Nebraska Fishing Guides

Freshwater Fishing In Nebraska

Nebraska might be a landlocked state, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of water there. Large lakes and reservoirs, small lakes, ponds, and streams are numerous. In addition, four major rivers can be found, including the Missouri, the Platte, the Republican, and the Niobrara.

All this water means FISH to us anglers, and the cornhusker state does not disappoint. Some of the most targeted fish species include largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, and striped bass; cutthroat, rainbow, brook, and brown trout; Chinook, Coho, and kokanee salmon; walleye; black and white crappie; channel, flathead, and blue catfish; northern pike; tiger muskies; sauger; saugeye; and huge paddlefish.

A variety of panfish are also widespread, including bluegill, redear sunfish, white bass, green sunfish, white perch, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed.

Fishing Guides In Nebraska

Places To Fish In Nebraska

Harlan County Lake – This 13,000-acre lake is located in south-central Nebraska, on the Republican River and is the state’s second-largest lake. The lake has a good mixture of open water, deep pockets, and shallows. There’s good fishing for bass, walleye, white bass, crappie, panfish, and catfish. This lake also has some large schools of big stripers. You’ll find six boat ramps and two marinas here, and fishing guides are available.

Lake McConaughy – In the southwestern section of the state is 35,700-acre Lake McConaughy, Nebraska’s largest reservoir. The deep water in “Big Mac” is cold and clear. The state record Coho salmon and the state record kokanee salmon were caught here, along with some nice stripers. The state record walleye was caught here, too, at a whopping 16 pounds, 2 ounces. McConaughy also offers great fishing for white bass, rainbow trout, and catfish.

Lewis and Clark Lake – This big lake covers 31,000 acres in northeast Nebraska. Flats, bluffs, channels, and jetties provide great fishing for walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, sauger, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. The state record Chinook salmon was also landed here. There are several marinas and boat ramps here, and professional fishing guides are available.

Calamus Reservoir – In the central section of the state is this reservoir that covers 5,200 acres. Fish here for a variety of species, including walleye, largemouth bass, rock bass, stripers, bluegill, catfish, northern pike, yellow perch, white bass, and some big saugeye. The state record saugeye was caught here – 8 pounds and 14 ounces.

Swanson Reservoir – This lake is in southwest Nebraska, on the Republican River, and covers 5,000 acres. The water here is very clear, with shallows, deep areas, submerged willows, and lots of baitfish. Expect to catch largemouth bass, crappie, lots of walleye and white bass, and some trophy-size northern pike.

Missouri River – The Missouri, along with other Nebraska rivers, holds a variety of fish. These include both largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, striped bass, white perch, and some monster catfish. The state record blue cat, weighing more than 100 pounds, was taken from the Missouri River. River fishing guides are available for most of Nebraska’s rivers.