April 2022 • Nebraskaland 31
Breakwaters protect a bay on the lake's north shore from
southerly winds. In the bay, there is a new two-lane boat
ramp with a wheelchair-accessible dock which replaces
the single lane ramp that was located in the main arm. A
mooring dock, with room for 12 boats, gives people a place
to park while heading back to camp for lunch. It is also
wheelchair accessible, as is a kayak launch on the other end
of the bay.
One of two fishing decks on the main breakwater on that
bay and two fishing pads next to it are wheelchair accessible.
There are 12 other fishing pads and points spread around the
lake to get anglers closer to deep water. Access trails lead to
two other fishing breakwaters on the lake, including one on
the south side near a new parking lot and latrine.
The Angler Access Program, an offshoot of the Aquatic
Habitat Program begun in 2010, paid for these access
features, contributing $1.2 million of the overall cost of the
work at Conestoga.
One of those trails also leads to a wildlife viewing deck
on the sediment dam in the upper end of the main arm of
the lake. Grants from the Nebraska Environmental Trust
and the Department of Environment and Energy paid for
the deck and much of the wetland work done above the
dam. The wetlands and the stream that flows through the
wildlife management area that covers 396 acres mostly west
and south of the lake attract thousands of migrating ducks
and geese in the spring and fall. The entire lake and WMA
are designated as a waterfowl refuge, so those birds can't
be hunted, but hunters do enjoy pursuing white-tailed deer,
pheasants, quail and small game on the area.
And there are plenty of fish. Last year, anglers were
already catching 10-inch crappies. This year, they will be
catching 8-inch bluegills. And there will be plenty of 15-inch
largemouth bass to bend a pole, and a few walleyes and
catfish that have reached keeper-sized proportions.
The main area on the north side of the lake offers 25
An angler fishes from one of the new breakwaters built to protect a bay and a new boat ramp in the northeastern
corner of Conestoga Lake. Two fishing decks are found on the opposite breakwater.
