NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/695082
14 NEBRASKAland • JULY 2016 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NEBR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR B AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS A A KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KA KAla la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la d nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd • JUL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL ULY 201 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 0 6 Y I-80 Lake Improvements By Julie Geiser One of the best places to fish in Nebraska is the popular Interstate 80 lakes. The lakes lie adjacent to the interstate and are heavily used by locals and those traveling the I-80 corridor. These lakes are not only great for fishing, but allow camping and hunting unless otherwise posted. The lakes are part of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's wildlife management areas and the lakes and fish are managed by the Commission's fisheries division. Major angler access improvements had not been done at these I-80 lakes. Trees and brush were overgrown around shorelines, hampering bank anglers from gaining access to the water, and launching a boat in some of these lakes was not an easy task. In 2016, improvements for seven I-80 lakes were made possible by the Commission's Aquatic Habitat and Angler Access programs funded by the purchase of fishing permits and partially with federal Sport fish Restoration Program funds collected through an excise tax on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel. Birdwood, Hershey, Fremont Slough, West Maxwell, West Brady, Brady and West Gothenburg wildlife management areas each received concrete boat ramps and angler access pads, with one pad at each lake being ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) approved, and some lakes received considerable tree clearing. Birdwood WMA just west of North Platte saw the majority of the improvements with an ADA-approved wooden fishing pier, four angler access pads and an ADA-approved concrete boat ramp. The angler access pads are a great addition to each lake allowing better access to the water for anglers of all ages. The pads make it easier for bank anglers to fish parallel to the shoreline in deeper water and casting along weed beds can now be done. "Almost every day there are people out using the new angler access pads," said Jared Lorensen, Commission fisheries biologist and manager of the I-80 Lake project. "The improvements made it possible for anglers that don't have a boat to get out into deeper water and fish without having to worry about trees and other obstructions." In all, construction consisted of 19 angler access pads, 1 wooden angler access pier, 7 boat ramps and approximately 4 acres of tree clearing. "Each lake is a little different in design but all function well and allow better access for anglers," Lorensen said. Along with better bank access, the improved boat ramps allow for larger boats than before. Many of these lakes allow boats with gas motors with a 5-mph/no wake restriction. Check the 2016 Fishing Guide or the 2016 Boating Guide for a listing of regulations. ■ PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER Jim Einspahr and his daughters, Ava, at left and Allie, fi sh at Birdwood Wildlife Management Area in Lincoln County off one of the new angler access fi shing pads built in 2016.