Nebraska Fishing Outlook for June

[Bumpus]

NGPC news release, 5/29/08:

Panhandle

Lake Minatare – White bass and walleye fishing has been good. The lake is full, with plenty of timber providing fishing opportunities. Those interested in archery surface shooting may take advantage of a large carp population.

Box Butte Reservoir – Anglers have been taking northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth bass and walleye. There is an opportunity for archery surface shooters to take trophy-size carp.

Whitney Lake – Anglers have been consistently catching walleye and channel catfish.

Carter P. Johnson Lake – Try for channel catfish, largemouth bass and trout.

Grabel Ponds – Trout can be taken from the ponds.

Smith Lake (Sheridan County) – This is the lake to fish for big largemouth bass. Anglers also have been catching bluegill and an occasional 12-inch crappie. Anglers should note that weed growth takes off in June.

Bridgeport – Try for trout in the northwest pit; catfish in the middle, southwest and southeast pits; wipers in the middle pit; and largemouth bass in the middle and southeast pits.

North-central

Calamus Reservoir – A few keeper walleye have been caught. Walleye fishing in June should be fair for 15- to 18-inch fish. While the lake was full in late May, the water temperature was 4-5 degrees below normal.

Merritt Reservoir – Some walleye and crappie have been taken by anglers willing to spend extra time pursuing fish. Many have been using a slip-bobber rig along smartweed beds. June traditionally is the lake’s best fishing month. The water level is good, making crappie and walleye easier to find in the weedbeds.

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge – These lakes should be good for targeting largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish.

Cottonwood-Steverson Lake – There are good numbers of walleye and some decent crappie in the lake.

Swan Lake – Target bluegill and largemouth bass. The lake was renovated two years ago, so some keepers may be available.

Trout Streams – There is public access on the lower Snake River, as well as Long Pine, Schlagel, and Plum creeks. Permission is required to fish on private land.

South-central

May and June are the best months to pursue walleye at Harlan County, Johnson, Elwood and Sherman reservoirs.

Harlan County – Late May rains have filled the lake for the first time since 2001. There is a lot of flooded vegetation such as willow and cottonwood trees, creating excellent habitat for fish. White bass fishing has been very good since mid-May and should continue into June.

Johnson – The walleye fishing was excellent throughout May and should continue into June. Live bait, trolling and artificials have proven successful and quite a few limits have been caught. Most fish were 15-18 inches in length.

Elwood – The lake level is up, improving boater access. There have been good reports on walleye fishing, with some white bass and wipers also taken.

Sherman – This lake also is full and should stay that way most of June before irrigation begins. Boaters should be aware of rock structures in the lake that are part of an aquatic habitat project. The structures are marked by buoys.

Interstate 80 lakes – Many of the lakes offer excellent largemouth bass fishing, including Sandy Channel No. 8, Bufflehead WMA, Willow Island WMA, and Darr WMA.

Bluegill anglers should try Fort Kearny No. 7 and Dogwood WMA East. Mormon Island SRA middle lake and East Gothenburg WMA were renovated two years ago and should start to produce good fishing for panfish and largemouth bass.

City lakes – Kearney anglers should try Yanney Park and Cottonmill Lake for bluegill. Ravenna Lake, should produce good fishing for bluegill and largemouth bass. Try Bethphage Pond near Axtell for bluegill and Ansley City Lake for bluegill and crappie.

Southwest

Lake McConaughy – The surface temperature at Kingsley Dam is 55 degrees. The lake elevation is 3,224.8 feet, which is 5.4 feet higher than the elevation last year at this time and 40.2 feet lower than full capacity. Inflows to the lake are 1,010 cfs, while outflows are 164 cfs. Fishing success for catfish and white bass is fair in the Lemoyne, Spring Park, and Lakeview areas. Anglers are catching white bass on crankbaits and jigs, and the catfish on nightcrawlers, cut bait or bait shrimp. Walleye fishing is fair, with anglers catching a few walleye on leeches, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits at the west end of the lake. Wiper fishing on the south side of the lake near the dam is good, with most fish being caught on minnows, nightcrawlers, or jigs.

Lake Ogallala – The surface temperature is 57 degrees. Success on channel catfish is good at the spillway of the lake using nightcrawlers or bait shrimp. Anglers are catching a few trout and perch throughout the lake using nightcrawlers.

Sutherland Reservoir – Walleye fishing has been very good using bottom bouncers with worm harnesses and Lindy rigs. Some white bass and wipers also are being caught. Sutherland is an underutilized channel catfish lake.
Fishing pressure is low and there is a good population of catfish in a wide size range. For the best success on catfish, try the inlet, the mouth of the inlet or the west shore.

Lake Maloney – There has been some walleye success from boats, with a few fish more than 15 inches in length. White bass fishing from the bank has been very good at the inlet.

Enders Reservoir – There has been a good walleye bite, mostly from boats, with fish in the 16- to 18-inch range. The best success came on minnows.
There also has been some success with white bass. White bass success should improve as the water temperature rises.

Swanson Reservoir – There has been fair success for channel catfish, wipers and white bass. White bass success should improve as the water temperature rises.

Red Willow Reservoir – There have been good reports of combination catches of walleye, white bass, wiper and crappie. White bass success should improve as the water temperature rises.

Medicine Creek Reservoir – There has been very good success on walleye. White bass success should improve as the water temperature rises.
Northeast

Walleye fishing is picking up at Lewis Clark Lake, but action is slowing down at Willow Creek, although some keepers still are being caught.

Try Goose Lake for bluegill and northern pike, with some keeper pike being caught.

Bluegill are spawning at Maskenthine Lake and crappie are biting, as well.
While Summit Lake always is a good bluegill fishery, the lake also is producing good largemouth bass fishing and 10-inch-plus crappie. Also try Grove Lake, Chalkrock, and Lake Yankton for bass, bluegill and crappie.

Options for channel catfish anglers include Buckskin Hills, Skyview Lake, Willow Creek, and Powder Creek. Catfishing in the Elkhorn River will improve as the water temperature rises, and fishing in the Loup Canal and at Gavins Point Dam is expected to pick up.

Southeast

Anglers should note that rains can cause water to become turbid, so they may want to temporarily try fishing sandpits instead.

Those anglers targeting crappie should try Wagon Train, Czechland and Stagecoach. For bluegill, try Walnut Creek, Czechland, Olive Creek and Wildwood.

For largemouth bass, try Stagecoach, Wehrspann and Walnut Creek. All have a diverse size structure of bass. Also, Holmes Lake has been producing lots of bass.

Historically, Branched Oak has a good number of channel catfish and activity will increase with warmer water temperatures. Flathead catfish are catch-and-release, but anglers have a chance for a Master Angler. For big channel catfish, try Wildwood or Olive Creek.

Anglers who like to fish for bullheads should try Wildwood, Czechland or Verdon.

Take a chance on catching a larger muskie at Wagon Train. Timber Point has a smaller population of muskie.

[jetdriver1]

Errrrrrr maybe a stoopid question...ummmmmm....but is there a "Northeast" Nebraska??? I'm just askin'. (Pretty much interested in Lewis and Clark Lake for a trip to the cabins next week).

But waitaminit! On a second look, Lewis and Clark Lake is listed in the Southwest! Holy Moly, did NFGA move it? Now we gotta replan our trip to somewears in the southwest? Tha missus isn'ta gonna like this.

Thanks and Cheers,
Jet

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