54 Nebraskaland • March 2023
Nebraska's
Fishing Forecast
is invaluable for
planning your trips.
s
ot all fishing trips are
created equal, nor do they
need to be. Some are after-
work, two-hour jaunts in the
middle of the summer and others are
all-day ice-fishing affairs where the
mind, and body, are exhausted at day's
end. And while each is pleasurable in
its own fantastic ways, these aren't
the only types of trips to make. Some
require windshield time first. Here are
my favorites.
The Bite
The message boards fill up every
year telling anglers where the crappie
are biting, the bass are hitting and
where the wipers are running the
shallows. But you can also form your
own calendar. Where you caught fish
last year most likely will be where you
catch fish this year.
Doug Ste inke, longtime
Nebraskaland contributor, rarely
misses the April and May wiper bite
out west, concentrating at Harlan
Reservoir, Lake McConaughy and all
points in between. Fisheries biologist
Daryl Bauer sees the muskie bite
at Merritt Reservoir the same way,
knowing he'll be bank fishing for
trophies in May. Personally, I wait for
the hottest days of the year in July and
chase channel
catfish with topwater plugs
at any number of eastern lakes and
reservoirs, including newly renovated
Conestoga. The lakes have cleared of
people but the action hasn't.
More Than the
Fish
A trip like this often occurs when
family is involved, when a 24-hour-a-
day, 7-day-a-week trip is not desired
by everyone in the vehicle. But these
trips can still be memorable for all.
Do a search at OutdoorNebraska.
org for your favorite state park or
recreation area. The overwhelming
majority have fishable water. Compare
amenities with your family members
and fish when you can. If you're
camping, early mornings are perfect
for solo excursions and an opportune
time to allow your significant other
to sleep in. Then, in the middle of the
day, go and sightsee together.
This time of year, the Omaha area
— and a destination like Two Rivers
Recreation Area just on the outskirts
— offers parkgoers opportunities to
fish for newly stocked rainbow trout
as well as experience unique lodging in
one of Two Rivers' train cars. As spring
moves forward, lakes like Flanagan
and Prairie View can scratch the
fishing bug and easily be combined
with a trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo
or the GoApe course at Eugene T.
Johnson Lake SRA remains one of the premier spots in the state to watch
the Fourth of July fireworks show at night after fishing during the day.
JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND
By Jeff Kurrus
Five Trips
to fi shing right
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