54 NEBRASKAland • OCTOBER 2015
stocked about 10,000 trout, ranging
from 6 to 11 inches long, in the public
access portions of the river.
"We have stocked a lot of browns
and rainbows, and have put cutthroats
in there whenever they're available,"
said Joe Rydell, a fisheries biologist in
the northwestern district. "It's a unique
area to our state and adds to our diverse
fishing opportunities."
Soldier On
As far as opportunity goes, the
White isn't t he only stream in the Pine
Ridge. In Dawes, Sheridan and Sioux
counties, as many as 17 creeks have
trout. Several have sections with rocky
bottoms that are ideal for spawning,
and most are fed by groundwater and,
consequently, cool enough in places to
support natural reproduction of brook
and brown trout.
Most of the creeks' miles are on
private property and accessible only
by permission, but some have stretches
of public access. Besides the White,
the other stream with considerable
public access is Soldier Creek and
its branches, accessible from Fort
Robinson State Park and Soldier Creek
Wilderness Area.
Scott Johnson, another Chadron
angler, is often lured to the banks of
Soldier Creek. He said stream fishing
in northwestern Nebraska hasn't really
caught on like it has in other places.
"I've fished at popular fly-fishing
destinations farther west, and I always
have just as good of time fishing on
Soldier Creek as I do those other
places," he said. "People don't realize
that there are some nice fish swimming
in these creeks. Most days I come over
here I'm the only one fishing. When
I do run into people, they're usually
hikers and are surprised to see what
I'm doing."
Johnson said fishing on Soldier
Creek is best before Memorial Day and
Streams of the Pine Ridge commonly flow over rocky bottoms, such as this section of
West Ash Creek near Crawford. The rocks, combined with the cool groundwater that
feeds the creeks, provides suitable breeding habitat for brook and brown trout.
