johnson (53) · Sarpy (52)
Seasons, limits, and rules are Nebraska's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
Explore nearby states
Nebraska fishing — FAQ
Where does Nebraska stock fish?+
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission logged 322 stockings across Nebraska in the last year, led by rainbow trout, walleye, saugeye and yellow perch. Browse the map and most-stocked waters above for exact locations.
When does Nebraska stock fish?+
Stocking in Nebraska peaks in March and June, going by every record on the books. See each water's page for its own seasonality.
Do I need a license to fish in Nebraska?+
Yes — Nebraska requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in Nebraska?+
Nebraska has 4,311 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.