June 2021 • Nebraskaland 53
welcome surprise.
With the walleye population declining, fisheries biologists
decided to stock Red Willow with saugeye, which is a cross
between a female walleye and a male sauger. These fish are
better suited for survival in the reservoir than walleye, and
anglers will have a tough time distinguishing between the
two species.
Along with the introduction of saugeye, tiger muskies also
will be swimming the waters at Red Willow. Although these
hybrid fish cannot reproduce, they are excellent predator
fish, which is needed to keep other fish populations in check.
The tiger muskies will have a chance to grow to trophy size,
giving anglers yet another bucket-list fish to catch.
What's more, as one of the best crappie fisheries in the
state, Red Willow has everything from baitfish to cove
habitat to structure, which includes natural and new man-
made structures to help produce big crappies.
Red Willow is also popular among hunters. Full of trees,
shrubs, tall native grasses, canyons, deep valleys and high
vistas, this habitat-rich area around the lake is home to
pheasants, cottontail rabbit, waterfowl, mule deer, white-
tailed deer and turkey.
And the reasons that make Red Willow a superb hunting
destination also make it a birdwatcher's paradise. Grebes,
ducks, geese, gulls and more migrate from summer grounds to
breeding grounds via the Central Flyway, and Red Willow is
within that corridor. Songbirds have a lot of habitat in which
to take cover and nest at the reservoir. The wetland areas on
the west side of the lake are frequented by shorebirds.
Whether you want to enjoy camping, sitting around
the campfire, boating, fishing or simply taking in the
breathtaking views from the top of a hillside, you will find it
all at Red Willow State Recreation Area.
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From boating and fi shing to the popular swim beach, Red Willow is a summer vacation destination.
Visitors can kayak and paddleboard at Family Fun Nights.
